H.B. 267 Enrolled

1

AGING AND ADULT SERVICES AMENDMENTS
2 2014 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Rebecca Chavez-Houck
5 Senate Sponsor: Brian E. Shiozawa
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill amends provisions related to the abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable
10 adult.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 . clarifies and modifies the powers and duties of Adult Protective Services; and
14 . makes the vulnerable adult database and the adult protection case file available to
15 city attorneys.
16 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
17 None
18 Other Special Clauses:
19 None
20 Utah Code Sections Affected:
21 AMENDS:
22 62A-3-303 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 91
23 62A-3-312 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapters 91 and 382
24
25 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
26 Section 1. Section 62A-3-303 is amended to read:
27 62A-3-303. Powers and duties of Adult Protective Services.
28 In addition to all other powers and duties that Adult Protective Services is given under
29 this part, Adult Protective Services:

30 (1) shall maintain an intake system for receiving and screening reports;
31 (2) shall investigate [reports] referrals that meet the intake criteria;
32 (3) shall conduct assessments of vulnerability and functional capacity as it relates to an
33 allegation of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of an adult who is the subject of a report;
34 [(3)] (4) shall perform assessments based on protective needs [assessments] and risks
35 for a vulnerable adult who is the subject of a report;
36 [(4)] (5) [may coordinate with, or make referrals to, community resources] may address
37 any protective needs by making recommendations to and coordinating with the vulnerable adult
38 or by making referrals to community resources;
39 [(5)] (6) may provide short-term, limited services to a vulnerable adult[, on a
40 temporary basis,] when family or community resources are not available to provide for the
41 protective needs of the vulnerable adult;
42 [(6)] (7) shall have access to facilities licensed by, or [contracting] contracted with, the
43 department or the Department of Health for the purpose of conducting investigations;
44 [(7)] (8) shall be given access to, or provided with, written statements, documents,
45 exhibits, and other items related to an investigation, including private, controlled, or protected
46 medical or financial records of a vulnerable adult who is the subject of an investigation if:
47 (a) for a vulnerable adult who does not lack [the] capacity to consent, the vulnerable
48 adult signs a release of information; or
49 (b) for a vulnerable adult who lacks [the] capacity to consent, an administrative
50 subpoena is issued by Adult Protective Services;
51 [(8)] (9) may [institute] initiate proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction to seek
52 relief necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter;
53 [(9)] (10) may require all persons, including family members of a vulnerable adult and
54 any caretaker, to cooperate with Adult Protective Services in carrying out its duties under this
55 chapter, including the provision of statements, documents, exhibits, and other items that assist
56 Adult Protective Services in conducting investigations and providing protective services;
57 [(10)] (11) may require all officials, agencies, departments, and political subdivisions

58 of the state to assist and cooperate within their jurisdictional power with the court, the division,
59 and Adult Protective Services in furthering the purposes of this chapter;
60 [(11)] (12) may conduct studies and compile data regarding abuse, neglect, and
61 exploitation; and
62 [(12)] (13) may issue reports and recommendations.
63 Section 2. Section 62A-3-312 is amended to read:
64 62A-3-312. Access to information in database.
65 The database and the adult protection case file:
66 (1) shall be made available to law enforcement agencies, the attorney general's office,
67 city attorneys, and county or district attorney's offices;
68 (2) shall be released as required under Subsection 63G-2-202 (4)(c); and
69 (3) may be made available, at the discretion of the division, to:
70 (a) subjects of a report as follows:
71 (i) a vulnerable adult named in a report as a victim of abuse, neglect, or exploitation, or
72 that adult's attorney or legal guardian; and
73 (ii) a person identified in a report as having abused, neglected, or exploited a
74 vulnerable adult, or that person's attorney; and
75 (b) persons involved in an evaluation or assessment of the vulnerable adult as follows:
76 (i) an employee or contractor of the department who is responsible for the evaluation or
77 assessment of an adult protection case file;
78 (ii) a multidisciplinary team approved by the division to assist Adult Protective
79 Services in the evaluation, assessment, and disposition of a vulnerable adult case;
80 (iii) an authorized person or agency providing services to, or responsible for, the care,
81 treatment, assessment, or supervision of a vulnerable adult named in the report as a victim,
82 when in the opinion of the division, that information will assist in the protection of, or provide
83 other benefits to, the victim;
84 (iv) a licensing authority for a facility, program, or person providing care to a victim
85 named in a report; and

86 (v) legally authorized protection and advocacy agencies when they represent a victim
87 or have been requested by the division to assist on a case, including:
88 (A) the Office of Public Guardian, created in Section 62A-14-103 ; and
89 (B) the Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program, created in Section 62A-3-203 .