The Florida Senate

415.111  Criminal penalties.--

(1)  A person who knowingly and willfully fails to report a case of known or suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a disabled adult or an elderly person, or who knowingly and willfully prevents another person from doing so, commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(2)  A person who knowingly and willfully makes public or discloses any confidential information contained in the central abuse registry and tracking system, or in other computer systems, or in the records of any case of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a disabled adult or elderly person, except as provided in ss. 415.101-415.113, commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(3)  A person who has custody of records and documents the confidentiality of which is abrogated under s. 415.1045(5) and who refuses to grant access to such records commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(4)  A person who knowingly and willfully makes a false report of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a disabled adult or an elderly person, or a person who advises another to make a false report, commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(a)  The department shall establish procedures for determining whether a false report of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a disabled adult or an elderly person has been made and for submitting all identifying information relating to such a false report to the state attorney for prosecution.

(b)  Anyone making a report who is acting in good faith is immune from any liability under this subsection.

(5)  Each state attorney shall establish procedures to facilitate the prosecution of persons under this section.

History.--ss. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, ch. 73-176; s. 1, ch. 77-174; ss. 3, 5, ch. 79-287; s. 15, ch. 79-298; s. 1, ch. 80-293; s. 1, ch. 83-82; s. 36, ch. 86-220; s. 19, ch. 88-337; s. 1, ch. 89-322; s. 49, ch. 90-306; s. 5, ch. 91-57; s. 16, ch. 91-71; s. 250, ch. 91-224; s. 1, ch. 91-258; s. 4, ch. 95-140; s. 20, ch. 95-158; s. 111, ch. 95-418; s. 7, ch. 96-293.