§403.2.  Abuse and neglect of adults

A.  Any person, who under R.S. 15:1504(A), is required to report the abuse or neglect of an adult and knowingly and willfully fails to so report shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both.

B.  Any person who knowingly and willfully violates the provisions of Chapter 14 of Title 15 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, or who knowingly and willfully obstructs the procedures for receiving and investigating reports of adult abuse or neglect, or who discloses without authorization confidential information about or contained within such reports shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both.

C.  Any person who reports an adult as abused or neglected to an adult protection agency as defined in R.S. 15:1503 or to any law enforcement agency, knowing that such information is false, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both.

D.(1)  Any person who retaliates against an individual who reports adult abuse to an adult protection agency or to a law enforcement agency, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both.

(2)  For the purposes of this Section, "retaliation" is defined as discharging, demoting, or suspending an employee who reports the adult abuse; or threatening, harassing, or discriminating against the reporter in any manner at any time provided the report is made in good faith for the purpose of helping the adult protection agency or law enforcement agency fulfill its responsibilities as set forth in Chapter 14 of Title 15 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.

Added by Acts 1982, No. 519, §1.  Acts 1983, No. 98, §1; Acts 1985, No. 181, §1; Acts 1989, No. 703, §§1, 2, eff. July 8, 1989; Acts 1990, No. 534, §1; Acts 1991, No. 408, §1; Acts 1992, No. 975, §1, eff. July 9, 1992; Acts 1995, No. 841, §1; Acts 1997, No. 1183, §1; Acts 1999, No. 338, §1; Acts 2001, No. 1032, §5; Acts 2002, 1st Ex. Sess., No. 80, §1; Acts 2003, No. 244, §1; Acts 2005, No. 306, §1, eff. June 29, 2005; Acts 2008, No. 181, §1, eff. June 13, 2008.