Missouri Laws 324.1136 – Record-keeping requirements — investigatory powers of the board
1. Each licensee operating under the provisions of sections 324.1100 to 324.1148 shall be required to keep a complete record of the business transactions of such investigator or investigator agency for a period of seven years. Upon the service of a court order issued by a court of competent jurisdiction or upon the service of a subpoena issued by the board that is based on a complaint supported by oath or affirmation, which particularly describes the records and reports, any licensee who is the owner, partner, director, corporate officer, or custodian of business records shall provide an opportunity for the inspection of the same and to inspect reports made. Any information obtained by the board shall be kept confidential, except as may be necessary to commence and prosecute any legal proceedings. The board shall not personally enter a licensee’s place of business to inspect records, but shall utilize an employee of the division of professional registration to act as a gatherer of information and facts to present to the board regarding any complaint or inspection under investigation.
2. For the purpose of enforcing the provisions of sections 324.1100 to 324.1148, and in making investigations relating to any violation thereof, the board shall have the power to subpoena and bring before the board any person in this state and require the production of any books, records, or papers which the board deems relevant to the inquiry. The board also may administer an oath to and take the testimony of any person, or cause such person’s deposition to be taken, except that any applicant or licensee or officer, director, partner, or associate thereof shall not be entitled to any fees or mileage. A subpoena issued under this section shall be governed by the Missouri rules of civil procedure and shall comply with any confidentiality standards or legal limitations imposed by privacy or open records acts, fair credit reporting acts, polygraph acts, driver privacy protection acts, judicially recognized privileged communications, and the bill of rights of both the United States and Missouri Constitutions. Any person duly subpoenaed who fails to obey such subpoena without reasonable cause, or without such cause refuses to be examined or to answer any legal or pertinent question as to the character or qualification of such applicant or licensee or such applicant’s alleged unlawful or deceptive practices or methods, shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor. The testimony of witnesses in any investigative proceeding shall be under oath.
Attorney's Note
Under the Missouri Laws, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Class A misdemeanor | up to 1 year | up to $2,000 |
Terms Used In Missouri Laws 324.1136
- Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
- Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
- Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
- Deposition: An oral statement made before an officer authorized by law to administer oaths. Such statements are often taken to examine potential witnesses, to obtain discovery, or to be used later in trial.
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Lawsuit: A legal action started by a plaintiff against a defendant based on a complaint that the defendant failed to perform a legal duty, resulting in harm to the plaintiff.
- Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
- person: may extend and be applied to bodies politic and corporate, and to partnerships and other unincorporated associations. See Missouri Laws 1.020
- Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
- State: when applied to any of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" includes such district and territories. See Missouri Laws 1.020
- Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
- Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
- United States: includes such district and territories. See Missouri Laws 1.020
3. Any licensee who is required by fully executed written contract or court order to destroy, seal, or return to a party to a lawsuit, or to the court, records related to work performed under that contract or court order shall maintain in his or her files a fully executed copy of the contract or court order requiring destruction, sealing, or return of the records. Maintenance of the contract or court order shall fulfill the requirements of this section.