READ FIRST TIME 03/05/03.   

     AN ACT Relating to the reporting of incidents by mandated reporters; amending RCW 74.34.020 and 74.34.035; adding a new section to chapter 74.34 RCW; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 74.34.020 and 1999 c 176 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.
     (1) "Abandonment" means action or inaction by a person or entity with a duty of care for a vulnerable adult that leaves the vulnerable person without the means or ability to obtain necessary food, clothing, shelter, or health care.
     (2) "Abuse" means the willful action or inaction that inflicts injury, unreasonable confinement, intimidation, or punishment on a vulnerable adult. In instances of abuse of a vulnerable adult who is unable to express or demonstrate physical harm, pain, or mental anguish, the abuse is presumed to cause physical harm, pain, or mental anguish. Abuse includes sexual abuse, mental abuse, physical abuse, and exploitation of a vulnerable adult, which have the following meanings:
     (a) "Sexual abuse" means any form of nonconsensual sexual contact, including but not limited to unwanted or inappropriate touching, rape, sodomy, sexual coercion, sexually explicit photographing, and sexual harassment. Sexual abuse includes any sexual contact between a staff person, who is not also a resident or client, of a facility or a staff person of a program authorized under chapter 71A.12 RCW, and a vulnerable adult living in that facility or receiving service from a program authorized under chapter 71A.12 RCW, whether or not it is consensual.
     (b) "Physical abuse" means the willful action of inflicting bodily injury or physical mistreatment. Physical abuse includes, but is not limited to, striking with or without an object, slapping, pinching, choking, kicking, shoving, prodding, or the use of chemical restraints or physical restraints unless the restraints are consistent with licensing requirements, and includes restraints that are otherwise being used inappropriately.
     (c) "Mental abuse" means any willful action or inaction of mental or verbal abuse. Mental abuse includes, but is not limited to, coercion, harassment, inappropriately isolating a vulnerable adult from family, friends, or regular activity, and verbal assault that includes ridiculing, intimidating, yelling, or swearing.
     (d) "Exploitation" means an act of forcing, compelling, or exerting undue influence over a vulnerable adult causing the vulnerable adult to act in a way that is inconsistent with relevant past behavior, or causing the vulnerable adult to perform services for the benefit of another.
     (3) "Consent" means express written consent granted after the vulnerable adult or his or her legal representative has been fully informed of the nature of the services to be offered and that the receipt of services is voluntary.
     (4) "Department" means the department of social and health services.
     (5) "Facility" means a residence licensed or required to be licensed under chapter 18.20 RCW, boarding homes; chapter 18.51 RCW, nursing homes; chapter 70.128 RCW, adult family homes; chapter 72.36 RCW, soldiers' homes; or chapter 71A.20 RCW, residential habilitation centers; or any other facility licensed or regulated by the department.
     (6) "Financial exploitation" means the illegal or improper use of the property, income, resources, or trust funds of the vulnerable adult by any person for any person's profit or advantage.
     (7) "Individual provider" means a person under contract with the department to provide services in the home under chapter 74.09 or 74.39A RCW.
     (8) "Mandated reporter" is an employee of the department; law enforcement officer; social worker; professional school personnel; individual provider; an employee of a facility; an operator of a facility; an employee of a social service, welfare, mental health, adult day health, adult day care, home health, home care, or hospice agency; county coroner or medical examiner; Christian Science practitioner; or health care provider subject to chapter 18.130 RCW.
     (9) "Neglect" means (a) a pattern of conduct or inaction by a person or entity with a duty of care to provide the goods and services that maintain physical or mental health of a vulnerable adult, or that avoids or prevents physical or mental harm or pain to a vulnerable adult; or (b) an act or omission that demonstrates a serious disregard of consequences of such a magnitude as to constitute a clear and present danger to the vulnerable adult's health, welfare, or safety.
     (10) "Permissive reporter" means any person, employee of a financial institution, attorney, or volunteer in a facility or program providing services for vulnerable adults.
     (11) "Protective services" means any services provided by the department to a vulnerable adult with the consent of the vulnerable adult, or the legal representative of the vulnerable adult, who has been abandoned, abused, financially exploited, neglected, or in a state of self-neglect. These services may include, but are not limited to case management, social casework, home care, placement, arranging for medical evaluations, psychological evaluations, day care, or referral for legal assistance.
     (12) "Self-neglect" means the failure of a vulnerable adult, not living in a facility, to provide for himself or herself the goods and services necessary for the vulnerable adult's physical or mental health, and the absence of which impairs or threatens the vulnerable adult's well-being. This definition may include a vulnerable adult who is receiving services through home health, hospice, or a home care agency, or an individual provider when the neglect is not a result of inaction by that agency or individual provider.
     (13) "Vulnerable adult" includes a person:
     (a) Sixty years of age or older who has the functional, mental, or physical inability to care for himself or herself; or
     (b) Found incapacitated under chapter 11.88 RCW; or
     (c) Who has a developmental disability as defined under RCW 71A.10.020; or
     (d) Admitted to any facility; or
     (e) Receiving services from home health, hospice, or home care agencies licensed or required to be licensed under chapter 70.127 RCW; or
     (f) Receiving services from an individual provider.
     (14) "Harm" means contact between two or more vulnerable adults that results in any of the following:
     (a) An injury that is more than superficial and requires frequent assessment or monitoring by a licensed health care professional; or
     (b) A fracture, burn, deep bruise, or laceration requiring sutures.
     Harm includes the following: Sexual assault or suspected sexual assault; a pattern of or repeated assault either between the same vulnerable adults or involving the same vulnerable adult; and an attempt to choke another person.

Sec. 2   RCW 74.34.035 and 1999 c 176 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) Except as provided in section 3 of this act:
     (a) When there is reasonable cause to believe that abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation, or neglect of a vulnerable adult has occurred, mandated reporters shall immediately report to the department.
     ((If)) (b) When there is reason to suspect that sexual or physical assault has occurred, mandated reporters shall immediately report to the appropriate law enforcement agency and to the department.
     (2) Permissive reporters may report to the department or a law enforcement agency when there is reasonable cause to believe that a vulnerable adult is being or has been abandoned, abused, financially exploited, or neglected.
     (3) No facility, as defined by this chapter, agency licensed or required to be licensed under chapter 70.127 RCW, or facility or agency under contract with the department to provide care for vulnerable adults may develop policies or procedures that interfere with the reporting requirements of this chapter.
     (4) Each report, oral or written, must contain as much as possible of the following information:
     (a) The name and address of the person making the report;
     (b) The name and address of the vulnerable adult and the name of the facility or agency providing care for the vulnerable adult;
     (c) The name and address of the legal guardian or alternate decision maker;
     (d) The nature and extent of the abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, or self-neglect;
     (e) Any history of previous abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, or self-neglect;
     (f) The identity of the alleged perpetrator, if known; and
     (g) Other information that may be helpful in establishing the extent of abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, or the cause of death of the deceased vulnerable adult.
     (5) Unless there is a judicial proceeding or the person consents, the identity of the person making the report under this section is confidential.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   A new section is added to chapter 74.34 RCW to read as follows:
     A mandated reporter is not required to report to a law enforcement agency an incident that occurs between vulnerable adults, unless the incident results in harm as defined in RCW 74.34.020(14) or the injured vulnerable adult or his or her legal representative or interested family member requests that the mandated reporter report the incident. If a report is requested, the mandated reporter shall report the incident in accordance with the reporting requirements provided in RCW 74.34.035, and all other provisions of this chapter shall apply.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   This act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and takes effect immediately.