AB539: Bill Text

AB539, s. 128 Section 128. 55.043 (1) (a) 5. of the statutes is renumbered 55.043 (1r) (b) 6. (intro.) and amended to read:

AB539,47,5 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, at risk or the caretaker or the landlord. caregiver. The records shall be released without informed consent in either of the following circumstances:

AB539, s. 129 Section 129. 55.043 (1) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 55.043 (1r) (c) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB539,47,10 55.043 (1r) (c) (intro.) The county protective services adult-at-risk agency or other investigative agency may transport the vulnerable adult at risk for performance of a medical examination by a physician if any of the following applies:

AB539, s. 130 Section 130. 55.043 (1) (b) 1. of the statutes is renumbered 55.043 (1r) (c) 1. and amended to read:

AB539,47,15 55.043 (1r) (c) 1. The vulnerable adult at risk or his or her guardian or agent under an activated power of attorney for health care, if any, consents to the examination.

AB539, s. 131 Section 131. 55.043 (1) (b) 2. (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 55.043 (1r) (c) 2. (intro.) and amended to read:

AB539,47,19 55.043 (1r) (c) 2. (intro.) The vulnerable adult at risk is incapable of consenting to the examination and one of the following applies:

AB539, s. 132 Section 132. 55.043 (1) (b) 2. a. of the statutes is renumbered 55.043 (1r) (c) 2. a. and amended to read:

AB539,47,23 55.043 (1r) (c) 2. a. The vulnerable adult at risk has no guardian or agent under an activated power of attorney for health care.

AB539, s. 133 Section 133. 55.043 (1) (b) 2. b. of the statutes is renumbered 55.043 (1r) (c) 2. c. and amended to read:

AB539,48,2 55.043 (1r) (c) 2. c. The vulnerable adult's guardian refuses to consent to the examination, but the examination is authorized by order of a court.

AB539, s. 134 Section 134. 55.043 (1d) of the statutes is created to read:

AB539,48,5 55.043 (1d) Adult-at-risk agency designation. Each county board shall designate an agency as the adult-at-risk agency for the purposes of this section.

AB539, s. 135 Section 135. 55.043 (1g) of the statutes is created to read:

AB539,48,17 55.043 (1g) Adult-at-risk agency duties. (a) Each adult-at-risk agency shall develop a policy for notifying other investigative agencies, including law enforcement officials in appropriate cases, and shall establish an adult-at-risk abuse reporting system to carry out the purposes of this section. Each adult-at-risk agency shall enter into a memorandum of understanding regarding the operation of the system with the county department under s. 46.215 or 46.22 and with any private or public agency, including a county department under s. 51.42 or 51.437, within the county that is participating in the adult-at-risk abuse reporting system. The memorandum of understanding shall, at a minimum, identify the agencies that are responsible for the investigation of reports of abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, or self-neglect of adults at risk and for the provision of specific direct services.

AB539,48,19 (b) Each adult-at-risk agency shall receive reports of abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, or self-neglect of adults at risk.

AB539,48,25 (c) Each adult-at-risk agency shall publicize the existence of an adult-at-risk abuse reporting system in the county and shall provide a publicized telephone number that can be used by persons wishing to report suspected cases of abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, or self-neglect of adults at risk. Each adult-at-risk agency shall also provide a telephone number that can be used by persons to make reports after the adult-at-risk agency's regular business hours.

AB539, s. 136 Section 136. 55.043 (1m) of the statutes is created to read:

AB539,49,3 55.043 (1m) Reporting. (a) The following persons shall file reports as specified in par. (b):

AB539,49,5 1. An employee of any entity that is licensed, certified, or approved by or registered with the department.

AB539,49,6 2. An employee of a financial institution, as defined in s. 705.01 (3).

AB539,49,7 3. A health care provider, as defined in s. 155.01 (7).

AB539,49,9 4. A social worker, professional counselor, or marriage and family therapist certified under ch. 457.

AB539,49,15 (b) Except as provided in par. (be), a person specified in par. (a) who has seen an adult at risk in the course of the person's professional duties shall file a report with the county department, the adult-at-risk agency, a state or local law enforcement agency, the department, or the board on aging and long-term care if the adult at risk has requested the person to make the report, or if the person has reasonable cause to believe that any of the following situations exist:

AB539,49,18 1. The adult at risk is at imminent risk of serious bodily harm, death, sexual assault, or significant property loss and is unable to make an informed judgment about whether to report the risk.

AB539,49,21 2. An adult at risk other than the subject of the report is at risk of serious bodily harm, death, sexual assault, or significant property loss inflicted by a suspected perpetrator.

AB539,49,25 (be) A person specified in par. (a) is not required to file a report as provided in par. (b) if the person believes that filing a report would not be in the best interest of the adult at risk. If the person so believes, the person shall document the reasons for this belief in the case file that the person maintains on the adult at risk.

AB539,50,9 (br) Any person, including an attorney or a person working under the supervision of an attorney, may report to the county department, adult-at-risk agency, a state or local law enforcement agency, the department, or the board on aging and long-term care that he or she believes that abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, or self-neglect of an adult at risk has occurred if the person is aware of facts or circumstances that would lead a reasonable person to believe or suspect that abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, or self-neglect of an adult at risk has occurred. The person shall indicate the facts and circumstances of the situation as part of the report.

AB539,50,11 (c) 1. a. No person may discharge or otherwise retaliate or discriminate against any person for reporting in good faith under this subsection.

AB539,50,14 b. No person may discharge or otherwise retaliate or discriminate against any individual on whose behalf another person has reported in good faith under this subsection.

AB539,50,20 d. Any discharge of a person or act of retaliation or discrimination that is taken against a person who makes a report under this subsection, within 120 days after the report is made, establishes a rebuttable presumption that the discharge or act is made in response to the report. This presumption may be rebutted by a preponderance of evidence that the discharge or act was not made in response to the report.

AB539,50,23 2. b. Any employee of an employer who is discharged or otherwise discriminated against may file a complaint with the department of workforce development under s. 106.54 (5).

AB539,51,3 c. Any person not described in subd. 2. b. who is retaliated or discriminated against in violation of subd. 1. a. or b. may commence an action in circuit court for damages incurred as a result of the violation.

AB539,51,7 (d) No person may be held civilly or criminally liable or be found guilty of unprofessional conduct for reporting in good faith under this subsection, or for filing a report with an agency not listed in par. (b) (intro.) or (br) if the person had a good faith belief that the report was filed correctly with one of the listed agencies.

AB539,51,9 (e) If a report under par. (b) or (br) is made to a state official, the state official shall refer the report to the appropriate adult-at-risk agency.

AB539,51,11 (f) Any person making a report under this subsection is presumed to have reported in good faith.

AB539, s. 137 Section 137. 55.043 (1r) (title) of the statutes is created to read:

AB539,51,13 55.043 (1r) (title) Response and investigation.

AB539, s. 138 Section 138. 55.043 (1r) (a) 2. of the statutes is created to read:

AB539,51,25 55.043 (1r) (a) 2. If an agent or employee of an adult-at-risk agency authorized required to respond under this subsection is the subject of a report, or if the adult-at-risk agency or an agency under contract with the county department determines that the relationship between the adult-at-risk agency and the agency under contract with the county department would not allow for an unbiased response, the adult-at-risk agency shall, after taking any action necessary to protect the adult at risk, notify the department. Upon receipt of the notice, the department or a county department under s. 46.215, 46.22, 51.42, or 51.437 designated by the department shall conduct an independent investigation. The powers and duties of a county department making the independent investigation are those given to an adult-at-risk agency under pars. (b) to (g) and sub. (6).

AB539, s. 139 Section 139. 55.043 (1r) (b) (intro.) of the statutes is created to read:

AB539,52,3 55.043 (1r) (b) (intro.) The adult-at-risk agency's response or another investigative agency's investigation may include one or more of the following:

AB539, s. 140 Section 140. 55.043 (1r) (b) 3. of the statutes is created to read:

AB539,52,7 55.043 (1r) (b) 3. An interview with the adult at risk, in private to the extent practicable, and with or without consent of his or her guardian or agent under an activated power of attorney for health care, if any.

AB539, s. 141 Section 141. 55.043 (1r) (b) 6. a. of the statutes is created to read:

AB539,52,13 55.043 (1r) (b) 6. a. To an adult-at-risk agency or other investigative agency under this section. The financial record holder may release financial record information by initiating contact with the adult-at-risk agency or other investigative agency without first receiving a request for release of the information from the adult-at-risk agency or other investigative agency.

AB539, s. 142 Section 142. 55.043 (1r) (b) 6. b. of the statutes is created to read:

AB539,52,15 55.043 (1r) (b) 6. b. Under a lawful order of a court of record.

AB539, s. 143 Section 143. 55.043 (1r) (c) 2. b. of the statutes is created to read:

AB539,52,19 55.043 (1r) (c) 2. b. The adult at risk has a guardian or agent under an activated power of attorney for health care, but that guardian or agent is the person suspected of abusing, neglecting, or financially exploiting the adult at risk.

AB539, s. 144 Section 144. 55.043 (1r) (d) of the statutes is created to read:

AB539,52,25 55.043 (1r) (d) No person may be held civilly or criminally liable or be found guilty of unprofessional conduct for responding to a report or for participating in or conducting an investigation under this subsection, including the taking of photographs or conducting of a medical examination, if the response or investigation was performed in good faith and within the scope of his or her authority.

AB539, s. 145 Section 145. 55.043 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 55.043 (2) (a) and amended to read:

AB539,53,9 55.043 (2) (a) The county protective services adult-at-risk agency may request a sheriff or police officer to accompany the adult-at-risk agency investigator or worker during visits to the residence of the vulnerable adult adult at risk or request other assistance as needed. If the request is made, a sheriff or police officer shall accompany the adult-at-risk agency investigator of the county protective services agency or worker to the residence of the vulnerable adult adult at risk and shall provide other assistance as requested or necessary.

AB539, s. 146 Section 146. 55.043 (2) (b) of the statutes is created to read:

AB539,53,15 55.043 (2) (b) If the adult-at-risk agency worker or investigator or other agency investigator has reason to believe that substantial physical harm, irreparable injury, or death may occur to an adult at risk, the worker or investigator shall either initiate a protective services action under this chapter or contact law enforcement or another public agency, as appropriate.

AB539, s. 147 Section 147. 55.043 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB539,53,22 55.043 (3) Restraining order; injunction. If a person other than the vulnerable adult interferes with the response or investigation under sub. (1) (1r) or interferes with the delivery of protective services under this chapter to the vulnerable adult at risk, the county protective services adult-at-risk agency investigator or worker may obtain a restraining apply for an order or injunction under s. 813.123 against the person prohibiting the interference.

AB539, s. 148 Section 148. 55.043 (4) (title) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB539,53,24 55.043 (4) (title) Offer of services and referral of cases.

AB539, s. 149 Section 149. 55.043 (4) (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 55.043 (4) (b) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB539,54,7 55.043 (4) (b) (intro.) If upon investigation, after responding to a report, the county protective services adult-at-risk agency finds misappropriation of property or has reason to believe that the adult at risk has been the subject of abuse, financial exploitation, neglect or abuse of a vulnerable adult , or self-neglect, the county protective services adult-at-risk agency may do one or more any of the following:

AB539, s. 150 Section 150. 55.043 (4) (a) of the statutes is renumbered 55.043 (4) (b) 1. and amended to read:

AB539,54,12 55.043 (4) (b) 1. Offer services, including Initiate a protective services under s. 55.05, a protective placement under s. 55.06, relocation assistance or other services action or contact an investigative agency, as appropriate.

AB539, s. 151 Section 151. 55.043 (4) (am) of the statutes is created to read:

AB539,54,19 55.043 (4) (am) Upon responding to a report, the adult-at-risk agency or the investigative agency shall determine whether the adult at risk or any other individual involved in the alleged abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, or self-neglect is in need of services under this chapter or ch. 46, 47, 59, 51, or 880. If provided, direct services shall be rendered under the least restrictive conditions necessary to achieve their objective.

AB539, s. 152 Section 152. 55.043 (4) (b) of the statutes is renumbered 55.043 (4) (b) 2. and amended to read:

AB539,55,2 55.043 (4) (b) 2. Take appropriate emergency action, including emergency protective placement under s. 55.06, if the county protective services adult-at-risk agency considers that the emergency action is in the vulnerable adult's best interests of the adult at risk and the emergency action is the least restrictive appropriate intervention.

AB539, s. 153 Section 153. 55.043 (4) (c) of the statutes is renumbered 55.043 (4) (b) 3. and amended to read:

AB539,55,8 55.043 (4) (b) 3. Refer the case to local law enforcement officials under, as specified in sub. (2), for further investigation or to the district attorney, if the county protective services adult-at-risk agency has reason to believe that a violation of chs. 939 to 951 has occurred crime has been committed.

AB539, s. 154 Section 154. 55.043 (4) (d) of the statutes is renumbered 55.043 (4) (b) 4. and amended to read:

AB539,55,14 55.043 (4) (b) 4. Refer the case to the licensing permitting, registration, or certification authorities of the department or to other regulatory bodies if the residence, facility, or program for the vulnerable adult at risk is or should be licensed, permitted, registered, or certified or is otherwise regulated.

AB539, s. 155 Section 155. 55.043 (4) (e) of the statutes is renumbered 55.043 (4) (b) 5. and amended to read:

AB539,55,20 55.043 (4) (b) 5. Refer the case to the department of regulation and licensing if the misappropriation of property or financial exploitation, neglect, self-neglect, or abuse involves an individual who is required to hold a credential, as defined in s. 440.01 (2) (a), under chs. 440 to 460.

AB539, s. 156 Section 156. 55.043 (4) (f) of the statutes is renumbered 55.043 (4) (b) 6. and amended to read:

AB539,56,3 55.043 (4) (b) 6. Bring or refer for action to bring a petition for a guardianship and protective service services or protective placement or a review of an existing guardianship if necessary to prevent misappropriation of property or financial exploitation, neglect, self-neglect, or abuse and if the vulnerable adult at risk would otherwise be at risk of serious harm because of an inability to arrange for necessary food, clothing, shelter and, or services.

AB539, s. 157 Section 157. 55.043 (5) of the statutes is repealed.

AB539, s. 158 Section 158. 55.043 (5g) of the statutes is created to read:

AB539,56,9 55.043 (5g) Refusal of services. An adult at risk may refuse to accept services unless a guardian authorizes the services. The adult-at-risk agency or other provider agency shall notify the adult at risk of this right to refuse before providing services.

AB539, s. 159 Section 159. 55.043 (6) of the statutes is created to read:

AB539,56,11 55.043 (6) Records; confidentiality. (a) In this subsection:

AB539,56,14 1. "Departmental report form" includes documentation of an adult-at-risk agency's response to or investigation of a report made under sub. (1r) and is the information required to be submitted to the department.

AB539,56,16 2. "Record" includes any document relating to the response, investigation, assessment, and disposition of a report made under sub. (1r).

AB539,56,22 (am) The adult-at-risk agency shall prepare a departmental report form on its response under sub. (1r) to a report of suspected abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, or self-neglect. If the adult-at-risk agency refers the report to an investigative agency, the investigative agency shall advise the adult-at-risk agency in writing of its response to the report. The adult-at-risk agency shall maintain records of suspected abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, or self-neglect.

AB539,56,25 (b) Departmental report forms are confidential and may not be released by the adult-at-risk agency or other investigative agency, except under the following circumstances:

AB539,57,6 1. To the adult at risk, any person named in a departmental report form who is suspected of abusing, neglecting, or financially exploiting an adult-at-risk, and the suspect's attorney. These persons may inspect the departmental report form, except that information identifying the person who initially reported the suspected abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, or self-neglect, or any other person whose safety might be endangered through disclosure, may not be released.

AB539,57,8 2. To the agency or other entity contacted under sub. (2) (b). Information obtained under this subdivision shall remain confidential.

AB539,57,13 3. To an individual, organization, or agency designated by the department or as required by law for the purposes of management audits or program monitoring and evaluation. Information obtained under this subdivision shall remain confidential and may not be used in any way that discloses the names of or other identifying information about the individuals involved.