(1) The agency receiving a report of mistreatment or self-neglect of an at-risk adult shall immediately make a thorough evaluation of the reported level of risk. The immediate concern of the evaluation is the protection of the at-risk adult. The evaluation, at a minimum, must include a determination of a response time frame and whether an investigation of the allegations is required. If a county department determines that an investigation is required, the county department is responsible for ensuring an investigation is conducted and arranging for the subsequent provision of protective services to be conducted by persons trained to conduct such investigations and provide protective services.

(1.5) The state department shall provide training to all current county department adult protective services caseworkers and supervisors no later than July 1, 2018, and to new county department adult protective services caseworkers and supervisors hired after July 1, 2018, to achieve consistency in the performance of the following duties:

(a) Investigating reports of suspected mistreatment or self-neglect of at-risk adults and making findings concerning cases and alleged perpetrators;

(b) Notifying a person who has been substantiated in a case of mistreatment of an at-risk adult of the finding and of the person's right to appeal the finding to the state department;

(c) Assessing the client's strengths and needs and developing a plan for the provision of protective services;

(d) Determining the appropriateness of case closure;

(e) Entering accurate and complete documentation of the report and subsequent casework into CAPS; and

(f) Maintaining confidentiality in accordance with state law.

(2) Each county department, law enforcement agency, district attorney's office, and other agency responsible under federal law or the laws of this state to investigate mistreatment or self-neglect of at-risk adults shall develop and implement cooperative agreements to coordinate the investigative duties of such agencies. The focus of such agreements is to ensure the best protection for at-risk adults. The agreements must provide for special requests by one agency for assistance from another agency and for joint investigations. The agreements must further provide that each agency maintain the confidentiality of the information exchanged pursuant to such joint investigations.

(3) Each county or contiguous group of counties in the state in which a minimum number of reports of mistreatment or self-neglect of at-risk adults are annually filed shall establish an at-risk adult protection team. The state board shall promulgate rules to specify the minimum number of reports that will require the establishment of an adult at-risk protection team. The at-risk adult protection team shall review the processes used to report and investigate mistreatment or self-neglect of at-risk adults, review the provision of protective services for such adults, facilitate interagency cooperation, and provide community education on the mistreatment and self-neglect of at-risk adults. The director of each county department shall create or coordinate a protection team for the respective county in accordance with rules adopted by the state board of human services. The state board rules shall govern the establishment, composition, and duties of the team and must be consistent with this subsection (3).

(4) Repealed.