5123.604 Prohibited acts. - Ohio Statutes

5123.604 Prohibited acts.

(A) No one shall take a discriminatory, disciplinary, or retaliatory action against any officer or employee of a provider, any mentally retarded, developmentally disabled, or mentally ill person, the parents or guardian of a mentally retarded, developmentally disabled, or mentally ill person, or any volunteer or advocate for a mentally retarded, developmentally disabled, or mentally ill person, for any communication these persons make or information they disclose in good faith to the ombudsperson section of the legal rights service.

(B) No person shall knowingly interfere with lawful actions of the ombudsperson section, refuse entry to its representatives, fail to comply with its lawful demands, or offer any compensation, gratuity, or promise thereof in an effort to influence the outcome of any matter being considered by the section.

(C) The department of developmental disabilities shall immediately notify the ombudsperson section of all investigations of major unusual incidents or life-threatening situations, as defined in rules adopted by the department, involving mentally retarded and developmentally disabled persons, and shall furnish copies of all relevant reports within forty-eight hours after receipt. The department of mental health shall notify the ombudsperson section of all major unusual incidents or life-threatening situations, as defined in rules adopted by the department, involving mentally ill persons within forty-eight hours after receipt of the report of the incident or situation. The departments of health and job and family services shall notify the department of developmental disabilities of all allegations and investigations of abuse, neglect, or life-threatening situations involving mentally retarded or developmentally disabled persons. Any other state agency with information concerning abuse, neglect, or life-threatening situations involving mentally retarded or developmentally disabled persons shall report that information immediately to the department of developmental disabilities.

Nothing in this section or section 5123.60, 5123.601, or 5123.602 of the Revised Code shall preclude any department or board, its contract agencies, a community residential facility, or other governmental entity from carrying out its responsibility as prescribed by law.

Amended by 128th General Assembly ch. 7, SB 79, § 1, eff. 10/6/2009.

Effective Date: 07-01-2000