(1) A person, government, or private entity may submit a written complaint to the department charging an applicant or licensee with a violation of department and program statutes or rules, and specifying the grounds for the complaint.

(2) Complaints must be in writing, and shall be filed on the proper complaint form prescribed by the department.

(3) Upon receipt of the written complaint form, the department shall log in the complaint and assign it a complaint number. The complaint shall then be sent to the applicant or licensee referred to in the complaint for a written response. Upon receipt of the written response, both the complaint and response shall be considered by the review panel for appropriate action including dismissal, investigation, or a finding of reasonable cause of violation of a statute or rule. The department shall notify the complainant and either the licensee or applicant of the determination made by the review panel.

(4) If the review panel finds reasonable cause of a violation, the Montana Administrative Procedure Act applies.