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. (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 FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AND PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION

(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.

1. (2) Complaints shall be mailed or delivered to the following address: Missouri State Committee of Marital and Family Therapists, 3605 Missouri Boulevard, P.O. Box 1335, Jefferson City, MO 65102. However, actual receipt of the complaint by the state committee at its administrative offices in any manner shall be sufficient. Complaints may be based upon personal knowledge or upon information and belief, reciting information received from other sources.
2. (3) All complaints shall be made in writing and shall 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 shall be asked to 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
3. (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. (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. (5) Each complaint received under this rule shall be acknowledged in writing. The complainant and complaint respondent shall be notified of the ultimate disposition of the complaint.
6. (6) This rule shall not be deemed to limit the authority of the state committee or division to file a complaint with the Administrative Hearing Commission charging a LMFT, PLMFT, or S-MFT 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 state committee and whether or not any public complaint has been filed with the state committee.
7. (7) The division and state committee interpret this rule, which is required by law, to exist for the benefit of those members of the public who submit complaints to the state committee. This rule is not deemed to protect, or inure to the benefit of those LMFTs, PLMFTs, S-MFTs, or other persons against whom the state committee has instituted or may institute administrative or judicial proceedings concerning possible violations of the provisions of sections 337.700–337.739, RSMo.

AUTHORITY: sections 337.700 and 337.727.1.(7) and (10), RSMo Supp. 2011.* 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. *Original authority: 337.700, RSMo 1995, amended 2007, 2008, 2010 and 337.727, RSMo 1995, amended 2009, 2010.