DCP investigator reports one new complaint, $5,500 assurance of voluntary compliance in recent period

Supervising special investigator Janita Hamill updated the Fire Protection Board on recent enforcement activity at the Department of Consumer Protection, reporting that for Nov. 1–Dec. 31, 2025 the department received one new complaint and closed two files.

Hamill said the first closed case resulted in an assurance of voluntary compliance (ABC) that included a $5,500 forfeiture. "The investigator did a assurance of voluntary compliance, and a $5,500 forfeiture was gained," she told the board. The second file showed no violations and was placed on a file-and-monitor list so the department can watch for repeat complaints.

Board members raised concerns about repeat offenders and how long ABCs remain on a person's record. Hamill said the ABC stays with the file but is not a credential action: "We keep it in the file that we settled it on," and cited legal guidance that if more than three years elapse between ABCs the department treats subsequent matters from square one.

Board members and staff clarified how ABCs are processed: investigators work with respondents to prepare a checklist and the commissioner signs the ABC; if an investigator cannot resolve a matter with an ABC, the case is reported to the supervising investigator, reviewed for prosecutable evidence by legal, and if appropriate moves to legal for further action or to the board for hearings.

Hamill also reported that inspectors are conducting site inspections and staff numbers have recently decreased from six to five; interviews for new hires are pending HR action.

The board thanked Hamill for the report and moved on to the next agenda item.