SSB 6202 -
By Representative Hurst
ADOPTED 03/03/2010
Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:
"Sec. 1 RCW 30.22.210 and 1981 c 192 s 21 are each amended to
read as follows:
(1) Nothing contained in this chapter shall be deemed to require
any financial institution to make any payment from an account to a
depositor, or any trust or P.O.D. account beneficiary, or any other
person claiming an interest in any funds deposited in the account, if
the financial institution has actual knowledge of the existence of a
dispute between the depositors, beneficiaries, or other persons
concerning their respective rights of ownerships to the funds contained
in, or proposed to be withdrawn, or previously withdrawn from the
account, or in the event the financial institution is otherwise
uncertain as to who is entitled to the funds pursuant to the contract
of deposit. In any such case, the financial institution may, without
liability, notify, in writing, all depositors, beneficiaries, or other
persons claiming an interest in the account of either its uncertainty
as to who is entitled to the distributions or the existence of any
dispute, and may also, without liability, refuse to disburse any funds
contained in the account to any depositor, and/or trust or P.O.D.
account beneficiary thereof, and/or other persons claiming an interest
therein, until such time as either:
(((1))) (a) All such depositors and/or beneficiaries have
consented, in writing, to the requested payment; or
(((2))) (b) The payment is authorized or directed by a court of
proper jurisdiction.
(2) If a financial institution reasonably believes that financial
exploitation of a vulnerable adult, as defined in RCW 74.34.020, may
have occurred, may have been attempted, or is being attempted, the
financial institution may refuse a transaction as permitted under
section 3 of this act.
Sec. 2 RCW 74.34.020 and 2007 c 312 s 1 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 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 other than for the
vulnerable adult's profit or advantage.
(7) "Financial institution" has the same meaning as in RCW
30.22.040 and 30.22.041. For purposes of this chapter only, "financial
institution" also means a "broker-dealer" or "investment adviser" as
defined in RCW 21.20.005.
(8) "Incapacitated person" means a person who is at a significant
risk of personal or financial harm under RCW 11.88.010(1) (a), (b),
(c), or (d).
(((8))) (9) "Individual provider" means a person under contract
with the department to provide services in the home under chapter 74.09
or 74.39A RCW.
(((9))) (10) "Interested person" means a person who demonstrates to
the court's satisfaction that the person is interested in the welfare
of the vulnerable adult, that the person has a good faith belief that
the court's intervention is necessary, and that the vulnerable adult is
unable, due to incapacity, undue influence, or duress at the time the
petition is filed, to protect his or her own interests.
(((10))) (11) "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.
(((11))) (12) "Neglect" means (a) a pattern of conduct or inaction
by a person or entity with a duty of care that fails to provide the
goods and services that maintain physical or mental health of a
vulnerable adult, or that fails to avoid or prevent 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, including but not limited to conduct
prohibited under RCW 9A.42.100.
(((12))) (13) "Permissive reporter" means any person, including,
but not limited to, an employee of a financial institution, attorney,
or volunteer in a facility or program providing services for vulnerable
adults.
(((13))) (14) "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.
(((14))) (15) "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.
(((15))) (16) "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.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3 A new section is added to chapter 74.34 RCW
to read as follows:
(1) Pending an investigation by the financial institution, the
department, or law enforcement, if a financial institution reasonably
believes that financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult may have
occurred, may have been attempted, or is being attempted, the financial
institution may, but is not required to, refuse a transaction requiring
disbursal of funds contained in the account:
(a) Of the vulnerable adult;
(b) On which the vulnerable adult is a beneficiary, including a
trust or guardianship account; or
(c) Of a person suspected of perpetrating financial exploitation of
a vulnerable adult.
(2) A financial institution may also refuse to disburse funds under
this section if the department, law enforcement, or the prosecuting
attorney's office provides information to the financial institution
demonstrating that it is reasonable to believe that financial
exploitation of a vulnerable adult may have occurred, may have been
attempted, or is being attempted.
(3) A financial institution is not required to refuse to disburse
funds when provided with information alleging that financial
exploitation may have occurred, may have been attempted, or is being
attempted, but may use its discretion to determine whether or not to
refuse to disburse funds based on the information available to the
financial institution.
(4) A financial institution that refuses to disburse funds based on
a reasonable belief that financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult
may have occurred, may have been attempted, or is being attempted
shall:
(a) Make a reasonable effort to notify all parties authorized to
transact business on the account orally or in writing; and
(b) Report the incident to the adult protective services division
of the department and local law enforcement.
(5) Any refusal to disburse funds as authorized by this section
based on the reasonable belief of a financial institution that
financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult may have occurred, may
have been attempted, or is being attempted will expire upon the sooner
of:
(a) Ten business days after the date on which the financial
institution first refused to disburse the funds if the transaction
involved the sale of a security or offer to sell a security, as defined
in RCW 21.20.005, unless sooner terminated by an order of a court of
competent jurisdiction;
(b) Five business days after the date on which the financial
institution first refused to disburse the funds if the transaction did
not involve the sale of a security or offer to sell a security, as
defined in RCW 21.20.005, unless sooner terminated by an order of a
court of competent jurisdiction; or
(c) The time when the financial institution is satisfied that the
disbursement will not result in financial exploitation of a vulnerable
adult.
(6) A court of competent jurisdiction may enter an order extending
the refusal by the financial institution to disburse funds based on a
reasonable belief that financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult may
have occurred, may have been attempted, or is being attempted. A court
of competent jurisdiction may also order other protective relief as
authorized by RCW 7.40.010 and 74.34.130.
(7) A financial institution or an employee of a financial
institution is immune from criminal, civil, and administrative
liability for refusing to disburse funds or disbursing funds under this
section and for actions taken in furtherance of that determination if
the determination of whether or not to disburse funds was made in good
faith.
Sec. 4 RCW 74.34.035 and 2003 c 230 s 2 are each amended to read
as follows:
(1) 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.
(2) When there is reason to suspect that sexual assault has
occurred, mandated reporters shall immediately report to the
appropriate law enforcement agency and to the department.
(3) When there is reason to suspect that physical assault has
occurred or there is reasonable cause to believe that an act has caused
fear of imminent harm:
(a) Mandated reporters shall immediately report to the department;
and
(b) Mandated reporters shall immediately report to the appropriate
law enforcement agency, except as provided in subsection (4) of this
section.
(4) A mandated reporter is not required to report to a law
enforcement agency, unless requested by the injured vulnerable adult or
his or her legal representative or family member, an incident of
physical assault between vulnerable adults that causes minor bodily
injury and does not require more than basic first aid, unless:
(a) The injury appears on the back, face, head, neck, chest,
breasts, groin, inner thigh, buttock, genital, or anal area;
(b) There is a fracture;
(c) There is a pattern of physical assault between the same
vulnerable adults or involving the same vulnerable adults; or
(d) There is an attempt to choke a vulnerable adult.
(5) When there is reason to suspect that the death of a vulnerable
adult was caused by abuse, neglect, or abandonment by another person,
mandated reporters shall, pursuant to RCW 68.50.020, report the death
to the medical examiner or coroner having jurisdiction, as well as the
department and local law enforcement, in the most expeditious manner
possible. A mandated reporter is not relieved from the reporting
requirement provisions of this subsection by the existence of a
previously signed death certificate. If abuse, neglect, or abandonment
caused or contributed to the death of a vulnerable adult, the death is
a death caused by unnatural or unlawful means, and the body shall be
the jurisdiction of the coroner or medical examiner pursuant to RCW
68.50.010.
(6) 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.
(((6))) (7) 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.
(((7))) (8) 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.
(((8))) (9) 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. 5 A new section is added to chapter 74.34 RCW
to read as follows:
(1) A financial institution shall provide training concerning the
financial exploitation of vulnerable adults to the employees specified
in subsection (2) of this section within one year of the effective date
of this act and shall thereafter provide such training to the new
employees specified in subsection (2) of this section within the first
three months of their employment.
(2) A financial institution that is a broker-dealer or investment
adviser as defined in RCW 21.20.005 shall provide training concerning
the financial exploitation of vulnerable adults to employees who are
required to be registered in the state of Washington as salespersons or
investment adviser representatives under RCW 21.20.040 and who have
contact with customers and access to account information on a regular
basis and as part of their job. All other financial institutions shall
provide training concerning the financial exploitation of vulnerable
adults to employees who have contact with customers and access to
account information on a regular basis and as part of their job.
(3) The training must include recognition of indicators of
financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult, the manner in which
employees may report suspected financial exploitation to the department
and law enforcement as permissive reporters, and steps employees may
take to prevent suspected financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult
as authorized by law or agreements between the financial institution
and customers of the financial institution. The office of the attorney
general and the department shall develop a standardized training that
financial institutions may offer, or the financial institution may
develop its own training.
(4) A financial institution may provide access to or copies of
records that are relevant to suspected financial exploitation or
attempted financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult to the
department, law enforcement, or the prosecuting attorney's office,
either as part of a referral to the department, law enforcement, or the
prosecuting attorney's office, or upon request of the department, law
enforcement, or the prosecuting attorney's office pursuant to an
investigation. The records may include historical records as well as
records relating to the most recent transaction or transactions that
may comprise financial exploitation.
(5) A financial institution or employee of a financial institution
participating in good faith in making a report or providing
documentation or access to information to the department, law
enforcement, or the prosecuting attorney's office under this chapter
shall be immune from criminal, civil, or administrative liability."
Correct the title.
EFFECT: Makes the following changes to the underlying bill:
(1) Defines "financial institution" to include broker-dealers and
investment advisers.
(2) Requires a financial institution that refuses to disburse funds
to make a reasonable effort to notify all parties authorized to
transact business on the account.
(3) Provides that the refusal to disburse funds expires within ten
business days for a transaction involving the sale of a security or
offer to sell a security.
(4) Requires a financial institution to provide training to certain
employees regarding financial exploitation of vulnerable adults within
one year of the effective date of the act and within the first three
months of employment for new employees.
(5) Requires a broker-dealer or investment adviser to provide such
training to employees who are required to be registered as salespersons
or investment adviser representatives and who have regular contact with
customers and access to account information as part of their jobs.
(6) Revises the immunity for providing access to records so that
only good faith participation in making a report or providing
documentation or access to records is immune from liability.
(7) Requires mandated reporters to report the death of a vulnerable
adult when they have reason to suspect (rather than the circumstances
indicate) that the death was caused by abuse, neglect, or abandonment.
(8) Removes provisions related to professional guardians.
(9) Makes various technical changes.