AB539, s. 128 22Section 128. 55.043 (1) (a) 5. of the statutes is renumbered 55.043 (1r) (b) 6.
23(intro.) and amended to read:
AB539,47,524 55.043 (1r) (b) 6. (intro.) A review of those any financial records, if any, of the
25vulnerable adult at risk that are maintained by the caretaker or landlord a financial

1institution, as defined in s. 705.01 (3); by an entity, as defined in s. 50.065 (1) (c); by
2any caregiver
of the vulnerable adult at risk; or by a member of the immediate family
3of the vulnerable adult, at risk or the caretaker or the landlord. caregiver. The
4records shall be released without informed consent in either of the following
5circumstances:
AB539, s. 129 6Section 129. 55.043 (1) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 55.043 (1r)
7(c) (intro.) and amended to read:
AB539,47,108 55.043 (1r) (c) (intro.) The county protective services adult-at-risk agency or
9other investigative agency
may transport the vulnerable adult at risk for
10performance of a medical examination by a physician if any of the following applies:
AB539, s. 130 11Section 130. 55.043 (1) (b) 1. of the statutes is renumbered 55.043 (1r) (c) 1.
12and amended to read:
AB539,47,1513 55.043 (1r) (c) 1. The vulnerable adult at risk or his or her guardian or agent
14under an activated power of attorney for health care
, if any, consents to the
15examination.
AB539, s. 131 16Section 131. 55.043 (1) (b) 2. (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 55.043 (1r)
17(c) 2. (intro.) and amended to read:
AB539,47,1918 55.043 (1r) (c) 2. (intro.) The vulnerable adult at risk is incapable of consenting
19to the examination and one of the following applies:
AB539, s. 132 20Section 132. 55.043 (1) (b) 2. a. of the statutes is renumbered 55.043 (1r) (c)
212. a. and amended to read:
AB539,47,2322 55.043 (1r) (c) 2. a. The vulnerable adult at risk has no guardian or agent under
23an activated power of attorney for health care
.
AB539, s. 133 24Section 133. 55.043 (1) (b) 2. b. of the statutes is renumbered 55.043 (1r) (c)
252. c. and amended to read:
AB539,48,2
155.043 (1r) (c) 2. c. The vulnerable adult's guardian refuses to consent to the
2examination, but the
examination is authorized by order of a court.
AB539, s. 134 3Section 134. 55.043 (1d) of the statutes is created to read:
AB539,48,54 55.043 (1d) Adult-at-risk agency designation. Each county board shall
5designate an agency as the adult-at-risk agency for the purposes of this section.
AB539, s. 135 6Section 135. 55.043 (1g) of the statutes is created to read:
AB539,48,177 55.043 (1g) Adult-at-risk agency duties. (a) Each adult-at-risk agency shall
8develop a policy for notifying other investigative agencies, including law
9enforcement officials in appropriate cases, and shall establish an adult-at-risk
10abuse reporting system to carry out the purposes of this section. Each adult-at-risk
11agency shall enter into a memorandum of understanding regarding the operation of
12the system with the county department under s. 46.215 or 46.22 and with any private
13or public agency, including a county department under s. 51.42 or 51.437, within the
14county that is participating in the adult-at-risk abuse reporting system. The
15memorandum of understanding shall, at a minimum, identify the agencies that are
16responsible for the investigation of reports of abuse, financial exploitation, neglect,
17or self-neglect of adults at risk and for the provision of specific direct services.
AB539,48,1918 (b) Each adult-at-risk agency shall receive reports of abuse, financial
19exploitation, neglect, or self-neglect of adults at risk.
AB539,48,2520 (c) Each adult-at-risk agency shall publicize the existence of an adult-at-risk
21abuse reporting system in the county and shall provide a publicized telephone
22number that can be used by persons wishing to report suspected cases of abuse,
23financial exploitation, neglect, or self-neglect of adults at risk. Each adult-at-risk
24agency shall also provide a telephone number that can be used by persons to make
25reports after the adult-at-risk agency's regular business hours.
AB539, s. 136
1Section 136. 55.043 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:
AB539,49,32 55.043 (1m) Reporting. (a) The following persons shall file reports as specified
3in par. (b):
AB539,49,54 1. An employee of any entity that is licensed, certified, or approved by or
5registered with the department.
AB539,49,66 2. An employee of a financial institution, as defined in s. 705.01 (3).
AB539,49,77 3. A health care provider, as defined in s. 155.01 (7).
AB539,49,98 4. A social worker, professional counselor, or marriage and family therapist
9certified under ch. 457.
AB539,49,1510 (b) Except as provided in par. (be), a person specified in par. (a) who has seen
11an adult at risk in the course of the person's professional duties shall file a report with
12the county department, the adult-at-risk agency, a state or local law enforcement
13agency, the department, or the board on aging and long-term care if the adult at risk
14has requested the person to make the report, or if the person has reasonable cause
15to believe that any of the following situations exist:
AB539,49,1816 1. The adult at risk is at imminent risk of serious bodily harm, death, sexual
17assault, or significant property loss and is unable to make an informed judgment
18about whether to report the risk.
AB539,49,2119 2. An adult at risk other than the subject of the report is at risk of serious bodily
20harm, death, sexual assault, or significant property loss inflicted by a suspected
21perpetrator.
AB539,49,2522 (be) A person specified in par. (a) is not required to file a report as provided in
23par. (b) if the person believes that filing a report would not be in the best interest of
24the adult at risk. If the person so believes, the person shall document the reasons
25for this belief in the case file that the person maintains on the adult at risk.
AB539,50,9
1(br) Any person, including an attorney or a person working under the
2supervision of an attorney, may report to the county department, adult-at-risk
3agency, a state or local law enforcement agency, the department, or the board on
4aging and long-term care that he or she believes that abuse, financial exploitation,
5neglect, or self-neglect of an adult at risk has occurred if the person is aware of facts
6or circumstances that would lead a reasonable person to believe or suspect that
7abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, or self-neglect of an adult at risk has occurred.
8The person shall indicate the facts and circumstances of the situation as part of the
9report.
AB539,50,1110 (c) 1. a. No person may discharge or otherwise retaliate or discriminate against
11any person for reporting in good faith under this subsection.
AB539,50,1412 b. No person may discharge or otherwise retaliate or discriminate against any
13individual on whose behalf another person has reported in good faith under this
14subsection.
AB539,50,2015 d. Any discharge of a person or act of retaliation or discrimination that is taken
16against a person who makes a report under this subsection, within 120 days after the
17report is made, establishes a rebuttable presumption that the discharge or act is
18made in response to the report. This presumption may be rebutted by a
19preponderance of evidence that the discharge or act was not made in response to the
20report.
AB539,50,2321 2. b. Any employee of an employer who is discharged or otherwise
22discriminated against may file a complaint with the department of workforce
23development under s. 106.54 (5).
AB539,51,3
1c. Any person not described in subd. 2. b. who is retaliated or discriminated
2against in violation of subd. 1. a. or b. may commence an action in circuit court for
3damages incurred as a result of the violation.
AB539,51,74 (d) No person may be held civilly or criminally liable or be found guilty of
5unprofessional conduct for reporting in good faith under this subsection, or for filing
6a report with an agency not listed in par. (b) (intro.) or (br) if the person had a good
7faith belief that the report was filed correctly with one of the listed agencies.
AB539,51,98 (e) If a report under par. (b) or (br) is made to a state official, the state official
9shall refer the report to the appropriate adult-at-risk agency.
AB539,51,1110 (f) Any person making a report under this subsection is presumed to have
11reported in good faith.
AB539, s. 137 12Section 137. 55.043 (1r) (title) of the statutes is created to read:
AB539,51,1313 55.043 (1r) (title) Response and investigation.
AB539, s. 138 14Section 138. 55.043 (1r) (a) 2. of the statutes is created to read:
AB539,51,2515 55.043 (1r) (a) 2. If an agent or employee of an adult-at-risk agency authorized
16required to respond under this subsection is the subject of a report, or if the
17adult-at-risk agency or an agency under contract with the county department
18determines that the relationship between the adult-at-risk agency and the agency
19under contract with the county department would not allow for an unbiased
20response, the adult-at-risk agency shall, after taking any action necessary to protect
21the adult at risk, notify the department. Upon receipt of the notice, the department
22or a county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, 51.42, or 51.437 designated by the
23department shall conduct an independent investigation. The powers and duties of
24a county department making the independent investigation are those given to an
25adult-at-risk agency under pars. (b) to (g) and sub. (6).
AB539, s. 139
1Section 139. 55.043 (1r) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is created to read:
AB539,52,32 55.043 (1r) (b) (intro.) The adult-at-risk agency's response or another
3investigative agency's investigation may include one or more of the following:
AB539, s. 140 4Section 140. 55.043 (1r) (b) 3. of the statutes is created to read:
AB539,52,75 55.043 (1r) (b) 3. An interview with the adult at risk, in private to the extent
6practicable, and with or without consent of his or her guardian or agent under an
7activated power of attorney for health care, if any.
AB539, s. 141 8Section 141. 55.043 (1r) (b) 6. a. of the statutes is created to read:
AB539,52,139 55.043 (1r) (b) 6. a. To an adult-at-risk agency or other investigative agency
10under this section. The financial record holder may release financial record
11information by initiating contact with the adult-at-risk agency or other
12investigative agency without first receiving a request for release of the information
13from the adult-at-risk agency or other investigative agency.
AB539, s. 142 14Section 142. 55.043 (1r) (b) 6. b. of the statutes is created to read:
AB539,52,1515 55.043 (1r) (b) 6. b. Under a lawful order of a court of record.
AB539, s. 143 16Section 143. 55.043 (1r) (c) 2. b. of the statutes is created to read:
AB539,52,1917 55.043 (1r) (c) 2. b. The adult at risk has a guardian or agent under an activated
18power of attorney for health care, but that guardian or agent is the person suspected
19of abusing, neglecting, or financially exploiting the adult at risk.
AB539, s. 144 20Section 144. 55.043 (1r) (d) of the statutes is created to read:
AB539,52,2521 55.043 (1r) (d) No person may be held civilly or criminally liable or be found
22guilty of unprofessional conduct for responding to a report or for participating in or
23conducting an investigation under this subsection, including the taking of
24photographs or conducting of a medical examination, if the response or investigation
25was performed in good faith and within the scope of his or her authority.
AB539, s. 145
1Section 145. 55.043 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 55.043 (2) (a) and
2amended to read:
AB539,53,93 55.043 (2) (a) The county protective services adult-at-risk agency may request
4a sheriff or police officer to accompany the adult-at-risk agency investigator or
5worker
during visits to the residence of the vulnerable adult adult at risk or request
6other assistance as needed. If the request is made, a sheriff or police officer shall
7accompany the adult-at-risk agency investigator of the county protective services
8agency
or worker to the residence of the vulnerable adult adult at risk and shall
9provide other assistance as requested or necessary.
AB539, s. 146 10Section 146. 55.043 (2) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
AB539,53,1511 55.043 (2) (b) If the adult-at-risk agency worker or investigator or other
12agency investigator has reason to believe that substantial physical harm,
13irreparable injury, or death may occur to an adult at risk, the worker or investigator
14shall either initiate a protective services action under this chapter or contact law
15enforcement or another public agency, as appropriate.
AB539, s. 147 16Section 147. 55.043 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB539,53,2217 55.043 (3) Restraining order; injunction. If a person other than the
18vulnerable adult
interferes with the response or investigation under sub. (1) (1r) or
19interferes with the delivery of protective services under this chapter to the
20vulnerable adult at risk, the county protective services adult-at-risk agency
21investigator or worker may obtain a restraining apply for an order or injunction
22under s. 813.123 against the person prohibiting the interference.
AB539, s. 148 23Section 148. 55.043 (4) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB539,53,2424 55.043 (4) (title) Offer of services and referral of cases.
AB539, s. 149
1Section 149. 55.043 (4) (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 55.043 (4) (b)
2(intro.) and amended to read:
AB539,54,73 55.043 (4) (b) (intro.) If upon investigation, after responding to a report, the
4county protective services adult-at-risk agency finds misappropriation of property
5or
has reason to believe that the adult at risk has been the subject of abuse, financial
6exploitation,
neglect or abuse of a vulnerable adult , or self-neglect, the county
7protective services
adult-at-risk agency may do one or more any of the following:
AB539, s. 150 8Section 150. 55.043 (4) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 55.043 (4) (b) 1. and
9amended to read:
AB539,54,1210 55.043 (4) (b) 1. Offer services, including Initiate a protective services under
11s. 55.05, a protective placement under s. 55.06, relocation assistance or other services

12action or contact an investigative agency, as appropriate.
AB539, s. 151 13Section 151. 55.043 (4) (am) of the statutes is created to read:
AB539,54,1914 55.043 (4) (am) Upon responding to a report, the adult-at-risk agency or the
15investigative agency shall determine whether the adult at risk or any other
16individual involved in the alleged abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, or
17self-neglect is in need of services under this chapter or ch. 46, 47, 59, 51, or 880. If
18provided, direct services shall be rendered under the least restrictive conditions
19necessary to achieve their objective.
AB539, s. 152 20Section 152. 55.043 (4) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 55.043 (4) (b) 2. and
21amended to read:
AB539,55,222 55.043 (4) (b) 2. Take appropriate emergency action, including emergency
23protective placement under s. 55.06, if the county protective services adult-at-risk
24agency considers that the emergency action is in the vulnerable adult's best interests

1of the adult at risk and the emergency action is the least restrictive appropriate
2intervention.
AB539, s. 153 3Section 153. 55.043 (4) (c) of the statutes is renumbered 55.043 (4) (b) 3. and
4amended to read:
AB539,55,85 55.043 (4) (b) 3. Refer the case to local law enforcement officials under, as
6specified in
sub. (2), for further investigation or to the district attorney, if the county
7protective services
adult-at-risk agency has reason to believe that a violation of chs.
8939 to 951 has occurred
crime has been committed.
AB539, s. 154 9Section 154. 55.043 (4) (d) of the statutes is renumbered 55.043 (4) (b) 4. and
10amended to read:
AB539,55,1411 55.043 (4) (b) 4. Refer the case to the licensing permitting, registration, or
12certification authorities of the department or to other regulatory bodies if the
13residence, facility, or program for the vulnerable adult at risk is or should be licensed,
14permitted, registered,
or certified or is otherwise regulated.
AB539, s. 155 15Section 155. 55.043 (4) (e) of the statutes is renumbered 55.043 (4) (b) 5. and
16amended to read:
AB539,55,2017 55.043 (4) (b) 5. Refer the case to the department of regulation and licensing
18if the misappropriation of property or financial exploitation, neglect, self-neglect, or
19abuse involves an individual who is required to hold a credential, as defined in s.
20440.01 (2) (a), under chs. 440 to 460.
AB539, s. 156 21Section 156. 55.043 (4) (f) of the statutes is renumbered 55.043 (4) (b) 6. and
22amended to read:
AB539,56,323 55.043 (4) (b) 6. Bring or refer for action to bring a petition for a guardianship
24and protective service services or protective placement or a review of an existing
25guardianship
if necessary to prevent misappropriation of property or financial

1exploitation,
neglect, self-neglect, or abuse and if the vulnerable adult at risk would
2otherwise be at risk of serious harm because of an inability to arrange for necessary
3food, clothing, shelter and, or services.
AB539, s. 157 4Section 157. 55.043 (5) of the statutes is repealed.
AB539, s. 158 5Section 158. 55.043 (5g) of the statutes is created to read:
AB539,56,96 55.043 (5g) Refusal of services. An adult at risk may refuse to accept services
7unless a guardian authorizes the services. The adult-at-risk agency or other
8provider agency shall notify the adult at risk of this right to refuse before providing
9services.
AB539, s. 159 10Section 159. 55.043 (6) of the statutes is created to read:
AB539,56,1111 55.043 (6) Records; confidentiality. (a) In this subsection:
AB539,56,1412 1. "Departmental report form" includes documentation of an adult-at-risk
13agency's response to or investigation of a report made under sub. (1r) and is the
14information required to be submitted to the department.
AB539,56,1615 2. "Record" includes any document relating to the response, investigation,
16assessment, and disposition of a report made under sub. (1r).
AB539,56,2217 (am) The adult-at-risk agency shall prepare a departmental report form on its
18response under sub. (1r) to a report of suspected abuse, financial exploitation,
19neglect, or self-neglect. If the adult-at-risk agency refers the report to an
20investigative agency, the investigative agency shall advise the adult-at-risk agency
21in writing of its response to the report. The adult-at-risk agency shall maintain
22records of suspected abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, or self-neglect.
AB539,56,2523 (b) Departmental report forms are confidential and may not be released by the
24adult-at-risk agency or other investigative agency, except under the following
25circumstances:
AB539,57,6
11. To the adult at risk, any person named in a departmental report form who
2is suspected of abusing, neglecting, or financially exploiting an adult-at-risk, and
3the suspect's attorney. These persons may inspect the departmental report form,
4except that information identifying the person who initially reported the suspected
5abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, or self-neglect, or any other person whose
6safety might be endangered through disclosure, may not be released.
AB539,57,87 2. To the agency or other entity contacted under sub. (2) (b). Information
8obtained under this subdivision shall remain confidential.
AB539,57,139 3. To an individual, organization, or agency designated by the department or
10as required by law for the purposes of management audits or program monitoring
11and evaluation. Information obtained under this subdivision shall remain
12confidential and may not be used in any way that discloses the names of or other
13identifying information about the individuals involved.
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