Arizona Laws 46-457. Elder abuse central registry; mandatory reporting; release of information
A. A person who files an action under this article shall serve notice and one copy of the pleading with the attorney general within thirty days after the action is filed in the superior court. The notice shall identify the action, the person against whom the civil complaint has been filed and that person’s attorney. The person who files an action is responsible for submitting a report on the final disposition of the case within thirty days after the final action is taken.
Terms Used In Arizona Laws 46-457
- Abuse: means :
(a) Intentional infliction of physical harm. See Arizona Laws 46-451
- Acquittal:
- Judgement that a criminal defendant has not been proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
- A verdict of "not guilty."
- Action: includes any matter or proceeding in a court, civil or criminal. See Arizona Laws 1-215
- Adult: means a person who has attained eighteen years of age. See Arizona Laws 1-215
- Allegation: something that someone says happened.
- Arraignment: A proceeding in which an individual who is accused of committing a crime is brought into court, told of the charges, and asked to plead guilty or not guilty.
- Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
- department: means the department of economic security. See Arizona Laws 46-101
- Exploitation: means the illegal or improper use of a vulnerable adult or the vulnerable adult's resources for another's profit or advantage. See Arizona Laws 46-451
- Indictment: The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.
- Neglect: means the deprivation of food, water, medication, medical services, shelter, supervision, cooling, heating or other services necessary to maintain a vulnerable adult's minimum physical or mental health. See Arizona Laws 46-451
- Person: includes a corporation, company, partnership, firm, association or society, as well as a natural person. See Arizona Laws 1-215
- Protective services: means a program of identifiable and specialized social services that may offer social services appropriate to resolve problems of abuse, exploitation or neglect of a vulnerable adult. See Arizona Laws 46-451
- Services: includes social casework, rehabilitation counseling and similar services rendered to a person or persons in need as provided for in this title. See Arizona Laws 46-101
- Vulnerable adult: means an individual who is eighteen years of age or older and who is unable to protect himself from abuse, neglect or exploitation by others because of a physical or mental impairment. See Arizona Laws 46-451
B. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a state agency other than adult protective services that renders an administrative decision that substantiates the allegation of abuse or that files a civil action that alleges abuse, neglect or financial exploitation pursuant to this article or title 36 shall serve notice and one copy of the administrative decision or pleading with the attorney general within thirty days after the administrative decision is rendered or within thirty days after the action is filed in the superior court. The agency is responsible for submitting a report on the final disposition of the case within thirty days after the final action is taken. Adult protective services shall report its findings to the registry established pursuant to section 46-459. The department of economic security shall not provide the notice prescribed in this subsection for information maintained in the adult protective services registry pursuant to section 46-459.
C. If the victim of the offense is a vulnerable adult, a person who files a criminal complaint or indictment involving a violation of this article or section 13-1102, 13-1103, 13-1104, 13-1105, 13-1201, 13-1203, 13-1204, 13-1303, 13-1304, 13-1403, 13-1404, 13-1406, 13-1802, 13-1807, 13-2002, 13-2310 or 13-3623 shall submit a copy of the criminal complaint or indictment to the attorney general within thirty days after arraignment. Within thirty days of the date of issuance of the minute entry the court shall endorse to the attorney general a copy of the sentencing minute entry or the minute entry reflecting the case has been dismissed or a judgment of acquittal has been entered. The attorney general shall develop guidelines to implement this subsection.
D. The attorney general shall maintain a registry containing the names of persons pursuant to subsection A, B or C of this section with the date the action was filed with the superior court or the date the administrative decision was rendered, the dates of the conduct set forth in the complaint, the indictment or decision, the general nature of the complaint, indictment or decision and the disposition of the complaint, indictment or decision, if known.
E. The information maintained pursuant to subsection D of this section is available to the public on written request to the custodian of the registry.
F. A person may submit a written statement on that person’s own behalf to the custodian of the registry. The statement is part of the records for distribution in response to all inquiries concerning that person.
G. A person or agency that distributes information in the registry in good faith is not subject to civil or criminal liability.