§9-6-11. Reporting procedures.

(a) A report of neglect, abuse, or financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult or facility resident, or of an emergency situation involving such an adult, shall be made immediately, and not more than 48 hours after suspecting abuse, neglect or financial exploitation, to the department’s adult protective services agency by a method established by the department. The department shall, upon receiving any such report, take such action as may be appropriate and shall maintain a record thereof. The department shall receive reports on its 24-hour, seven-day-a-week, toll-free number established to receive calls reporting cases of suspected or known adult abuse or neglect.

(b) A copy of any report of abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, or emergency situation shall be immediately filed with the following agencies:

(1) The Department of Human Services;

(2) The appropriate law-enforcement agency and the prosecuting attorney, if necessary; or

(3) In case of a death, to the appropriate medical examiner or coroner’s office.

(c) If the person who is alleged to be abused, neglected, or financially exploited is a resident of a nursing home or other residential facility, a copy of the report shall also be filed with the state or regional long-term care ombudsman and the administrator of the nursing home or facility.

(d) Reports of known or suspected institutional abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult or facility resident, or the existence of an emergency situation in an institution, nursing home, or other residential facility shall be made, received, and investigated in the same manner as other reports provided for in this article. In the case of a report regarding an institution, nursing home, or residential facility, the department shall immediately cause an investigation to be conducted.