Madison - The state Department of Regulation and Licensing and the Medical Examining Board said Wednesday that they had opened investigations into eight individuals who allegedly wrote doctor excuse notes for protesters at the state Capitol during rallies in February.

Last month, the Department of Regulation and Licensing said it had identified 11 people who may have provided the medical excuses, and it asked them to submit information about their activities at the Capitol.

Three members of the Medical Examining Board reviewed the information and decided to open investigations on eight of the 11, according to a department news release.

The eight being investigated are all licensed physicians, department spokesman David Carlson said.

Investigations were not opened against three people because the panel concluded no violations had occurred, the news release says.

The 11 were identified by complaints to the department. Nine of those named are licensed physicians and two are unlicensed, the department said.

The investigations will include a more extensive fact-finding process to determine if any violations of law occurred, according to the news release.

At the conclusion of each investigation, recommendations will be made about whether disciplinary action should be pursued.

The state Department of Regulation and Licensing previously has said disciplinary action could include a reprimand, license limitations, suspension or revocation.

In February, teachers from several districts called in sick to protest Gov. Scott Walker's bill that would strip public employees of most of their collective bargaining rights. Schools in Madison and Milwaukee had to shut down because of teacher absences.

Absent teachers were told they would need to provide a form from a medical professional for any absence, and if they didn't have such notes they would face discipline.

During the protests, doctors in white lab coats were seen filling out excuse notes for workers.

Doctors also were videotaped issuing the excuse notes, which critics blasted as a sick-day dodge.

To date, the names of doctors Lou Sanner and James Shropshire have been cited in media reports about the medical excuses dispensed over the weekend of Feb. 19 and 20. Both are affiliated with the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. The agency said none of the doctors involved was representing UW Health at the time.

The Department of Regulation and Licensing is not releasing the names of those involved in the inquiry because the matter is under investigation.