1. No local commission shall have authority to hear complaints of violations of this chapter unless such municipal or county commission has first been certified to be substantially equivalent by the commission. The commission shall certify a local commission as substantially equivalent if the ordinance establishing the local commission provides substantially similar protection of the procedural rights of parties appearing before the local commission as are provided for by the provisions of this chapter.

2. The commission shall review the certification of each local commission at least once every five years to determine whether it is appropriately safeguarding the procedural and substantive rights of parties appearing before it. Should the commission determine that a local commission is not adequately protecting the rights of parties appearing before it, it shall direct the commission staff to enter into negotiations with the local commission for the purpose of attempting to correct any deficiencies. Any decision to decertify a local commission shall be appealable to circuit court pursuant to the provisions of chapter 536.