SB 5184-S - DIGEST

(DIGEST AS ENACTED)

     Recognizes that vulnerable adults, while living in their own homes, may be abused, neglected, financially exploited, or abandoned by individuals entrusted to provide care for them.

     Gives the department of social and health services the responsibility to investigate complaints of abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation, or neglect of vulnerable adults and to provide protective services and other legal remedies to protect these vulnerable adults.

     Finds that in order to continue to protect vulnerable adults, the department of social and health services should be given the authority to release report information and to release the results of an investigation to the agency or program with which the individual investigated is employed, contracted, or engaged as a volunteer.

     Provides that, after the investigation is complete, the department may provide a written report of the outcome of the investigation to an agency or program described in this act when the department determines from its investigation that an incident of abuse, abandonment, financial exploitation, or neglect occurred.

     Provides that the report may contain the name of the vulnerable adult and the alleged perpetrator.  The report shall not disclose the identity of the person who made the report or any witness without the written permission of the reporter or witness.