Iowa Ombudsman Act

The Ombudsman Act creates an independent office of the ombudsman empowered to investigate complaints against government agencies, and it sets the terms on which that office operates — appointment, qualifications and restrictions on political activity, term, removal, compensation, and the authority to hire and delegate to staff. It defines the ombudsman's jurisdiction and the kinds of agency conduct that are appropriate subjects for investigation, permits investigations to be opened on a complaint or on the ombudsman's own motion, and prescribes the procedure that follows: notice to the complainant and the affected agency, investigative powers and the handling of privileged communications, consultation, findings and recommendations that may be published, referral of misconduct by agency personnel, and an annual report. To keep the office independent, the act grants the ombudsman immunity and a privilege not to testify or disclose documents, protects correspondence to and from the office, provides a penalty provision and limited judicial review, and extends the ombudsman's reach to local bodies such as municipalities and school districts.

Editorial summary generated from the text of this act. It is not part of the statute — read the sections below for the operative language.