The board must adopt complaint-investigation procedures and cannot act on complaints about violations alleged to be more than seven years old.
Sec. 555.007. GENERAL RULES REGARDING COMPLAINT INVESTIGATION AND DISPOSITION. (a) The board shall adopt policies and procedures concerning the investigation of a complaint filed with the board. The policies and procedures must: (1) determine the seriousness of the complaint; (2) ensure that a complaint is not closed without appropriate consideration; (3) ensure that a letter is sent to the person who filed the complaint explaining the action taken on the complaint; (4) ensure that the person who filed the complaint has an opportunity to explain the allegations made in the complaint; (5) prescribe guidelines concerning the types of complaints that require the use of a private investigator and the procedures for the board to obtain the services of a private investigator; and (6) allow appropriate employees of the board to dismiss a complaint if an investigation shows that: (A) no violation occurred; or (B) the subject of the complaint is outside the board's jurisdiction. (b) The board shall: (1) dispose of a complaint in a timely manner; and (2) establish a schedule for conducting each phase of the investigation or disposition that is under the control of the board. (c) At each public meeting of the board, the executive director shall report to the board each complaint dismissed under Subsection (a)(6) since the board's last public meeting. (d) The board may not consider or act on a complaint involving a violation alleged to have occurred more than seven years before the date the complaint is received by the board. Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 388, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1999. Amended by: Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 1345 (S.B. 410), Sec. 12, eff. September 1, 2005. Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 522 (S.B. 404), Sec. 2, eff. September 1, 2013.