§ 26B-6-205 — Reporting requirements -- Investigation -- Exceptions -- Immunity -- Penalties -- Nonmedical healing.

(1) Except as provided in Subsection (4), if an individual has reason to believe that a vulnerable adult is, or has been, the subject of abuse, neglect, or exploitation, the individual shall immediately report the suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation to Adult Protective Services or to the nearest peace officer or law enforcement agency.
(2) (2)(a) If a peace officer or a law enforcement agency receives a report under Subsection (1), the peace officer or the law enforcement agency shall immediately notify Adult Protective Services.
(2)(b) Adult Protective Services and the peace officer or the law enforcement agency shall coordinate, as appropriate, efforts to investigate the report under Subsection (1) and to provide protection to the vulnerable adult.
(3) When a report under Subsection (1), or a subsequent investigation by Adult Protective Services, indicates that a criminal offense may have occurred against a vulnerable adult:
(3)(a) Adult Protective Services shall notify the nearest local law enforcement agency regarding the potential offense; and
(3)(b) the law enforcement agency shall initiate an investigation in cooperation with Adult Protective Services.
(4) Subject to Subsection (5), the reporting requirement described in Subsection (1) does not apply to:
(4)(a) a member of the clergy, with regard to any confession made to the member of the clergy while functioning in the ministerial capacity of the member of the clergy and without the consent of the individual making the confession, if:
(4)(a)(i) the perpetrator made the confession directly to the member of the clergy; and
(4)(a)(ii) the member of the clergy is, under canon law or church doctrine or practice, bound to maintain the confidentiality of that confession; or
(4)(b) an attorney, or an individual employed by the attorney, if knowledge of the suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult arises from the representation of a client, unless the attorney is permitted to reveal the suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of the vulnerable adult to prevent reasonably certain death or substantial bodily harm in accordance with Utah Rules of Professional Conduct, Rule 1.6.
(5) (5)(a) When a member of the clergy receives information about abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult from any source other than confession of the perpetrator, the member of the clergy is required to report that information even though the member of the clergy may have also received information about abuse, neglect, or exploitation from the confession of the perpetrator.
(5)(b) Exemption of the reporting requirement for an individual described in Subsection (4) does not exempt the individual from any other efforts required by law to prevent further abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult by the perpetrator.
(6) (6)(a) As used in this Subsection (6), "physician" means an individual licensed to practice as a physician or osteopath in this state under Title 58, Chapter 67, Utah Medical Practice Act, or Title 58, Chapter 68, Utah Osteopathic Medical Practice Act.
(6)(b) The physician-patient privilege does not:
(6)(b)(i) excuse a physician from reporting suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult under Subsection (1); or
(6)(b)(ii) constitute grounds for excluding evidence regarding a vulnerable adult's injuries, or the cause of the vulnerable adult's injuries, in any judicial or administrative proceeding resulting from a report under Subsection (1).
(7) (7)(a) An individual who in good faith makes a report under Subsection (1), or who otherwise notifies Adult Protective Services or a peace officer or law enforcement agency, is immune from civil and criminal liability in connection with the report or notification.
(7)(b) A covered provider or covered contractor, as defined in Section 26B-2-238, that knowingly fails to report suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult to Adult Protective Services, or to the nearest peace officer or law enforcement agency, under Subsection (1), is subject to a private right of action and liability for the abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult that is committed by the individual who was not reported to Adult Protective Services or to the nearest peace officer or law enforcement agency.
(7)(c) This Subsection (7) does not provide immunity with respect to acts or omissions of a governmental employee except as provided in Title 63G, Chapter 7, Governmental Immunity Act of Utah.
(8) If Adult Protective Services has substantial grounds to believe that an individual has knowingly failed to report suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult in accordance with this section, Adult Protective Services shall file a complaint with:
(8)(a) the Division of Professional Licensing if the individual is a health care provider, as defined in Section 80-2-603, or a mental health therapist, as defined in Section 58-60-102;
(8)(b) the appropriate law enforcement agency if the individual is a law enforcement officer, as defined in Section 53-13-103; and
(8)(c) the State Board of Education if the individual is an educator, as defined in Section 53E-6-102.
(9) (9)(a) An individual is guilty of a class B misdemeanor if the individual willfully fails to report suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult to Adult Protective Services, or to the nearest peace officer or law enforcement agency under Subsection (1).
(9)(b) If an individual is convicted under Subsection (9)(a), the court may order the individual, in addition to any other sentence the court imposes, to:
(9)(b)(i) complete community service hours; or
(9)(b)(ii) complete a program on preventing abuse, neglect, and exploitation of vulnerable adults.
(9)(c) In determining whether it would be appropriate to charge an individual with a violation of Subsection (9)(a), the prosecuting attorney shall take into account whether a reasonable individual would not have reported suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult because reporting would have placed the individual in immediate danger of death or serious bodily injury.
(9)(d) Notwithstanding any contrary provision of law, a prosecuting attorney may not use an individual's violation of Subsection (9)(a) as the basis for charging the individual with another offense.
(9)(e) A prosecution for failure to report under Subsection (9)(a) shall be commenced within two years after the day on which the individual had knowledge of the suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation and willfully failed to report.
(10) Under circumstances not amounting to a violation of Section 76-8-508 or 76-8-508.7, an individual is guilty of a class B misdemeanor if the individual threatens, intimidates, or attempts to intimidate a vulnerable adult who is the subject of a report under Subsection (1), the individual who made the report under Subsection (1), a witness, or any other person cooperating with an investigation conducted in accordance with this chapter.
(11) An adult is not considered abused, neglected, or a vulnerable adult for the reason that the adult has chosen to rely solely upon religious, nonmedical forms of healing in lieu of medical care.

Legislative History

Amended by Chapter 96, 2024 General Session