Duty To Report Cases Of Vulnerable Adult Maltreatment

TITLE 39 HEALTH AND SAFETY CHAPTER 53 ADULT ABUSE, NEGLECT AND EXPLOITATION ACT 39-5303. Duty to report cases of vulnerable adult maltreatment. (1) Licensed medical professionals, emergency services personnel, facility employees, skilled nursing facility employees, employees of an entity responsible for providing care to a vulnerable adult, medical examiners, social workers, or law enforcement personnel who have reasonable cause to believe that a vulnerable adult is being or has been maltreated shall report such information to the commission’s designated APS provider as expeditiously as possible but within twenty-four (24) hours of acquiring the information that forms the basis of such reasonable cause. When there is reasonable cause to believe that maltreatment has resulted in death or serious physical injury jeopardizing the life, health, or safety of a vulnerable adult, any person required to report under this section shall also report such information as expeditiously as possible to the appropriate law enforcement agency but within four (4) hours of acquiring the information that forms the basis of such reasonable cause. Ombudsmen recognized by the commission are exempt from reporting maltreatment that is discovered in the course of their duties. (2)  Failure to report as provided under this section is a misdemeanor subject to punishment as provided in section 18-113 , Idaho Code. (3)  Any person, including any officer or employee of a financial institution, who has reasonable cause to believe that a vulnerable adult is being abused, neglected, or exploited may report such information to the commission or its providers.