Effective 28 Aug 2011

621.100. Complaints — notice — agency may retain counsel — default decision, when — affidavit regarding licensee's status, procedure. — 1. Upon receipt of a written complaint from an agency named in section 621.045 in a case relating to a holder of a license granted by such agency, or upon receipt of such complaint from the attorney general, the administrative hearing commission shall cause a copy of said complaint to be served upon such licensee in person, or by leaving a copy of the complaint at the licensee's dwelling house or usual place of abode or last address given to the agency by the licensee with some person residing or present therein over the age of fifteen, or by certified mail, together with a notice of the place of and the date upon which the hearing on said complaint will be held. If service cannot be accomplished as described in this section, notice by publication as described in subsection 3 of section 506.160 shall be allowed; any commissioner is authorized to act as a court or judge would in that section, and any employee of the commission is authorized to act as a clerk would in that section. In any case initiated upon complaint of the attorney general, the agency which issued the license shall be given notice of such complaint and the date upon which the hearing will be held by delivery of a copy of such complaint and notice to the office of such agency or by certified mail. Such agency may intervene and may retain the services of legal counsel to represent it in such case.

2. When a holder of a license, registration, permit, or certificate of authority issued by the division of professional registration or a board, commission, or committee of the division of professional registration against whom an affirmative decision is sought has failed to plead or otherwise respond in the contested case and adequate notice has been given under this section and section 536.067 upon a properly pled writing filed to initiate the contested case under this chapter or chapter 536, a default decision shall be entered against the licensee without further proceedings. The default decision shall grant such relief as requested by the division of professional registration, board, committee, commission, or office in the writing initiating the contested case as allowed by law. Upon motion stating facts constituting a meritorious defense and for good cause shown, a default decision may be set aside. The motion shall be made within a reasonable time, not to exceed thirty days after entry of the default decision. "Good cause" includes a mistake or conduct that is not intentionally or recklessly designed to impede the administrative process.

3. In any case initiated under this section, the custodian of the records of an agency may prepare a sworn affidavit stating truthfully pertinent information regarding the license status of the licensee charged in the complaint, including only: the name of the licensee; his or her license number; its designated date of expiration; the date of his or her original Missouri licensure; the particular profession, practice or privilege licensed; and the status of his or her license as current and active or otherwise. This affidavit shall be received as substantial and competent evidence of the facts stated therein notwithstanding any objection as to the form, manner of presentment or admissibility of this evidence, and shall create a rebuttable presumption of the veracity of the statements therein; provided, however, that the procedures specified in section 536.070 shall apply to the introduction of this affidavit in any case where the status of this license constitutes a material issue of fact in the proof of the cause charged in the complaint.

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(L. 1965 p. 277 § 4, A.L. 1981 S.B. 16, A.L. 2006 S.B. 756, A.L. 2011 H.B. 265)