Missouri Revised Statutes § 192.2480 - In-home services client, misappropriation of property, report — investigation — penalty — confidentiality of report — immunity — retaliation prohibited — employee disqualification list

192.2480. In-home services client, misappropriation of property, report — investigation — penalty — confidentiality of report — immunity — retaliation prohibited — employee disqualification list. — 1. Any person having reasonable cause to believe that a misappropriation of an in-home services client's property or funds, or the falsification of any documents verifying service delivery to the in-home services client has occurred, may report such information to the department. 2. For each report the department shall attempt to obtain the names and addresses of the in-home services provider agency, the in-home services employee, the in-home services client, information regarding the nature of the misappropriation or falsification, the name of the complainant, and any other information which might be helpful in an investigation. 3. Any in-home services provider agency or in-home services employee who puts to his or her own use or the use of the in-home services provider agency or otherwise diverts from the in-home services client's use any personal property or funds of the in-home services client, or falsifies any documents for service delivery, is guilty of a class A misdemeanor. 4. Upon receipt of a report, the department shall immediately initiate an investigation and report information gained from such investigation to appropriate law enforcement authorities. 5. If the investigation indicates probable misappropriation of property or funds, or falsification of any documents for service delivery of an in-home services client, the investigator shall refer the complaint together with the investigator's report to the department director or the director's designee for appropriate action. 6. Reports shall be confidential, as provided under section 192.2500. 7. Anyone, except any person participating in or benefitting from the misappropriation of funds, who makes a report pursuant to this section or who testifies in any administrative or judicial proceeding arising from the report shall be immune from any civil or criminal liability for making such a report or for testifying except for liability for perjury, unless such person acted negligently, recklessly, in bad faith, or with malicious purpose. 8. Within five working days after a report required to be made under this section is received, the person making the report shall be notified in writing of its receipt and of the initiation of the investigation. 9. No person who directs or exercises any authority in an in-home services provider agency shall harass, dismiss or retaliate against an in-home services client or employee because he or she or any member of his or her family has made a report of any violation or suspected violation of laws, ordinances or regulations applying to the in-home services provider agency or any in-home services employee which he or she has reasonable cause to believe has been committed or has occurred. 10. The department shall maintain the employee disqualification list and place on the employee disqualification list the names of any persons who are or have been employed by an in-home service provider agency and who have been finally determined by the department to, pursuant to section 192.2490, have misappropriated any property or funds, or falsified any documents for service delivery of an in-home services client and who came to be known to the person, directly, or indirectly while employed by an in-home services provider agency. (L. 1992 S.B. 573 & 634, A.L. 2003 S.B. 556 & 311, A.L. 2014 H.B. 1299 Revision § 192.1104 merged with S.B. 491 § 197.1032) Effective 8-28-14 (H.B. 1299 Revision); 1-01-17 (S.B. 491) Transferred 2014; formerly 660.305