Bill Text: HI HB382 | 2014 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Financial Abuse; Elderly; Mandatory Reporting
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-12-18 - Carried over to 2014 Regular Session. [HB382 Detail]
Download: Hawaii-2014-HB382-Introduced.html
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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
382 |
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TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to mandatory reporting.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Section 412:3-114.5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:
"[[]§412:3-114.5[]]
Mandatory reporting of suspected financial abuse of an elder. (a) A financial institution shall report
suspected financial abuse that is directed towards, targets, or is committed
against an elder to the appropriate police department [of human
services] and may report suspected financial abuse to the department
if:
(1) In connection with providing financial services to the elder, the officer or employee of a financial institution:
(A) Has direct contact with the elder; or
(B) Reviews or approves the elder's financial documents, records, or transactions; and
(2) The officer or employee, within the scope of employment or professional practice:
(A) Observes or has knowledge of an incident the officer or employee believes in good faith appears to be financial abuse; or
(B) In the case of officers or employers who do not have direct contact with the elder, has a good faith suspicion that financial abuse has occurred or may be occurring, based solely on the information present at the time of reviewing or approving the document, record, or transaction.
(b) Suspected financial abuse [shall]:
(1) Shall be reported
immediately [to the department] or as soon as practicably possible to
the appropriate police department by telephone and by [written report
sent within five business days.] electronic communication; and
(2) Shall be reported within two business days to the appropriate police department by written report.
(c) [Upon notification by a financial
institution of suspected financial abuse, the department, in a timely manner,
shall determine whether the department has jurisdiction over the elder
involved; and if not, shall notify the financial institution, which shall then
notify the proper local law enforcement agency immediately by telephone and
forward the written report to the agency within three business days. A
financial institution shall not be liable for failing to report suspected
financial abuse to a local law enforcement agency in cases in which the
department fails to notify the institution of the department's lack of
jurisdiction.] The department shall inform the appropriate police
department of all reports received by the department regarding a case of
financial abuse; provided that the name of the person who reported the case of
financial abuse shall be released to the police department pursuant only to
court order or the person's consent.
(d) The department shall inform the appropriate police department or office of the prosecuting attorney of any relevant information concerning a case of financial abuse when the information is requested by the police department or office of the prosecuting attorney for the investigation or prosecution of that case; provided that the name of the person who reported the case of financial abuse shall be released to the police department or office of the prosecuting attorney pursuant only to court order or the person's consent.
[(d)] (e) Notwithstanding any
other state law to the contrary, including but not limited to laws concerning
confidentiality, any person, including the financial institution, who:
(1) Participates in the making of a report pursuant to this section; and
(2) Believes, in good faith, that the action is warranted by facts known to that person,
shall have immunity from any liability, civil or criminal, that might be otherwise incurred or imposed by or as a result of the making of the report. Any person making the report shall have the same immunity with respect to participation in any judicial proceeding resulting from the report.
[(e)] (f) For the purposes of
this section:
"Department" means the department of human services.
"Elder" means a person who is sixty-two years of age or older.
"Financial abuse" means financial abuse or economic exploitation."
SECTION 2. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.
SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Financial Abuse; Elderly; Mandatory Reporting
Description:
Requires financial institutions to report suspected financial abuse of an elder to an appropriate police department and allows reporting to the Department of Human Services. Mandates information sharing with the police or prosecutor.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
