A Mandated Reporter refers to any individual who has taken on the responsibility, whether compensated or not, for the care or custody of an elder or dependent adult. This includes administrators, supervisors, and licensed staff of facilities providing care or services for elder/dependent adults, as well as elder/dependent adult care custodians, health practitioners, clergy members, and employees of county adult protective services or local law enforcement agencies (WIC 15630[a])
Administrators or employees of any of the following public or private entities, or anyone providing care or services for elders/dependent adults, including members of the support/maintenance staff:
This does not include employees who do not work directly with elders/dependent adults as part of their official duties.
Financial Institutions include:
Failure to report, or obstruct a mandated report of physical abuse, abandonment, abduction, isolation, or neglect of an elder/dependent adult, is considered a misdemeanor. The penalty can include imprisonment in the county jail for up to six months, a fine of up to $1,000, or both. If failure to report or obstruction results in the victim’s death or great bodily injury, the penalty may include imprisonment in the county jail for up to one year, a fine of up to $5,000, or both (WIC 15630[h]).
Not reporting financial abuse can result in a fine of up to $1,000. If the failure to report is intentional, the fine can be as high as $5,000 (WIC 15630.1[f]).
Failure to report financial abuse is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 or if the failure to report is willful, a fine up to $5,000 (WIC 15630.1[f]).
Voluntary reporters are urged to report when they have knowledge of, or reasonably suspect, that an elder/dependent adult is experiencing any form of abuse (WIC 15630[c][1]).