Complaint Handling and Disposition

PURPOSE: This rule establishes a procedure for the receipt, handling, and disposition of public complaints pursuant to the mandate of section 620.010.15(6), RSMo. (1) The Division of Professional Registration, in coordination with the State Committee of Dietitians, will receive and process each complaint made against any licensed dietitian in which the complaint alleges certain acts or practices that may constitute one (1) or more violations of the provisions of sections 324.200–324.225, RSMo, or administrative rules. Any member of the State Committee of Dietitians may file a complaint with the division or committee while holding office provided that member is excused from further committee deliberation or activity concerning the matters alleged within that complaint. Any division staff member or committee member may file a complaint pursuant to this rule in the same manner as any member of the public. (2) Complaints shall be mailed or delivered to the following address: State Committee of Dietitians, 3605 Missouri Boulevard, P.O. Box 1335, Jefferson City, MO 65102. (3) All complaints shall be made in writing and shall fully identify the complainant by name and address. Verbal or telephone communication will not be considered or processed as a complaint, however, the person making such communication will be asked to supplement the communication with a written complaint. Complaints may be based upon personal knowledge, or upon information and belief, reciting information received from other sources. Individuals with special needs, as addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act, may notify the committee office at (573) 522-3438 for assistance. (4) Each complaint received under this rule will be logged and maintained by the division. The log will contain a record of each complainant’s name; the name and address of the subject(s) of the complaint; the date each complaint was received by the division/committee; a brief statement concerning the alleged acts or practices and the ultimate disposition of the complaint. This log shall be a closed record of the division. (5) Each complaint received under this rule shall be acknowledged in writing. The complainant and licensee shall be notified of the ultimate disposition of the complaint. (6) This rule shall not be deemed to limit the authority of the committee to file a complaint with the Administrative Hearing Commission charging the licensee with any actionable conduct or violation, whether or not such a complaint exceeds the scope of the acts charged in a preliminary public complaint filed with the committee. AND INSURANCE (7) The division shall interpret this rule, which is required by law, to exist for the benefit of those members of the public who submit complaints to the committee. This rule is not deemed to protect, or inure the benefit of those licensees or other persons against whom the committee has instituted or may institute administrative or judicial proceedings concerning possible violations of the provisions of sections 324.200–324.225, RSMo. AUTHORITY: sections 324.217 and 324.228, RSMo 2016.* This rule originally filed as 4 CSR 115-1.030. Original rule filed March 15, 2000, effective Sept. 30, 2000. Moved to 20 CSR 2115-1.030, effective Aug. 28, 2006. Amended: Filed May 11, 2018, effective Nov. 30, 2018. *Original authority: 324.217, RSMo 1998, amended 1999, 2001 and 324.228, RSMo 1998, amended 1999.