Utah 2025 Regular Session

Utah House Bill HB0534 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	Enrolled Copy H.B. 534
	1	+	03-04 11:41 1st Sub. (Buff) H.B. 534
	2	+	Anthony E. Loubet proposes the following substitute bill:
2	3		1
3	4		Adult Protective Services Amendments
4	5		2025 GENERAL SESSION
5	6		STATE OF UTAH
6	7		Chief Sponsor: Anthony E. Loubet
7	8		Senate Sponsor: Evan J. Vickers
8	9		2
9	10
10	11		3
11	12		LONG TITLE
12	13		4
13	14		General Description:
14	15		5
15	16		This bill amends provisions regarding Adult Protective Services.
16	17		6
17	18		Highlighted Provisions:
18	19		7
19	20		This bill:
20	21		8
21	22		▸ amends definitions and defines terms;
22	23		9
23	24		▸ allows Adult Protective Services to make a substantiated finding of abuse, neglect, or
24	25		10
25	26		exploitation of a vulnerable adult if the alleged perpetrator refuses to provide certain
26	27		11
27	28		documents; and
28	29		12
29	30		▸ makes technical and conforming changes.
30	31		13
31	32		Money Appropriated in this Bill:
32	33		14
33	34		None
34	35		15
35	36		Other Special Clauses:
36	37		16
37	38		None
38	39		17
39	40		Utah Code Sections Affected:
40	41		18
41	42		AMENDS:
42	43		19
43	44		26B-6-201, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2024, Chapter 364
44	45		20
45	46		26B-6-203, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 318 and renumbered and
46	47		21
47	48		amended by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 308
48	49		22
49	50
50	51		23
51	52		Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
52	53		24
53	54		Section 1. Section 26B-6-201 is amended to read:
54	55		25
55	56		26B-6-201 . Definitions.
56	57		26
57	58		As used in this part:
58	59		27
59	60		(1) "Abandonment" means [any] a knowing or intentional action or [failure to act] inaction,
60	61		28
61		-	including desertion, by a person acting as a caretaker for a vulnerable adult that leaves ~~H.B. 534 Enrolled Copy~~
	62	+	including desertion, by a person acting as a caretaker for a vulnerable adult that leaves
62	63		29
63	64		the vulnerable adult without the means or ability to obtain necessary food, clothing,
	65	+	1st Sub. H.B. 534 1st Sub. (Buff) H.B. 534 03-04 11:41
64	66		30
65	67		shelter, or medical or other health care.
66	68		31
67	69		(2) "Abuse" means:
68	70		32
69	71		(a) knowingly[ or] , intentionally, or recklessly:
70	72		33
71	73		(i) attempting to cause harm;
72	74		34
73	75		(ii) causing harm;[ or]
74	76		35
75	77		(iii) placing another in fear of imminent harm;
76	78		36
77	79		(iv) causing physical injury by acts or omissions; or
78	80		37
79	81		(v) engaging in a pattern of neglect;
80	82		38
81	83		(b) unreasonable or inappropriate use of physical restraint, medication, or isolation that,
82	84		39
83	85		unless the physical restraint, medication, or isolation furthers the health and safety of
84	86		40
85	87		the vulnerable adult:
86	88		41
87	89		(i) causes or is likely to cause harm to a vulnerable adult;
88	90		42
89	91		(ii) conflicts with a physician's orders; or
90	92		43
91	93		(iii) is used as an unauthorized substitute for treatment;
92	94		44
93	95		(c) emotional or psychological abuse;
94	96		45
95	97		(d) a sexual offense as described in Title 76, Chapter 5, Offenses Against the Individual;
96	98		46
97	99		or
98	100		47
99	101		(e) deprivation of life sustaining treatment, or medical or mental health treatment, except:
100	102		48
101	103		(i) as provided in Title 75A, Chapter 3, Health Care Decisions; or
102	104		49
103	105		(ii) when informed consent[, as defined in Section 76-5-111,] has been obtained.
104	106		50
105	107		(3) "Adult" means an individual who is 18 years old or older.
106	108		51
107	109		(4) "Adult protection case file" means a record, stored in any format, contained in a case
108	110		52
109	111		file maintained by Adult Protective Services.
110	112		53
111	113		(5) "Adult Protective Services" means the unit within the division responsible to investigate
112	114		54
113	115		abuse, neglect, and exploitation of vulnerable adults and provide appropriate protective
114	116		55
115	117		services.
116	118		56
117	119		(6) "Capacity" means that an individual has sufficient understanding and memory to
118	120		57
119	121		comprehend the individual's situation and the nature, purpose, and consequence of an act
120	122		58
121	123		or transaction into which the individual enters or proposes to enter.
122	124		59
123	125		[(6)] (7) "Capacity to consent" means the ability of an individual to understand and
124	126		60
125	127		communicate regarding the nature and consequences of decisions relating to the
126	128		61
127	129		individual, and relating to the individual's property and lifestyle, including a decision to
128	130		62
129	131		accept or refuse services.
130		-	- 2 - Enrolled Copy H.B. 534
131	132		63
132	133		[(7)] (8) "Caretaker" means a person or public institution that is entrusted with or assumes
	134	+	- 2 - 03-04 11:41 1st Sub. (Buff) H.B. 534
133	135		64
134	136		the responsibility to provide a vulnerable adult with care, food, shelter, clothing,
135	137		65
136	138		supervision, medical or other health care, resource management, or other necessities for
137	139		66
138	140		pecuniary gain, by contract, or as a result of friendship, or who is otherwise in a position
139	141		67
140	142		of trust and confidence with a vulnerable adult, including a relative, a household
141	143		68
142	144		member, an attorney-in-fact, a neighbor, a person who is employed or who provides
143	145		69
144	146		volunteer work, a court-appointed or voluntary guardian, or a person who contracts or is
145	147		70
146	148		under court order to provide care.
147	149		71
148	150		[(8)] (9) "Counsel" means an attorney licensed to practice law in this state.
149	151		72
150	152		[(9)] (10) "Database" means the statewide database maintained by the division under
151	153		73
152	154		Section 26B-6-210.
153	155		74
154	156		(11) "Decision-making ability" means an individual's capacity to receive, process, and
155	157		75
156	158		understand information, to comprehend the individual's circumstances, and to
157	159		76
158	160		understand the likely consequences of the individual's decisions.
159	161		77
160	162		[(10)] (12)(a) "Dependent adult" means an individual 18 years old or older, who has a
161	163		78
162	164		physical or mental impairment that restricts the individual's ability to carry out
163	165		79
164	166		normal activities or to protect the individual's rights.
165	167		80
166	168		(b) "Dependent adult" includes an individual who has physical or developmental
167	169		81
168	170		disabilities or whose physical or mental capacity has substantially diminished
169	171		82
170	172		because of age.
171	173		83
172	174		[(11)] (13) "Elder abuse" means abuse, neglect, or exploitation of an elder adult.
173	175		84
174	176		[(12)] (14) "Elder adult" means an individual 65 years old or older.
175	177		85
176	178		[(13)] (15) "Emergency" means a circumstance in which a vulnerable adult is at an
177	179		86
178	180		immediate risk of death, serious physical injury, or serious physical, emotional, or
179	181		87
180	182		financial harm.
181	183		88
182	184		[(14)] (16) "Emergency protective services" means measures taken by Adult Protective
183	185		89
184	186		Services under time-limited, court-ordered authority for the purpose of remediating an
185	187		90
186	188		emergency.
187	189		91
188	190		[(15)] (17)(a) "Emotional or psychological abuse" means knowing or intentional verbal
189	191		92
190	192		or nonverbal conduct directed at a vulnerable adult that [results in the vulnerable
191	193		93
192	194		adult suffering] would cause a reasonable individual to suffer mental anguish,
193	195		94
194	196		emotional distress, fear, humiliation, degradation, agitation, or confusion.
195	197		95
196	198		(b) "Emotional or psychological abuse" includes intimidating, threatening, isolating,
197	199		96
198	200		coercing, or harassing.
199		-	- 3 - H.B. 534 Enrolled Copy
200	201		97
201	202		(c) "Emotional or psychological abuse" does not include verbal or non-verbal conduct
	203	+	- 3 - 1st Sub. (Buff) H.B. 534 03-04 11:41
202	204		98
203	205		by a vulnerable adult who lacks the capacity to intentionally or knowingly:
204	206		99
205	207		(i) engage in the conduct; or
206	208		100
207	209		(ii) cause mental anguish, emotional distress, fear, humiliation, degradation,
208	210		101
209	211		agitation, or confusion.
210	212		102
211	213		(18) "Endangerment" means an offense described in Section 76-5-112 or 76-5-112.5.
212	214		103
213	215		[(16)] (19) "Exploitation" means an offense described in Section 76-5-111.3, 76-5-111.4, or
214	216		104
215	217		76-5b-202.
216	218		105
217	219		[(17)] (20) "Harm" means pain, mental anguish, emotional distress, hurt, physical or
218	220		106
219	221		psychological damage, physical injury, serious physical injury, suffering, or distress
220	222		107
221	223		inflicted knowingly or, intentionally.
222	224		108
223	225		[(18)] (21) "Inconclusive" means a finding by the division that there is not a reasonable
224	226		109
225	227		basis to conclude that abuse, neglect, or exploitation occurred.
226	228		110
227	229		(22) "Informed consent" means:
228	230		111
229	231		(a) a written expression by the individual, or authorized by the individual, that:
230	232		112
231	233		(i) is given while the individual is of sound mind;
232	234		113
233	235		(ii) is witnessed by at least two individuals who do not benefit from the withdrawal of
234	236		114
235	237		services; and
236	238		115
237	239		(iii) states that:
238	240		116
239	241		(A) the individual fully understands the potential risks and benefits of the
240	242		117
241	243		withdrawal of food, water, medication, medical services, shelter, cooling,
242	244		118
243	245		heating, or other services necessary to maintain minimum physical or mental
244	246		119
245	247		health; and
246	248		120
247	249		(B) the individual desires that the services be withdrawn; or
248	250		121
249	251		(b) consent to withdraw food, water, medication, medical services, shelter, cooling,
250	252		122
251	253		heating, or other services necessary to maintain minimum physical or mental health,
252	254		123
253	255		as permitted by court order.
254	256		124
255	257		[(19)] (23) "Intimidation" means communication through verbal or nonverbal conduct which
256	258		125
257	259		threatens deprivation of money, food, clothing, medicine, shelter, social interaction,
258	260		126
259	261		supervision, health care, or companionship, or which threatens isolation or abuse.
260	262		127
261	263		[(20)] (24)(a) "Isolation" means knowingly or intentionally preventing a vulnerable adult
262	264		128
263	265		from having contact with another person, unless the restriction of personal rights is
264	266		129
265	267		authorized by court order, by:
266	268		130
267	269		(i) preventing the vulnerable adult from communicating, visiting, interacting, or
268		-	- 4 - Enrolled Copy H.B. 534
269	270		131
270	271		initiating interaction with others, including receiving or inviting visitors, mail, or
	272	+	- 4 - 03-04 11:41 1st Sub. (Buff) H.B. 534
271	273		132
272	274		telephone calls, contrary to the expressed wishes of the vulnerable adult, or
273	275		133
274	276		communicating to a visitor that the vulnerable adult is not present or does not
275	277		134
276	278		want to meet with or talk to the visitor, knowing that communication to be false;
277	279		135
278	280		(ii) physically restraining the vulnerable adult in order to prevent the vulnerable adult
279	281		136
280	282		from meeting with a visitor; or
281	283		137
282	284		(iii) making false or misleading statements to the vulnerable adult in order to induce
283	285		138
284	286		the vulnerable adult to refuse to receive communication from visitors or other
285	287		139
286	288		family members.
287	289		140
288	290		(b) "Isolation" does not include an act:
289	291		141
290	292		(i) intended in good faith to protect the physical or mental welfare of the vulnerable
291	293		142
292	294		adult; or
293	295		143
294	296		(ii) performed pursuant to the treatment plan or instructions of a physician or other
295	297		144
296	298		professional advisor of the vulnerable adult.
297	299		145
298	300		[(21)] (25) "Lacks capacity to consent" is as defined in Section 76-5-111.4.
299	301		146
300	302		[(22)] (26)[(a)] "Neglect" means:
301	303		147
302	304		[(i)] (a)[(A)] (i) failure of a caretaker to provide [necessary care, including ]nutrition,
303	305		148
304	306		clothing, shelter, supervision, personal care, or dental[, medical,] or other health
305	307		149
306	308		care[ for a vulnerable adult, unless the vulnerable adult is able to provide or obtain
307	309		150
308	310		the necessary care without assistance]; or
309	311		151
310	312		[(B)] (ii) failure of a caretaker to provide protection from health and safety hazards or
311	313		152
312	314		maltreatment;
313	315		153
314	316		[(ii)] (b) failure of a caretaker to provide care to a vulnerable adult in a timely manner
315	317		154
316	318		and with the degree of care that a reasonable person in a like position would exercise;
317	319		155
318	320		[(iii)] (c) a pattern of conduct by a caretaker, without the vulnerable adult's informed
319	321		156
320	322		consent, resulting in deprivation of food, water, medication, health care, shelter,
321	323		157
322	324		cooling, heating, or other services necessary to maintain the vulnerable adult's well
323	325		158
324	326		being;
325	327		159
326	328		[(iv)] (d) [knowing or ]intentional failure by a caretaker to carry out a prescribed
327	329		160
328	330		treatment plan that [causes or is likely to cause] results or could result in physical
329	331		161
330	332		injury or physical harm to the vulnerable adult; or
331	333		162
332	334		[(v) self-neglect by the vulnerable adult; or]
333	335		163
334	336		[(vi)] (e) abandonment by a caretaker.
335	337		164
336	338		[(b) "Neglect" does not include conduct, or failure to take action, that is permitted or
337		-	- 5 - H.B. 534 Enrolled Copy
338	339		165
339	340		excused under Title 75A, Chapter 3, Health Care Decisions.]
	341	+	- 5 - 1st Sub. (Buff) H.B. 534 03-04 11:41
340	342		166
341	343		[(23)] (27) "Physical injury" includes the damage and conditions described in Section
342	344		167
343	345		76-5-111.
344	346		168
345	347		(28) "Position of trust and confidence" means the position of a person who:
346	348		169
347	349		(a) is a parent, spouse, adult child, or other relative of a vulnerable adult;
348	350		170
349	351		(b) is a joint tenant or tenant in common with a vulnerable adult;
350	352		171
351	353		(c) has a legal or fiduciary relationship with a vulnerable adult, including a
352	354		172
353	355		court-appointed or voluntary guardian, trustee, attorney, attorney-in-fact, or
354	356		173
355	357		conservator;
356	358		174
357	359		(d) is a caretaker of a vulnerable adult; or
358	360		175
359	361		(e) is a person whom a vulnerable adult has come to trust.
360	362		176
361	363		[(24)] (29) "Protected person" means a vulnerable adult for whom the court has ordered
362	364		177
363	365		protective services.
364	366		178
365	367		[(25)] (30) "Protective services" means services to protect a vulnerable adult from abuse,
366	368		179
367	369		neglect, or exploitation.
368	370		180
369	371		[(26)] (31) "Self-neglect" means the failure of a vulnerable adult to provide or obtain food,
370	372		181
371	373		water, medication, health care, shelter, cooling, heating, safety, or other services
372	374		182
373	375		necessary to maintain the vulnerable adult's well being when that failure is the result of
374	376		183
375	377		the adult's mental or physical impairment. Choice of lifestyle or living arrangements
376	378		184
377	379		may not, by themselves, be evidence of self-neglect.
378	380		185
379	381		[(27)] (32) "Serious physical injury" is as defined in Section 76-5-111.
380	382		186
381	383		[(28)] (33) "Supported" means a finding by the division that there is a reasonable basis to
382	384		187
383	385		conclude that abuse, neglect, or exploitation occurred.
384	386		188
385	387		[(29)] (34) "Undue influence" occurs when a person:
386	388		189
387	389		(a) uses influence to take advantage of a vulnerable adult's mental or physical
388	390		190
389	391		impairment; or
390	392		191
391	393		(b) uses the person's role, relationship, [or ]power, or trust:
392	394		192
393	395		(i) to exploit, or knowingly assist or cause another to exploit, the trust, dependency,
394	396		193
395	397		or fear of a vulnerable adult; or
396	398		194
397	399		(ii) to gain control deceptively over the decision making of the vulnerable adult.
398	400		195
399	401		[(30)] (35) "Vulnerable adult" means an elder adult, or a dependent adult who has a mental
400	402		196
401	403		or physical impairment which substantially affects that person's ability to:
402	404		197
403	405		(a) provide personal protection;
404	406		198
405	407		(b) provide necessities such as food, shelter, clothing, or [mental] medical or other health
406		-	- 6 - Enrolled Copy H.B. 534
407	408		199
408	409		care;
	410	+	- 6 - 03-04 11:41 1st Sub. (Buff) H.B. 534
409	411		200
410	412		(c) obtain services necessary for health, safety, or welfare;
411	413		201
412	414		(d) carry out the activities of daily living;
413	415		202
414	416		(e) manage the adult's own [financial ]resources; or
415	417		203
416	418		(f) comprehend the nature and consequences of remaining in a situation of abuse,
417	419		204
418	420		neglect, or exploitation.
419	421		205
420	422		[(31)] (36) "Without merit" means a finding that abuse, neglect, or exploitation did not
421	423		206
422	424		occur.
423	425		207
424	426		Section 2. Section 26B-6-203 is amended to read:
425	427		208
426	428		26B-6-203 . Powers and duties of Adult Protective Services.
427	429		209
428	430		In addition to all other powers and duties that Adult Protective Services is given under
429	431		210
430	432		this part, Adult Protective Services:
431	433		211
432	434		(1) shall maintain an intake system for receiving and screening reports;
433	435		212
434	436		(2) shall investigate referrals that meet the intake criteria;
435	437		213
436	438		(3) shall conduct assessments of vulnerability and functional capacity as it relates to an
437	439		214
438	440		allegation of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of an adult who is the subject of a report;
439	441		215
440	442		(4) shall perform assessments based on protective needs and risks for a vulnerable adult
441	443		216
442	444		who is the subject of a report;
443	445		217
444	446		(5) may address any protective needs by making recommendations to and coordinating with
445	447		218
446	448		the vulnerable adult or by making referrals to community resources;
447	449		219
448	450		(6) may provide short-term, limited services to a vulnerable adult when family or
449	451		220
450	452		community resources are not available to provide for the protective needs of the
451	453		221
452	454		vulnerable adult;
453	455		222
454	456		(7) shall have access to facilities licensed by, or contracted with, the department for the
455	457		223
456	458		purpose of conducting investigations;
457	459		224
458	460		(8) shall be given access to, or provided with, written statements, documents, exhibits, and
459	461		225
460	462		other items related to an investigation, including private, controlled, or protected
461	463		226
462	464		medical or financial records of a vulnerable adult who is the subject of an investigation
463	465		227
464	466		if:
465	467		228
466	468		(a) for a vulnerable adult who has the capacity to consent, the vulnerable adult signs a
467	469		229
468	470		release of information; or
469	471		230
470	472		(b) an administrative subpoena is issued by Adult Protective Services:
471	473		231
472	474		(i) for a vulnerable adult who has limited capacity to consent;
473	475		232
474	476		(ii) for a vulnerable adult whose legal guardian refuses to consent;
475		-	- 7 - H.B. 534 Enrolled Copy
476	477		233
477	478		(iii) to a custodian of records or other items for a vulnerable adult, if the custodian
	479	+	- 7 - 1st Sub. (Buff) H.B. 534 03-04 11:41
478	480		234
479	481		refuses to allow access to the records or items without a subpoena; or
480	482		235
481	483		(iv) when the records or other items sought are reasonably necessary for Adult
482	484		236
483	485		Protective Services to:
484	486		237
485	487		(A) investigate the alleged abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult; or
486	488		238
487	489		(B) protect the vulnerable adult who may be the victim of abuse, neglect, or
488	490		239
489	491		exploitation;
490	492		240
491	493		(9) may initiate proceedings in a court of competent jurisdiction to seek relief necessary to
492	494		241
493	495		carry out the provisions of this chapter;
494	496		242
495	497		(10) may make a supported finding of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a vulnerable adult
496	498		243
497	499		against an alleged perpetrator if documents subpoenaed or requested by Adult Protective
498	500		244
499	501		Services are not provided by the alleged perpetrator;
500	502		245
501	503		[(10)] (11) shall, subject to Section 26B-6-217, provide emergency protective services;
502	504		246
503	505		[(11)] (12) may require all persons, including family members of a vulnerable adult and any
504	506		247
505	507		caretaker, to cooperate with Adult Protective Services in carrying out its duties under
506	508		248
507	509		this chapter, including the provision of statements, documents, exhibits, and other items
508	510		249
509	511		that assist Adult Protective Services in conducting investigations and providing
510	512		250
511	513		protective services;
512	514		251
513	515		[(12)] (13) may require all officials, agencies, departments, and political subdivisions of the
514	516		252
515	517		state to assist and cooperate within their jurisdictional power with the court, the division,
516	518		253
517	519		and Adult Protective Services in furthering the purposes of this chapter;
518	520		254
519	521		[(13)] (14) may conduct studies and compile data regarding abuse, neglect, and exploitation;
520	522		255
521	523		and
522	524		256
523	525		[(14)] (15) may issue reports and recommendations.
524	526		257
525	527		Section 3. Effective Date.
526	528		258
527	529		This bill takes effect on May 7, 2025.
528	530		- 8 -