§ 6904 - Nature and content of report; to whom made - Vermont Statutes

§ 6904. Nature and content of report; to whom made

A report shall be made orally or in writing to the commissioner or designee as soon as possible, but in no event later than 48 hours thereafter. The report may also be made to a law enforcement officer. If an oral report is made by telephone or otherwise, the commissioner or designee shall request that it be followed within one week by a report in writing. Reports shall contain the name and address of the reporter as well as the names and addresses of the vulnerable adult and persons responsible for his or her care, if known; the age of the vulnerable adult; the nature of his or her disability, the nature and extent of the vulnerable adult's abuse, neglect, or exploitation together with any evidence of previous abuse, neglect, or exploitation of the vulnerable adult; and any other information that the reporter believes might be helpful in establishing the cause of any injuries or reasons for the abuse, neglect, or exploitation as well as in protecting the vulnerable adult. If a report of abuse, neglect, or exploitation involves the acts or omissions of the commissioner or employees of that department, then such reports shall be directed to the secretary of the agency of human services who shall cause the report to be investigated by appropriate staff other than staff of the department. (Added 1979, No. 150 (Adj. Sess.); amended 1985, No. 78, § 4; 1989, No. 76, § 2; 1993, No. 100, § 3; 2001, No. 135 (Adj. Sess.), § 17, eff. June 13, 2002.)