Title 74 — Title 74 PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
41 chapters · 927 sections in this title.
RCW 74.34.005 Findings.
2.7K chars
The legislature finds and declares that:(1) Some adults are vulnerable and may be subjected to abuse, neglect, financial exploitation, or abandonment by a family member, care provider, or other person who has a relationship with the vulnerable adult;(2) A vulnerable adult may be …
RCW 74.34.020 Definitions.
13.8K chars
The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(1) "Abandonment" means action or inaction by a person or entity with a duty of care for a vulnerable adult that leaves the vulnerable person without the means or ability t…
RCW 74.34.025 Limitation on recovery for protective services and benefits.
0.6K chars
The cost of benefits and services provided to a vulnerable adult under this chapter with state funds only does not constitute an obligation or lien and is not recoverable from the recipient of the services or from the recipient's estate, whether by lien, adjustment, or any other …
RCW 74.34.035 Reports—Mandated and permissive—Contents—Confidentiality.
4.7K chars
(1) When there is reasonable cause to believe that abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation, or neglect of a vulnerable adult has occurred, mandated reporters shall immediately report to the department.(2) When there is reason to suspect that sexual assault has occurred, mandat…
RCW 74.34.040 Reports—Contents—Identity confidential.
0.6K chars
The reports made under *RCW 74.34.030 shall contain the following information if known:(1) Identification of the vulnerable adult;(2) The nature and extent of the suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, or abandonment;(3) Evidence of previous abuse, neglect, exploitation, or aban…
RCW 74.34.050 Immunity from liability.
1.1K chars
(1) A person participating in good faith in making a report under this chapter or testifying about alleged abuse, neglect, abandonment, financial exploitation, or self-neglect of a vulnerable adult in a judicial or administrative proceeding under this chapter is immune from liabi…
RCW 74.34.053 Failure to report—False reports—Penalties.
0.5K chars
(1) A person who is required to make a report under this chapter and who knowingly fails to make the report is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.(2) A person who intentionally, maliciously, or in bad faith makes a false report of alleged abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation, or…
RCW 74.34.063 Response to reports—Timing—Reports to law enforcement agencies—Notification to licensing authority.
2.2K chars
(1) The department shall initiate a response to a report, no later than twenty-four hours after knowledge of the report, of suspected abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, or self-neglect of a vulnerable adult.(2) When the initial report or investigation by the dep…
RCW 74.34.067 Investigations—Interviews—Ongoing case planning—Agreements with tribes—Conclusion of investigation.
5.6K chars
(1) Where appropriate, an investigation by the department may include a private interview with the vulnerable adult regarding the alleged abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, or self-neglect.(2) In conducting the investigation, the department shall interview the c…
RCW 74.34.068 Investigation results—Report—Rules.
2.7K chars
(1) After the investigation is complete, the department may provide a written report of the outcome of the investigation to an agency or program described in this subsection when the department determines from its investigation that an incident of abuse, abandonment, financial ex…
RCW 74.34.070 Cooperative agreements for services.
0.7K chars
The department may develop cooperative agreements with community-based agencies providing services for vulnerable adults. The agreements shall cover: (1) The appropriate roles and responsibilities of the department and community-based agencies in identifying and responding to rep…
RCW 74.34.080 Injunctions.
0.7K chars
If access is denied to an employee of the department seeking to investigate an allegation of abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation, or neglect of a vulnerable adult by an individual, the department may seek an injunction to prevent interference with the investigation. The co…
RCW 74.34.090 Data collection system—Confidentiality.
0.2K chars
The department shall maintain a system for statistical data collection, accessible for bona fide research only as the department by rule prescribes. The identity of any person is strictly confidential.[ 1984 c 97 s 15.]
RCW 74.34.095 Confidential information—Disclosure.
2.5K chars
(1) The following information is confidential and not subject to disclosure, except as provided in this section:(a) A report of abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation, or neglect made under this chapter;(b) The identity of the person making the report; and(c) All files, repor…
RCW 74.34.110 Protection of vulnerable adults—Petition for protective order.
0.5K chars
A vulnerable adult, or interested person on behalf of the vulnerable adult, may seek relief from abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation, or neglect, or the threat thereof, by filing a petition for a vulnerable adult protection order under chapter 7.105 RCW.[ 2021 c 215 s 163;…
RCW 74.34.165 Rules.
0.3K chars
The department may adopt rules relating to the reporting, investigation, and provision of protective services in in-home settings, consistent with the objectives of this chapter.[ 1999 c 176 s 18.]Notes:Findings—Purpose—Severability—Conflict with federal requirements—1999 c 176: …
RCW 74.34.170 Services of department discretionary—Funding.
0.6K chars
The provision of services under RCW * 74.34.030, 74.34.040, 74.34.050, and ** 74.34.100 through 74.34.160 are discretionary and the department shall not be required to expend additional funds beyond those appropriated.[ 1986 c 187 s 10.]Notes:Reviser's note: *(1) RCW 74.34.030 wa…
RCW 74.34.180 Retaliation against whistleblowers and residents—Remedies—Rules.
5.5K chars
(1) An employee or contractor who is a whistleblower and who as a result of being a whistleblower has been subjected to workplace reprisal or retaliatory action, has the remedies provided under chapter 49.60 RCW. RCW 4.24.500 through 4.24.520, providing certain protection to pers…
RCW 74.34.200 Abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation, or neglect of a vulnerable adult—Cause of action for damages—Legislative intent.
2.0K chars
(1) In addition to other remedies available under the law, a vulnerable adult who has been subjected to abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation, or neglect either while residing in a facility or in the case of a person residing at home who receives care from a home health, hos…
RCW 74.34.205 Abandonment, abuse, or neglect—Exceptions.
0.9K chars
(1) Any vulnerable adult who relies upon and is being provided spiritual treatment in lieu of medical treatment in accordance with the tenets and practices of a well-recognized religious denomination may not for that reason alone be considered abandoned, abused, or neglected.(2) …
RCW 74.34.215 Financial exploitation of vulnerable adults.
3.6K chars
(1) Pending an investigation by the financial institution, the department, or law enforcement, if a financial institution reasonably believes that financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult may have occurred, may have been attempted, or is being attempted, the financial institu…
RCW 74.34.220 Financial exploitation of vulnerable adults—Training—Reporting.
2.7K chars
(1) A financial institution shall provide training concerning the financial exploitation of vulnerable adults to the employees specified in subsection (2) of this section within one year of June 10, 2010, and shall thereafter provide such training to the new employees specified i…
RCW 74.34.300 Vulnerable adult fatality reviews.
1.6K chars
(1) The department shall conduct a vulnerable adult fatality review in the event of a death of a vulnerable adult when the department has reason to believe that the death of the vulnerable adult may be related to the abuse, abandonment, exploitation, or neglect of the vulnerable …
RCW 74.34.305 Statement to vulnerable adults.
2.2K chars
(1) When the department opens an investigation of a report of abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation, or neglect of a vulnerable adult, the department shall, at the time of the interview of the vulnerable adult who is an alleged victim, provide a written statement of the righ…
RCW 74.34.310 Service of process or filing fees prohibited—Certified copies.
0.2K chars
A public agency may not charge a fee for filing or service of process to petitioners seeking relief under this chapter. Petitioners must be provided the necessary number of certified copies at no cost.[ 2012 c 156 s 1.]
RCW 74.34.320 Written protocol—Counties encouraged to develop for handling criminal cases involving vulnerable adults—Vulnerable adult advocacy teams—Confidentiality—Disclosure of information.
3.4K chars
(1) Each county is encouraged to develop a written protocol for handling criminal cases involving vulnerable adults. The protocol shall:(a) Address the coordination of vulnerable adult mistreatment investigations among the following groups as appropriate and when available: The p…
RCW 74.34.902 Construction—Chapter applicable to state registered domestic partnerships—2009 c 521.
0.8K chars
For the purposes of this chapter, the terms spouse, marriage, marital, husband, wife, widow, widower, next of kin, and family shall be interpreted as applying equally to state registered domestic partnerships or individuals in state registered domestic partnerships as well as to …