DFS and law enforcement-cross reporting.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide information on updates to existing state laws, enforcement mechanisms, or penalties for non-compliance.

Law Enforcement and Department of Family Services Reporting

This law requires police to inform the Department of Family Services when they receive a report about a vulnerable adult who might need protective services.

What This Bill Does

• Requires law enforcement officers to notify the Department of Family Services (DFS) if they receive information that a vulnerable adult is suspected of being abused, neglected, exploited, intimidated, abandoned, or self-neglecting.

Who It Names or Affects

• Law enforcement officers
• The Department of Family Services
• Vulnerable adults who are reported to be in need of protective services

Terms To Know

Vulnerable adult

An individual who is at risk due to age, disability, illness, or other factors and may need help from others.

Protective services

Services provided by the government to protect vulnerable adults from abuse, neglect, exploitation, intimidation, abandonment, or self-neglect.

Limits and Unknowns

• The law does not specify what happens if DFS is not notified.
• It is unclear how this new requirement will be enforced and monitored.

Official Summary Text

Bill Summary - 24LSO-0023

Bill No.:

HB0027

Effective:

7/1/2024

LSO No.:

24LSO-0023

Enrolled Act No.:

HEA No. 0006

Chapter No.:

9

Prime Sponsor:

Joint Judiciary Interim Committee

Catch Title:

DFS and law enforcement-cross reporting.

Has Report:

No

Subject:

Requires law enforcement to notify DFS upon receiving a report of vulnerable adult abuse or neglect.

Summary/Major Elements:

This bill requires law enforcement to notify the Department of Family Services upon receiving a report that a vulnerable adult is suspected of being or has been abused, neglected, exploited, intimidated or abandoned or is committing self neglect.

The above summary is not an official publication of the Wyoming Legislature and is not an official statement of legislative intent.

While the Legislative Service Office endeavored to provide accurate information in this summary, it should not be relied upon as a comprehensive abstract of the bill.

Current Bill Text

24LSO-0023

ORIGINAL House

Bill No
.
HB0027

ENROLLED ACT NO. 6,

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SIXTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WYOMING
2024 Budget Session

AN ACT relating to adult protective services; requiring law enforcement to notify the department of family services upon receiving a report of a vulnerable adult in need of potential protective services; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.

W.S. 35
‑
20
‑
103(d) is amended to read:

35
‑
20
‑
103.

Reports of abuse, neglect, exploitation, intimidation or abandonment of vulnerable adult; reports maintained in central registry.

(d)

If
a
law enforcement
officer determines
receives a report
that a vulnerable adult is
suspected of being or has been
abused, neglected, exploited, intimidated or abandoned, or is committing self neglect,
he
law enforcement
shall notify the department concerning the potential need of the vulnerable adult for protective services.

Section 2
.

This act is effective July 1, 2024
.

(END)

Speaker of the House

President of the Senate

Governor

TIME APPROVED: _________

DATE APPROVED: _________

I hereby certify that this act originated in the House.

Chief Clerk

1