Missouri Laws 374.085 – Division of consumer affairs, duties — legal adviser may assist
1. The division of consumer affairs of the department of commerce and insurance shall perform the following functions:
(1) The division shall receive complaints and inquiries from the general public concerning insurance companies, health services corporations and health maintenance organizations, their agents and employees, insurance producers, and any other persons licensed by or registered with the department, except those licensed by the division of finance, credit unions or professional registration, or any boards assigned to those divisions;
Terms Used In Missouri Laws 374.085
- Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
- Department: the department of commerce and insurance. See Missouri Laws 374.005
- Director: the director of the department of commerce and insurance. See Missouri Laws 374.005
- following: when used by way of reference to any section of the statutes, mean the section next preceding or next following that in which the reference is made, unless some other section is expressly designated in the reference. See Missouri Laws 1.020
- person: as used in this chapter shall include any individual, partnership, corporation, association or trust, or any other legal entity. See Missouri Laws 374.046
- 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
(2) The division shall maintain records of each complaint received and the disposition of that complaint, indexed by type of complaint, company, and such other factors as the section deems appropriate;
(3) The division shall operate a statewide toll-free telephone service to receive complaints and inquiries, and shall publicize the existence of this service to the general public;
(4) The division shall investigate complaints received of unfair or unlawful acts under the insurance laws of this state and shall close the file on each investigation only when the director of the consumer services division is satisfied that the person or persons complained against have taken a fair and reasonable position or one which is legally correct;
(5) The division shall prepare such brochures and other documents as it deems appropriate to help inform the general public on such topics as the state’s insurance laws, insurance practices, policy coverages and policy costs; and
(6) The division shall recommend changes to state statutes when it considers such statutes to adversely or unfairly affect the interests of the general public.
2. In performing the functions of this section, the consumer services division may be assisted by a legal adviser. The legal adviser shall be an attorney licensed to practice law in the state of Missouri and shall possess a knowledge of the state’s insurance laws and regulations.