(by) A custodian of records or departmental report forms incurs no civil or criminal liability under this subsection and may not be found guilty of unprofessional conduct for the release or nonrelease of records or departmental report forms in accordance with this subsection while acting in good faith and within the scope of his or her authority.
388,77
Section
77. 46.90 (6) (c) 1. of the statutes is renumbered 46.90 (9) (a) and amended to read:
46.90 (9) (a) Any person, including the state or any political subdivision of the state, violating this subsection shall be sub. (6) is liable to any person damaged as a result of the violation for such damages as may be proved, together with exemplary damages of not less than $100 nor more than $500 for each violation and such the costs and reasonable actual attorney fees as may be that are incurred by the person damaged. A custodian of records incurs no liability under this subdivision for the release of records in accordance with this subsection while acting in good faith.
388,78
Section
78. 46.90 (6) (c) 2. of the statutes is renumbered 46.90 (9) (b) and amended to read:
46.90 (9) (b) In any action brought under subd. 1. par. (a) in which the court determines that the violator acted in a manner that was knowing and willful, the violator shall be liable for such damages as may be proved together with exemplary damages of not less than $500 nor more than $1,000 for each violation, together with costs and reasonable actual attorney fees as may be incurred. It is not a prerequisite to an action under this paragraph par. (a) that the plaintiff suffer or be threatened with actual damages.
388,79
Section
79. 46.90 (6) (c) 3. of the statutes is renumbered 46.90 (9) (c) and amended to read:
46.90 (9) (c) An individual may bring an action to enjoin any violation of this subsection sub. (6) or to compel compliance with this subsection sub. (6), and may in the same action seek damages as provided in this paragraph subsection. The individual may recover costs and reasonable actual attorney fees as may be incurred in the action, if he or she prevails.
388,80
Section
80. 46.90 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:
46.90 (7) Exception. Nothing in this section shall may be construed to mean that a person is abused,
financially exploited, neglected or in need of direct or protective services solely because he or she consistently relies upon treatment by spiritual means through prayer for healing in lieu of medical care in accordance with his or her religious tradition.
388,81
Section
81. 46.90 (8) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
46.90 (8) (a) The department shall develop a plan to assist county elder-adult-at-risk agencies in determining appropriate responses to reports of abuse, material abuse financial exploitation, neglect, or self-neglect.
388,82
Section
82. 46.90 (8) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
46.90 (8) (b) The department shall prepare and distribute sample departmental report forms for use by county elder-adult-at-risk agencies.
388,83
Section
83. 46.90 (8) (c) and (d) of the statutes are amended to read:
46.90 (8) (c) The department shall collect statistical information from each county pertaining to each reported case of abuse, material abuse financial exploitation, neglect, or self-neglect. The department may require investigators elder-adult-at-risk agency workers or investigators to submit statements departmental report forms to the department that summarize the information being reported. These summary statements departmental report forms may not name or otherwise identify individual persons individuals. The department shall use this information to review the effectiveness of this section, to plan program changes, and to formulate reports.
(d) The department shall develop and disseminate information on elder elder-adult-at-risk abuse and the elder abuse reporting system under this section. The department shall also develop informational materials to be used by county elder-adult-at-risk agencies regarding elder abuse of elder adults at risk and regarding the elder abuse reporting system. The department shall solicit contributions of labor, materials, and expertise from private sources to assist in developing the informational materials.
388,84
Section
84. 46.90 (9) (title) and (e) of the statutes are created to read:
46.90 (9) (title) Penalties.
(e) Whoever intentionally violates sub. (4) (ad) by failure to report as required may be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned not more than 6 months or both.
388,92
Section
92. 51.01 (2g) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
51.01 (2g) (b) "Brain injury" does not include alcoholism, Alzheimer's disease as specified under s. 46.87 (1) (a), or the infirmities of aging as specified under s. 55.01 (3) degenerative brain disorder, as defined in s. 55.01 (1v).
388,93
Section
93. 51.01 (3g) of the statutes is amended to read:
51.01 (3g) "Chronic mental illness" means a mental illness which that is severe in degree and persistent in duration, which that causes a substantially diminished level of functioning in the primary aspects of daily living and an inability to cope with the ordinary demands of life, which that may lead to an inability to maintain stable adjustment and independent functioning without long-term treatment and support, and which
that may be of lifelong duration. "Chronic mental illness" includes schizophrenia as well as a wide spectrum of psychotic and other severely disabling psychiatric diagnostic categories, but does not include infirmities of aging
degenerative brain disorder, as defined in s. 55.01 (1v), or a primary diagnosis of mental retardation or of alcohol or drug dependence.
388,94
Section
94. 51.01 (5) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
51.01 (5) (a) "Developmental disability" means a disability attributable to brain injury, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, Prader-Willi syndrome, mental retardation, or another neurological condition closely related to mental retardation or requiring treatment similar to that required for mental retardation, which has continued or can be expected to continue indefinitely and constitutes a substantial handicap to the afflicted individual. "Developmental disability" does not include senility which is primarily caused by the process of aging or the infirmities of aging degenerative brain disorder, as defined in s. 55.01 (1v).
388,95
Section
95. 51.30 (4) (b) 17. of the statutes is amended to read:
51.30 (4) (b) 17. To the county elder-adult-at-risk agency designated under s. 46.90 (2) or other investigating agency under s. 46.90 for the purposes of s. 46.90 (4) (a) and (5), to the county department, as defined in s. 48.02 (2g), or the sheriff or police department for the purposes of s. 48.981 (2) and (3), or to the county protective services adult-at-risk agency designated under s. 55.02 for purposes of s. 55.043. The treatment record holder may release treatment record information by initiating contact with the county protective services elder-adult-at-risk agency, adult-at-risk agency, or county department, as defined in s. 48.02 (2g), without first receiving a request for release of the treatment record from the county protective services elder-adult-at-risk agency, adult-at-risk agency, or county department.
388,96
Section
96. 51.42 (3) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
51.42 (3) (e) Exchange of information. Notwithstanding ss. 46.2895 (9), 48.78 (2) (a), 49.45 (4), 49.83, 51.30, 51.45 (14) (a), 55.06 (17) (c), 146.82, 252.11 (7), 253.07 (3) (c) and 938.78 (2) (a), any subunit of a county department of community programs or tribal agency acting under this section may exchange confidential information about a client, without the informed consent of the client, with any other subunit of the same county department of community programs or tribal agency, with a resource center, a care management organization, or a family care district, or with any person providing services to the client under a purchase of services contract with the county department of community programs or tribal agency or with a resource center, care management organization, or family care district, if necessary to enable an employee or service provider to perform his or her duties, or to enable the county department of community programs or tribal agency to coordinate the delivery of services to the client. Any agency releasing information under this paragraph shall document that a request was received and what information was provided.
388,97
Section
97. 51.437 (4r) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
51.437 (4r) (b) Notwithstanding ss. 46.2895 (9), 48.78 (2) (a), 49.45 (4), 49.83, 51.30, 51.45 (14) (a), 55.06 (17) (c), 146.82, 252.11 (7), 253.07 (3) (c) and 938.78 (2) (a), any subunit of the a county department of developmental disabilities services or tribal agency acting under this section may exchange confidential information about a client, without the informed consent of the client, with any other subunit of the same county department of developmental disabilities services or tribal agency, with a resource center, a care management organization, or a family care district, or with any person providing services to the client under a purchase of services contract with the county department of developmental disabilities services or tribal agency or with a resource center, a care management organization, or a family care district, if necessary to enable an employee or service provider to perform his or her duties, or to enable the county department of developmental disabilities services or tribal agency to coordinate the delivery of services to the client. Any agency releasing information under this paragraph shall document that a request was received and what information was provided.
388,98
Section
98. 51.62 (1) (ag) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:
51.62 (1) (ag) "Abuse" has the meaning given in s. 46.90 (1) (a).
388,99
Section
99. 51.62 (1) (ar) of the statutes is created to read:
51.62 (1) (ar) "Financial exploitation" has the meaning given in s. 46.90 (1) (ed).
388,100
Section
100. 51.62 (1) (br) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:
51.62 (1) (br) "Neglect" has the meaning given in s. 46.90 (1) (f).
388,101
Section
101. 51.62 (3) (a) 2m. of the statutes is amended to read:
51.62 (3) (a) 2m. Have immediate access to any person individual with mental illness or developmental disability, regardless of age, who has requested services or on whose behalf services have been requested from the protection and advocacy agency or concerning whom the protection and advocacy agency has reasonable cause to believe that abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, or a violation of rights of the individual has occurred.
388,102
Section
102. 55.001 of the statutes is amended to read:
55.001 Declaration of policy. The legislature recognizes that many citizens of the state, because of the infirmities of aging, chronic mental illness, mental retardation, other degenerative brain disorders, developmental disabilities, or like incapacities incurred at any age, are in need of protective services. Except as provided in s. 49.45 (30m) (a), these services should, to the maximum degree of feasibility under programs, services and resources that the county board of supervisors is reasonably able to provide within the limits of available state and federal funds and of county funds required to be appropriated to match state funds, allow the individual the same rights as other citizens, and at the same time protect the individual from financial exploitation, abuse and degrading treatment, neglect, and self-neglect. This chapter is designed to establish those services and assure their availability to all persons individuals when in need of them, and to place the least possible restriction on personal liberty and exercise of constitutional rights consistent with due process and protection from abuse, financial exploitation and, neglect, and self-neglect.
388,103
Section
103. 55.01 (1) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:
55.01 (1) "Abuse" has the meaning given in s. 46.90 (1) (a).
388,104
Section
104. 55.01 (1e) of the statutes is created to read:
55.01 (1e) "Adult at risk" means any adult who has a physical or mental condition that substantially impairs his or her ability to care for his or her needs and who has experienced, is currently experiencing, or is at risk of experiencing abuse, neglect, self-neglect, or financial exploitation.
388,105
Section
105. 55.01 (1f) of the statutes is created to read:
55.01 (1f) "Adult-at-risk agency" means the agency designated by the county board of supervisors under s. 55.043 (1) to receive, respond to, and investigate reports of abuse, neglect, self-neglect, and financial exploitation under s. 55.043.
388,106
Section
106. 55.01 (1m) of the statutes is amended to read:
55.01 (1m) "Bodily harm" has the meaning given in s. 939.22 (4) 46.90 (1) (aj).
388,107
Section
107. 55.01 (1p) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:
55.01 (1p) "Caregiver" has the meaning given in s. 46.90 (1) (an).
388,108
Section
108. 55.01 (1t) of the statutes is repealed.
388,109
Section
109. 55.01 (1v) of the statutes is created to read:
55.01 (1v) "Degenerative brain disorder" means the loss or dysfunction of an individual's brain cells to the extent that he or she is substantially impaired in his or her ability to provide adequately for his or her own care or custody.
388,110
Section
110. 55.01 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:
55.01 (2) "Developmentally disabled person" means any individual having a disability attributable to mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism or another neurological condition closely related to mental retardation or requiring treatment similar to that required for mentally retarded individuals, which has continued or can be expected to continue indefinitely, substantially impairs the individual from adequately providing for his or her own care or custody, and constitutes a substantial handicap to the afflicted individual. The term does not include a person affected by senility which is primarily caused by the process of aging or the infirmities of aging with degenerative brain disorder.
388,111
Section
111. 55.01 (2s) of the statutes is created to read:
55.01 (2s) "Financial exploitation" has the meaning given in s. 46.90 (1) (ed).
388,112
Section
112. 55.01 (3) of the statutes is repealed.
388,113
Section
113. 55.01 (4g) of the statutes is created to read:
55.01 (4g) "Investigative agency" has the meaning given in s. 46.90 (1) (er).
388,114
Section
114. 55.01 (4p) of the statutes is repealed.
388,115
Section
115. 55.01 (4r) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:
55.01 (4r) "Neglect" has the meaning given in s. 46.90 (1) (f).
388,116
Section
116. 55.01 (6) of the statutes is created to read:
55.01 (6) "Self-neglect" has the meaning given in s. 46.90 (1) (g).
388,117
Section
117. 55.01 (6d) of the statutes is created to read:
55.01 (6d) "State governmental agency" has the meaning given for "agency" in s. 16.417 (1) (a).
388,118
Section
118. 55.01 (6g) of the statutes is created to read:
55.01 (6g) "State official" has the meaning given in s. 46.90 (1) (gr).
388,119
Section
119. 55.01 (7) of the statutes is repealed.
388,120
Section
120. 55.02 of the statutes is amended to read:
55.02 Protective service system; establishment. The department shall develop a statewide system of protective service services for mentally retarded and other developmentally disabled persons, for aged infirm persons, for persons with degenerative brain disorders, chronically mentally ill persons, and for persons with other like incapacities incurred at any age, in accordance with rules promulgated by the department. The protective service system shall be designed to encourage independent living and to avoid protective placement whenever possible. The system shall use the planning and advice of agencies, including the county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, 46.23, 51.42, or 51.437. The chairperson of each county board of supervisors shall designate a county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, 51.42, or 51.437 that is providing services in his or her county or a joint mechanism of these county departments to have the responsibility for local planning for the protective service system. The chairperson of the Milwaukee County board of supervisors Each county board shall designate the county department under s. 46.215 an agency to serve as the county protective services
adult-at-risk agency for purposes of s. 55.043. The department and these county departments shall cooperate in developing a coordinated system of services. The department shall provide direct services and enter into contracts with any responsible public or private agency for provision of protective services. In each county, the county department designated under this section shall determine the reporting requirements applicable to the county under s. 880.38 (3).
388,121
Section
121. 55.043 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
55.043 (title) County protective services Adult-at-risk agency.
388,122
Section
122. 55.043 (1) (title) of the statutes is repealed.
388,123
Section
123. 55.043 (1) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 55.043 (1r) (a) 1g. and amended to read:
55.043 (1r) (a) 1g. If a county protective services Except as otherwise provided, if an adult-at-risk agency has probable cause reason to believe that there is misappropriation of property or an adult at risk has been the subject of abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, or abuse of a vulnerable adult, the county protective services self-neglect, the adult-at-risk agency may conduct an investigation in Milwaukee County respond, including by conducting an investigation, to determine if the vulnerable adult in question whether the adult at risk is in need of protective services. The county protective services agency shall conduct the investigation in accordance with standards established by the department for conducting the investigations. The investigation shall include at least one of the following: If an adult-at-risk agency has reason to believe that there is abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, or self-neglect of an adult at risk who is a client, as defined in s. 50.065 (1) (b), of an entity, as defined in s. 50.065 (1) (c), and if the person suspected of perpetrating the alleged abuse, financial exploitation, or neglect is a caregiver or nonclient resident of the entity, the adult-at-risk agency shall refer the report within 24 hours after the report is received to the department for investigation. The department shall coordinate its investigatory efforts with other investigative agencies or authorities as appropriate. An adult-at-risk agency's response to or another investigative agency's investigation of a report of abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, or self-neglect that is not referred to the department shall be commenced within 24 hours after a report is received, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays.
388,124
Section
124. 55.043 (1) (a) 1. of the statutes is renumbered 55.043 (1r) (b) 2. and amended to read:
55.043 (1r) (b) 2. Observation of or an interview with the vulnerable adult, in private to the extent practicable, and the adult at risk, with or without consent of his or her guardian or agent under an activated power of attorney for health care, if any.
388,125
Section
125. 55.043 (1) (a) 2. of the statutes is renumbered 55.043 (1r) (b) 1. and amended to read:
55.043 (1r) (b) 1. A visit to the residence of the
vulnerable adult at risk.
388,126
Section
126. 55.043 (1) (a) 3. of the statutes is renumbered 55.043 (1r) (b) 4. and amended to read:
55.043 (1r) (b) 4. An interview with the guardian
or agent under an activated power of attorney for health care, if any, and with the caretaker, if any,
any caregiver of the vulnerable adult at risk.
388,127
Section
127. 55.043 (1) (a) 4. of the statutes is renumbered 55.043 (1r) (b) 5. and amended to read:
55.043 (1r) (b) 5. A review of the treatment and patient health care records of the vulnerable adult
at risk.
388,128
Section
128. 55.043 (1) (a) 5. of the statutes is renumbered 55.043 (1r) (b) 6. (intro.) and amended to read:
55.043 (1r) (b) 6. (intro.) A review of those any financial records, if any, of the vulnerable adult at risk that are maintained by the caretaker or landlord
a financial institution, as defined in s. 705.01 (3); by an entity, as defined in s. 50.065 (1) (c); by any caregiver of the vulnerable adult at risk; or by a member of the immediate family of the vulnerable adult, the caretaker or the landlord. at risk. The records shall be released without informed consent in either of the following circumstances:
388,129
Section
129. 55.043 (1) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 55.043 (1r) (c) (intro.) and amended to read:
