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 1994. (1) The State Committee of Marital and Family Therapists will receive and process each complaint made against any licensed marital and family therapist (LMFT), provisional licensed marital and family therapist (PLMT), supervised marital and family therapist (S-MFT), applicant for licensure or supervision, or unlicensed individual or entity, in which the complaint alleges certain acts or practices may constitute one (1) or more violations of the provisions of sections 337.700– 337.739, RSMo, or the administrative rules. No member of the State Committee of Marital and Family Therapists may file a complaint with the division or state committee while holding that office, unless that member is excused from further state committee deliberation or activity concerning the matters alleged within that complaint. Any division staff member or the state committee may file a complaint pursuant to this rule in the same manner as any member of the public. (2) Complaints will be mailed or delivered to the following address: Missouri State Committee of Marital and Family Therapists, 3605 Missouri Boulevard, PO Box 1335, Jefferson City, MO 65102. However, actual receipt of the complaint by the state committee at its administrative offices in any manner will be sufficient. (3) All complaints shall be made in writing and fully identify the complainant by name and address. Verbal or telephone communications may be considered or processed as complaints, however, the person making such communication must supplement the communication with a written complaint. Individuals with special needs as addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act may notify the state committee office at (573) 751-0870 for assistance. The TTY number for the hearing impaired is (800) 735-2966 through Relay Missouri and (800) 735-2466 through Voice Relay Missouri. (4) Each complaint received under this rule will be logged and maintained by the state committee. 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 is received by the state committee; a brief statement concerning the alleged acts or practices; a notation indicating the complaint resulted in its dismissal by the division or disciplinary action by the Administrative Hearing Commission; and the ultimate disposition of the complaint. This log shall be a closed record of the state committee. (5) Each complaint received under this rule shall be acknowledged in writing. The complainant and complaint respondent will be notified of the ultimate disposition of the complaint. AUTHORITY: section 337.700, RSMo 2016, and section 337.727.1.(7) and (10), RSMo Supp. 2019.* This rule originally filed as 4 CSR 233-1.030. Original rule filed Dec. 31, 1997, effective July 30, 1998. Moved to 20 CSR 2233-1.030, effective Aug. 28, 2006. Amended: Filed Nov. 15, 2011, effective April 30, 2012. Amended: Filed Sept. 5, 2019, effective March 30, 2020. *Original authority: 337.700, RSMo 1995, amended 2007, 2008, 2010 and 337.727, RSMo 1995, amended 2009, 2010, 2018.