2. To the legal guardian, conservator, or other legal representative of the adult at risk who is the alleged victim named in the record, if the legal guardian, conservator, or other legal representative of the alleged victim is not the alleged perpetrator of the abuse, financial exploitation, or neglect.
3. To law enforcement officials and agencies in accordance with the policy developed under sub. (1g) (a) or with investigations conducted under sub. (1r), or a district attorney, for purposes of investigation or prosecution.
4. To the department, under s. 51.03 (2), or for death investigations under s. 50.04 (2t) or 50.035 (5); or to a sheriff, police department, or district attorney for death investigations under s. 51.64 (2) (a).
5. To an employee of the county department under s. 51.42 or 51.437 that is providing services to an adult at risk who is the alleged victim named in the record, or to the alleged perpetrator of abuse, to determine whether the alleged victim should be transferred to a less restrictive or more appropriate treatment modality or facility.
6. To a court, tribal court, or state governmental agency for a proceeding relating to the licensure or regulation of an individual or entity regulated or licensed by the state governmental agency, that was an alleged perpetrator of abuse, financial exploitation, or neglect.
7. To the department, for management, audit, program monitoring, evaluation, billing, or collection purposes.
8. To the attorney or guardian ad litem for the adult at risk who is the alleged victim named in the record, to assist in preparing for any proceeding under ch. 48, 51, 55, 813, 880, 971, or 975 pertaining to the alleged victim.
9. To a coroner, medical examiner, pathologist, or other physician investigating the cause of death of an adult at risk that is unexplained or unusual or is associated with unexplained or suspicious circumstances.
10. To staff members of the protection and advocacy agency designated under s. 51.62 and the board on aging and long-term care under s. 16.009.
11. To an agency, including a probation or parole agency, that is legally responsible for the supervision of an alleged perpetrator of abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of an adult at risk.
12. To a grand jury, if it determines that access to specified records is necessary for the conduct of its official business.
13. Under a lawful order of a court of record.
(bv) The identity of a person making a report of alleged abuse, neglect, self-neglect, or financial exploitation shall be deleted from any record prior to its release under par. (bt) or from any departmental report form prior to its release under par. (b). The identity of any reporter may only be released with the written consent of the reporter or under a lawful order of a court of record.
(bw) A person to whom a departmental report form or a record is disclosed under this subsection may not further disclose it, except to the persons and for the purposes specified in this subsection.
(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.
388,160
Section
160. 55.043 (7) of the statutes is created to read:
55.043 (7) Exception. Nothing in this section 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.
388,161
Section
161. 55.043 (8) of the statutes is created to read:
55.043 (8) Department duties. (a) The department shall develop a plan to assist adult-at-risk agencies in determining appropriate responses to reports of abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, or self-neglect.
(b) The department shall prepare and distribute sample departmental report forms for use by adult-at-risk agencies.
(c) The department shall collect statistical information from each county pertaining to each reported case of abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, or self-neglect. The department may require adult-at-risk agency workers or investigators to submit departmental report forms to the department that summarize the information being reported. These departmental report forms may not name or otherwise identify 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 adult-at-risk abuse and the adult-at-risk reporting system under this section. The department shall also develop informational materials to be used by adult-at-risk agencies regarding abuse of adults at risk and regarding the adult-at-risk abuse reporting system. The department shall solicit contributions of labor, materials, and expertise from private sources to assist in developing the informational materials.
388,162
Section
162. 55.043 (9) of the statutes is repealed.
388,163
Section
163. 55.043 (9m) of the statutes is created to read:
55.043 (9m) Penalties. (a) Any person, including the state or any political subdivision of the state, violating 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 the costs and reasonable actual attorney fees that are incurred by the person damaged.
(b) In any action brought under 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 par. (a) that the plaintiff suffer or be threatened with actual damages.
(c) An individual may bring an action to enjoin any violation of sub. (6) or to compel compliance with sub. (6), and may in the same action seek damages as provided in this subsection. The individual may recover costs and reasonable actual attorney fees incurred in the action, if he or she prevails.
(d) Whoever violates sub. (1m) (c) 1. may be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than 6 months or both.
(e) Whoever intentionally violates sub. (1m) (b) by failure to report as required may be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned not more than 6 months or both.
388,164
Section
164. 55.06 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
55.06 (2) (c) As a result of developmental disabilities, infirmities of aging degenerative brain disorder, chronic mental illness, or other like incapacities, is so totally incapable of providing for his or her own care or custody as to create a substantial risk of serious harm to oneself himself, herself, or others. Serious harm may be occasioned by overt acts or acts of omission; and
388,165
Section
165. 55.06 (11) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
55.06 (11) (a) If, upon a credible report to or from personal observation of a sheriff, police officer, fire fighter, guardian, if any, or authorized representative of a board designated under s. 55.02 or an agency designated by it, it appears probable that an individual will suffer irreparable injury or death or will present a substantial risk of serious physical harm to others as a result of developmental disabilities, infirmities of aging degenerative brain disorder, chronic mental illness or other like incapacities if not immediately placed, the person making individual under this paragraph who received the credible report or who personally made the observation may take into custody and transport the individual to an appropriate medical or protective placement facility. The person making placement shall prepare a statement at the time of detention providing specific factual information concerning the person's observations and the basis for emergency placement. The statement shall be filed with the director of the facility and shall also be filed with any petition under sub. (2). At the time of placement the individual shall be informed by the director of the facility or the director's designee, both orally and in writing, of his or her right to contact an attorney and a member of his or her immediate family and the right to have an attorney provided at public expense, as provided under s. 967.06 and ch. 977, if the individual is a child or is indigent. The director or designee shall also provide the individual with a copy of the statement by the person making emergency placement.
388,166
Section
166. 106.54 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
106.54 (5) The division shall receive complaints of discharge, retaliation or discrimination under s. 16.009 (5) (d), 46.90 (4) (b) or, 50.07 (3) (b), or 55.043 (1m) (c) and shall process the complaints in the same manner that employment discrimination complaints are processed under s. 111.39.
388,175
Section
175. 146.82 (2) (a) 7. of the statutes is amended to read:
146.82 (2) (a) 7. To a county an elder-adult-at-risk agency designated under s. 46.90 (2) or other investigating agency under s. 46.90 for purposes of s. 46.90 (4) (a) and (5) or to the county protective services an adult-at-risk agency designated under s. 55.02 for purposes of s. 55.043. The health care provider may release information by initiating contact with the county elder-adult-at-risk agency or county protective services adult-at-risk agency without receiving a request for release of the information from the county elder-adult-at-risk agency or county protective services adult-at-risk agency.
388,176
Section
176. 813.123 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
813.123 (title) Vulnerable adult restraining Restraining orders and injunctions for individuals at risk.
388,177
Section
177. 813.123 (1) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:
813.123 (1) (a) "Abuse" has the meaning given in s. 55.01 46.90 (1) (a).
388,178
Section
178. 813.123 (1) (ae) of the statutes is created to read:
813.123 (1) (ae) "Adult at risk" has the meaning given in s. 55.01 (1e).
388,179
Section
179. 813.123 (1) (am) of the statutes is created to read:
813.123 (1) (am) "Adult-at-risk agency" has the meaning given in s. 55.01 (1f).
388,180
Section
180. 813.123 (1) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:
813.123 (1) (b) "Bodily harm" has the meaning given in s. 939.22 (4) 46.90 (1) (aj).
388,181
Section
181. 813.123 (1) (br) of the statutes is created to read:
813.123 (1) (br) "Caregiver" has the meaning given in s. 46.90 (1) (an).
388,182
Section
182. 813.123 (1) (c) of the statutes is repealed.
388,183
Section
183. 813.123 (1) (cg) of the statutes is created to read:
813.123 (1) (cg) "Elder adult at risk" has the meaning given in s. 46.90 (1) (br).
388,184
Section
184. 813.123 (1) (dm) of the statutes is created to read:
813.123 (1) (dm) "Financial exploitation" has the meaning given in s. 46.90 (1) (ed).
388,185
Section
185. 813.123 (1) (eg) of the statutes is created to read:
813.123 (1) (eg) "Harassment" has the meaning given in s. 813.125 (1).
388,186
Section
186. 813.123 (1) (ep) of the statutes is created to read:
813.123 (1) (ep) "Individual at risk" means an elder adult at risk or an adult at risk.
388,187
Section
187. 813.123 (1) (f) of the statutes is repealed.
388,188
Section
188. 813.123 (1) (fm) of the statutes is created to read:
813.123 (1) (fm) "Mistreatment of an animal" means cruel treatment of any animal owned by or in service to an individual at risk.
388,189
Section
189. 813.123 (1) (g) of the statutes is amended to read:
813.123 (1) (g) "Neglect" has the meaning given in s. 55.01 (4r) 46.90 (1) (f).
388,190
Section
190. 813.123 (1) (gr) of the statutes is created to read:
813.123 (1) (gr) "Self-neglect" has the meaning given in s. 46.90 (1) (g).
388,191
Section
191. 813.123 (1) (gs) of the statutes is created to read:
813.123 (1) (gs) "Stalking" means engaging in a course of conduct, as defined in s. 940.32 (1) (a).
388,192
Section
192. 813.123 (1) (h) of the statutes is repealed.
388,193
Section
193. 813.123 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 813.123 (2) (a) and amended to read:
813.123 (2) (a) No action under this section may be commenced by complaint and summons. An action under this section may be commenced only by a petition described under sub. (6). The action commences with service of the petition upon the respondent if a copy of the petition is filed before service or promptly after service. The vulnerable adult, a parent, an adult sibling, an adult child or the legal guardian of the vulnerable adult or a county protective services agency individual at risk, any person acting on behalf of an individual at risk, an elder-adult-at-risk agency, or an adult-at-risk agency may be a petitioner under this section. If the petition is filed by a person other than the individual at risk, the petitioner shall serve a copy of the petition on the individual at risk. Section 813.06 does not apply to an action under this section. The respondent may respond to the petition either in writing before or at the hearing on the issuance of the injunction or orally at that hearing.
388,194
Section
194. 813.123 (2) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
813.123 (2) (b) The court may go forward with a petition filed under sub. (6) if the individual at risk has been adjudicated incompetent under ch. 880, notwithstanding an objection by an individual at risk who is the subject of the petition, or an objection by the guardian of the individual at risk.
388,195
Section
195. 813.123 (3) (b) (intro.) and 1. of the statutes are consolidated, renumbered 813.123 (3) (b) and amended to read:
813.123 (3) (b) The court or circuit court commissioner, on its or his or her own motion or the motion of any party, may shall order one or more of the following: 1. That that a guardian ad litem be appointed under s. 880.331 (1) for the vulnerable adult individual at risk, if the petition under sub. (6) was filed by a person other than the individual at risk, and may order that a guardian ad litem be appointed in other instances when justice so requires.
388,196
Section
196. 813.123 (3) (b) 2. and 3. of the statutes are renumbered 813.123 (3) (c) 1. and 2. and amended to read:
813.123 (3) (c) 1. That all persons, other than the
vulnerable adult individual at risk, the parties, their attorneys, a representative of the county protective services adult-at-risk agency or elder-adult-at-risk agency, witnesses, court personnel, and any guardian or any guardian ad litem, be excluded from any hearing under this section.
2. That access to any record of an action under this section be available only to the vulnerable adult
individual at risk, the parties, their attorneys, any guardian or any guardian ad litem, the county protective services
adult-at-risk agency or elder-adult-at-risk agency, court personnel, and, upon appeal, any applicable court upon appeal.
388,197
Section
197. 813.123 (3) (c) (intro.) of the statutes is created to read:
813.123 (3) (c) (intro.) The court or circuit court commissioner, on its or his or her own motion or the motion of any party, may order any of the following:
388,198
Section
198. 813.123 (4) (a) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:
813.123 (4) (a) (intro.) Unless the vulnerable adult individual at risk, guardian, or guardian ad litem consents in writing and the judge or circuit court commissioner agrees that the contact is in the best interests of the vulnerable adult individual at risk, a judge or circuit court commissioner shall issue a temporary restraining order ordering the respondent to avoid interference with an investigation of the vulnerable adult under s. 55.043, the delivery of protective services to the vulnerable adult under s. 55.05 or a protective placement of the vulnerable adult under s. 55.06, as specified in par. (ar), if all of the following occur:
388,199
Section
199. 813.123 (4) (a) 2. of the statutes is renumbered 813.123 (4) (a) 2. (intro.) and amended to read:
813.123 (4) (a) 2. (intro.) The judge or circuit court commissioner finds reasonable grounds to believe that any of the following:
a. That the respondent has interfered with, or, based on prior conduct of the respondent, may interfere with, an investigation of the vulnerable adult under s. 55.043, individual at risk, the delivery of protective services to the vulnerable adult individual at risk under s. 55.05 or a protective placement of the vulnerable adult individual at risk under s. 55.06, or the delivery of services to an elder adult at risk under s. 46.90 (5m); and that the interference complained of, if continued, would make it difficult to determine whether abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, or self-neglect has occured, is occurring, or may recur.
388,200
Section
200. 813.123 (4) (a) 2. b. of the statutes is created to read:
813.123 (4) (a) 2. b. That the respondent engaged in or threatened to engage in the abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, harassment, or stalking of an individual at risk or the mistreatment of an animal.
388,201
Section
201. 813.123 (4) (ar) of the statutes is created to read:
813.123 (4) (ar) A temporary restraining order issued under par. (a) shall order the respondent to do one or more of the following:
1. Avoid interference with an investigation of the elder adult at risk under s. 46.90 or the adult at risk under s. 55.043, the delivery of protective services to the individual at risk under s. 55.05 or a protective placement of the individual at risk under s. 55.06, or the delivery of services to the elder adult at risk under s. 46.90 (5m).
