213.131. 1. No local commission shall have authority tohear complaints of violations of this chapter unless suchmunicipal or county commission has first been certified to besubstantially equivalent by the commission. The commission shallcertify a local commission as substantially equivalent if theordinance establishing the local commission providessubstantially similar protection of the procedural rights ofparties appearing before the local commission as are provided forby the provisions of this chapter.
2. The commission shall review the certification of eachlocal commission at least once every five years to determinewhether it is appropriately safeguarding the procedural andsubstantive rights of parties appearing before it. Should thecommission determine that a local commission is not adequatelyprotecting the rights of parties appearing before it, it shalldirect the commission staff to enter into negotiations with thelocal commission for the purpose of attempting to correct anydeficiencies. Any decision to decertify a local commission shallbe appealable to circuit court pursuant to the provisions ofchapter 536, RSMo.
(L. 1992 H.B. 1619)