Court Opinions

State Laws

US Code

US Constitution

Texas Health & Safety Code - Section 11.018. Public Interest Information And Complaints

Legal Research Home > Texas Lawyer > Health & Safety Code > Texas Health & Safety Code - Section 11.018. Public Interest Information And Complaints

§ 11.018. PUBLIC INTEREST INFORMATION AND 
COMPLAINTS.  (a) The board shall develop and implement policies 
that provide the public with a reasonable opportunity to appear 
before the board and to speak on any issue under the jurisdiction of 
the board.
	(b)  The board shall prepare information of public interest 
describing the functions of the board and department and the 
board's and department's procedures by which complaints are filed 
with and resolved by the board and department.  The department shall 
make the information available to the public and appropriate state 
agencies.
	(c)  The board by rule shall establish methods by which 
consumers and service recipients can be notified of the names, 
mailing addresses, and telephone numbers of the board and 
department for the purpose of directing complaints to the board and 
department.  The board may provide for that notification:
		(1)  on each registration form, application, or written 
contract for services of a person or entity regulated by the board 
or department; 
		(2)  on a sign prominently displayed in the place of 
business of each person or entity regulated by the board or 
department;  or
		(3)  in a bill for service provided by a person or 
entity regulated by the board or department.
	(d)  The department shall keep an information file about each 
complaint filed with the department relating to a license holder or 
entity regulated by the department or a service delivered by the 
department.  The file must include:
		(1)  the name of the person who filed the complaint;                          
		(2)  the date the complaint is received by the 
department;                  
		(3)  the subject matter of the complaint;                                     
		(4)  the name of each person contacted in relation to 
the complaint;        
		(5)  a summary of the results of the review or 
investigation of the complaint;  and
		(6)  an explanation of the reason the file was closed, 
if the department closed the file without taking action other than 
to investigate the complaint.
	(e)  If a written complaint is filed with the department 
relating to a license holder or entity regulated by the department 
or a service delivered by the department, the department, at least 
quarterly and until final disposition of the complaint, shall 
notify the parties to the complaint of the status of the complaint 
unless notice would jeopardize an undercover investigation.

Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 678, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1989.  Amended 
by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1411, § 1.07, eff. Sept. 1, 1999.

Last modified: August 10, 2007