(A) A physician, nurse, dentist, optometrist, medical examiner, coroner, other medical, mental health or allied health professional, Christian Science practitioner, religious healer, school teacher, counselor, psychologist, mental health or mental retardation specialist, social or public assistance worker, caregiver, staff or volunteer of an adult day care center or of a facility, or law enforcement officer having reason to believe that a vulnerable adult has been or is likely to be abused, neglected, or exploited shall report the incident in accordance with this section. Any other person who has actual knowledge that a vulnerable adult has been abused, neglected, or exploited shall report the incident in accordance with this section.
(B) Except as provided in subsection (A), any other person who has reason to believe that a vulnerable adult has been or may be abused, neglected, or exploited may report the incident.
(C) A person required to report pursuant to this section is personally responsible for making the report; however, a state agency may make a report on behalf of an agency employee if the procedure the agency uses for reporting has been approved by the investigative entity to which the report is to be made.
(D) A person required to report under this section must report the incident within twenty-four hours or the next business day. A report must be made in writing or orally by telephone or otherwise to the Long Term Care Ombudsman Program for incidents occurring in facilities and to the Adult Protective Services Program for incidents occurring in all other settings. In the event an investigative entity receives a report which is not within its investigative jurisdiction, it shall forward the report to the appropriate entity not later than the next business day.
(E) No facility may develop policies or procedures that interfere with the reporting requirements of this section.
(F) Provided the mandatory reporting requirements of this section are met, nothing in this section precludes a person from also reporting directly to law enforcement, and in cases of an emergency, law enforcement must also be contacted.