481—52.2(235E) Persons who must report dependent adult abuse and the reporting procedure for those persons.
	52.2(1) Persons who must report dependent adult abuse. The following persons shall report suspected dependent adult abuse in accordance with subrule 52.2(2) below.
	a. 	A staff member. Specifically excluded from the definition of “staff member” only for purposes of the requirements set forth in this subrule are individuals who have no contact or de minimis contact with residents in a facility or program.
	b. 	A health care employment agency in accordance with 481—Chapter 55.
	52.2(2) Reporting suspected dependent adult abuse in facilities or programs.
	a. 	If a staff member or employee is required to make a report pursuant to this rule, the staff member or employee shall immediately notify the person in charge or the person’s designated agent who shall then notify the department within 24 hours of such notification or the next business day.
	b. 	If the person in charge is the alleged dependent adult abuser, the staff member shall directly report the abuse to the department within 24 hours or the next business day.
	c. 	Nothing in this subrule prevents a mandatory reporter or any other person from notifying the department directly of any suspected abuse.
	d. 	The employer or supervisor of a person who is required to or may make a report pursuant to this rule shall not apply a policy, work rule, or other requirement that interferes with the person making a report of dependent adult abuse or that results in the failure of another person to make the report.
	e. 	When the person making the report has reason to believe that immediate protection for the dependent adult is advisable, that person should also immediately make an oral report to an appropriate law enforcement agency.
	f. 	A report of suspected dependent adult abuse shall contain as much of the following information as the person making the report is able to furnish:
	(1)	The date and time of the incident;
	(2)	The name, date of birth and diagnoses of the dependent adult;
	(3)	Whether the dependent adult sustained an injury and, if yes, whether photographs of the injury were taken;
	(4)	The nature and extent of the dependent adult abuse, including evidence of previous dependent adult abuse allegations;
	(5)	A list of the staff members working at the time of the incident, including each staff member’s full name, title, date of birth, address and telephone number;
	(6)	The alleged perpetrator’s full name, title, date of birth, social security number, address and telephone number;
	(7)	Other information which the person making the report believes might be helpful in establishing the cause of the abuse or the identity of the person or persons responsible for the abuse or helpful in providing assistance to the dependent adult; and
	(8)	The name, address and telephone number of the person making the report.
	52.2(3) A report shall be accepted whether or not it contains all of the information requested. When the report is made to any agency other than the department, that agency shall promptly refer the report to the department.
	52.2(4) A person required to report abuse who knowingly and willfully fails to do so within 24 hours may be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability as provided for by statute.
	52.2(5) Interference with a person required to report.
	a. 	It is unlawful for any person or employer to discharge, suspend, or otherwise discipline a person for any of the following:
	(1)	For reporting suspected dependent adult abuse;
	(2)	For cooperating with or assisting the department in evaluating or investigating a case of dependent adult abuse; or
	(3)	For participating in judicial proceedings relating to dependent adult abuse.
	b. 	A person or employer found in violation of this subrule is guilty of a simple misdemeanor.
[ARC 8294B, IAB 11/18/09, effective 1/1/10; ARC 6801C, IAB 1/11/23, effective 2/15/23]