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Texas Statutes (Last Updated: January 4, 2014) |
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HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE |
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Title 2. HEALTH |
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Subtitle A. TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH |
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Chapter 11. ORGANIZATION OF TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH |
Sec. 11.018. PUBLIC INTEREST INFORMATION AND COMPLAINTS
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(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.