55.043 Adult-at-risk agency.

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(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.

(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.

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

(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.

(1m)Reporting.

(a)The following persons shall file reports as specified in par.

(b):

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

3. A health care provider, as defined in s. 155.01

(7).

4. A social worker, professional counselor, or marriage and family therapist certified under subch. I of ch. 457 or a professional counselor who is exercising the privilege to practice, as defined in s. 457.50

(s), in this state.

(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:

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.

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.

(be)A person specified in par.

(a)to whom any of the following applies is not required to file a report as provided in par.

(b):

1. 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.

2. If a health care provider provides treatment by spiritual means through prayer for healing in lieu of medical care in accordance with his or her religious tradition and his or her communications with patients are required by his or her religious denomination to be held confidential.

(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.

a. No person may discharge or otherwise retaliate or discriminate against any person for reporting in good faith under this subsection.

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.

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.

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).

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.

(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.

(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. The requirement under this paragraph does not apply to an employee of the board on aging and long-term care who determines that his or her referral would be in violation of 42 USC 3058g (d).

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

(1r)Response and investigation.

1g. Except as otherwise provided, if an adult-at-risk agency has reason to believe that an adult at risk has been the subject of abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, or self-neglect or upon receiving a report of alleged abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, or self-neglect of an adult at risk, the adult-at-risk agency shall respond by conducting an investigation or by referring the report to another agency for investigation. The investigation may be used to determine whether the adult at risk is in need of protective services.

If an adult-at-risk agency has reason to believe that there is abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, or self-neglect of an adult at risk who is a client, as defined in s. 50.065

(b), of an entity, as defined in s. 50.065

(c), and if the person suspected of perpetrating the alleged abuse, financial exploitation, or neglect is a caregiver or nonclient resident of the entity, the adult-at-risk agency shall refer the report within 24 hours after the report is received to the department for investigation. The department shall coordinate its investigatory efforts with other investigative agencies or authorities as appropriate. An adult-at-risk agency’s response to or another investigative agency’s investigation of a report of abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, or self-neglect that is not referred to the department shall be commenced within 24 hours after a report is received, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays.

2. If an agent or employee of an adult-at-risk agency required to refer 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

(d)and sub.

(6).

(b)The adult-at-risk agency’s or another investigative agency’s investigation shall include at least one of the following:

1. A visit to the residence of the adult at risk.

2. Observation of or 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.

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.