415.103  Central abuse registry and tracking system.--

(1)  The department shall establish and maintain a central abuse registry and tracking system that receives all reports made pursuant to s. 415.1034 in writing or through a single statewide toll-free telephone number. Any person may use the statewide toll-free telephone number to report known or suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a disabled adult or an elderly person at any hour of the day or night, any day of the week. The central abuse registry and tracking system must be operated in such a manner as to enable the department to:

(a)  Accept reports for investigation when there is a reasonable cause to suspect that a disabled adult or an elderly person has been or is being abused, neglected, or exploited.

(b)  Determine whether the allegations made by the reporter require an immediate, 24-hour, or next-working-day response priority.

(c)  When appropriate, refer calls that do not allege the abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a disabled adult or an elderly person to other organizations that might better resolve the reporter's concerns.

(d)  Immediately identify and locate prior reports of abuse, neglect, or exploitation through the central abuse registry and tracking system.

(e)  Track critical steps in the investigative process to ensure compliance with all requirements for all reports.

(f)  Maintain data to facilitate the production of aggregate statistical reports for monitoring patterns of abuse, neglect, or exploitation of disabled adults or elderly persons.

(g)  Serve as a resource for the evaluation, management, and planning of preventive and remedial services for disabled adults or elderly persons who have been subject to abuse, neglect, or exploitation.

(2)  Upon receiving an oral or written report of known or suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation of a disabled adult or an elderly person, the central abuse registry and tracking system must determine if the report requires an immediate onsite protective investigation. For reports requiring an immediate onsite protective investigation, the central abuse registry and tracking system must immediately notify the department's designated adult protective investigative district staff responsible for protective investigations to ensure prompt initiation of an onsite investigation. For reports not requiring an immediate onsite protective investigation, the central abuse registry and tracking system must notify the department's designated adult protective investigative district staff responsible for protective investigations in sufficient time to allow for an investigation to be commenced within 24 hours. At the time of notification of district staff with respect to the report, the central abuse registry and tracking system must also provide any known information on any previous report concerning a subject of the present report or any pertinent information relative to the present report or any noted earlier reports.

(3)  The department shall set standards, priorities, and policies to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of the central abuse registry and tracking system.