RCW 70.124.040 Reports to department or law enforcement agency—Action required.

(1) Where a report is required under RCW 70.124.030, an immediate oral report must be made by telephone or otherwise to either a law enforcement agency or to the department and, upon request, must be followed by a report in writing. The reports must contain the following information, if known:

(a) The name and address of the person making the report;

(b) The name and address of the state hospital patient;

(c) The name and address of the patient's relatives having responsibility for the patient;

(d) The nature and extent of the alleged injury or injuries;

(e) The nature and extent of the alleged neglect;

(f) The nature and extent of the alleged sexual abuse;

(g) Any evidence of previous injuries, including their nature and extent; and

(h) Any other information that may be helpful in establishing the cause of the patient's death, injury, or injuries, and the identity of the perpetrator or perpetrators.

(2) Each law enforcement agency receiving such a report shall, in addition to taking the action required by RCW 70.124.050, immediately relay the report to the department, and to other law enforcement agencies, including the medicaid fraud control unit of the office of the attorney general, as appropriate. For any report it receives, the department shall likewise take the required action and in addition relay the report to the appropriate law enforcement agency or agencies. The appropriate law enforcement agency or agencies must receive immediate notification when the department, upon receipt of such report, has reasonable cause to believe that a criminal act has been committed.

[ 1999 c 176 § 23. Prior: 1997 c 392 § 520; 1997 c 386 § 30; 1981 c 174 § 4; 1979 ex.s. c 228 § 4.]

NOTES:

Findings—Purpose—Severability—Conflict with federal requirements—1999 c 176: See notes following RCW 74.34.005.

Short title—Findings—Construction—Conflict with federal requirements—Part headings and captions not law—1997 c 392: See notes following RCW 74.39A.009.

Application—Effective date—1997 c 386: See notes following RCW 13.50.010.