This Ohio statute establishes mandatory reporting requirements for adult abuse, neglect, and exploitation, obligating a broad list of professionals and employees — including healthcare providers, social workers, attorneys, clergy, financial professionals, and others — to immediately report reasonable suspicions to the county department of job and family services. The law specifies report content requirements, provides immunity from civil and criminal liability for good-faith reporters, prohibits employer retaliation against reporting employees, and designates reports as confidential. This is a cross-sector reporting obligation, not a facility licensing or operating standards rule.
View official sourceThe Legislative Service Commission staff updates the Revised Code on an ongoing basis, as it completes its act review of enacted legislation. Updates may be slower during some times of the year, depending on the volume of enacted legislation. Section 5101.63 | Reporting abuse, neglect or exploitation of adult. Ohio Revised Code / Title 51 Public Welfare / Chapter 5101 Department of Job and Family Services- General Provisions Effective: April 4, 2023 Latest Legislation: Senate Bill 288 - 134th General Assembly PDF: Download Authenticated PDF (A)(1) No person listed in division (A)(2) of this section having reasonable cause to believe that an adult is being abused, neglected, or exploited, or is in a condition which is the result of abuse, neglect, or exploitation shall knowingly fail to immediately report such belief to the county department of job and family services. (2) All of the following are subject to division (A)(1) of this section: (a) An attorney admitted to the practice of law in this state; (b) An individual authorized under Chapter 4731. of the Revised Code to practice medicine and surgery, osteopathic medicine and surgery, or podiatric medicine and surgery; (c) An individual licensed under Chapter 4734. of the Revised Code as a chiropractor; (d) An individual licensed under Chapter 4715. of the Revised Code as a dentist; (e) An individual licensed under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code as a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse; (f) An individual licensed under Chapter 4732. of the Revised Code as a psychologist; (g) An individual licensed under Chapter 4757. of the Revised Code as a social worker, independent social worker, professional counselor, professional clinical counselor, marriage and family therapist, or independent marriage and family therapist; (h) An individual licensed under Chapter 4729. of the Revised Code as a pharmacist; (i) An individual holding a certificate to practice as a dialysis technician issued under Chapter 4723. of the Revised Code; (j) An employee of a home health agency, as defined in section 3701.881 of the Revised Code; (k) An employee of an outpatient health facility; (l) An employee of a hospital, as defined in section 3727.01 of the Revised Code; (m) An employee of a hospital or public hospital, as defined in section 5122.01 of the Revised Code; (n) An employee of a nursing home or residential care facility, as defined in section 3721.01 of the Revised Code; (o) An employee of a residential facility licensed under section 5119.22 of the Revised Code that provides accommodations, supervision, and personal care services for three to sixteen unrelated adults; (p) An employee of a health department operated by the board of health of a city or general health district or the authority having the duties of a board of health under section 3709.05 of the Revised Code; (q) An employee of a community mental health agency, as defined in section 5122.01 of the Revised Code; (r) A humane society agent appointed under section 1717.06 of the Revised Code; (s) An individual who is a firefighter for a lawfully constituted fire department; (t) An individual who is an ambulance driver for an emergency medical service organization, as defined in section 4765.01 of the Revised Code; (u) A first responder, emergency medical technician-basic, emergency medical technician-intermediate, or paramedic, as those terms are defined in section 4765.01 of the Revised Code; (v) An official employed by a local building department to conduct inspections of houses and other residential buildings; (w) A peace officer; (x) A coroner; (y) A member of the clergy; (z) An individual who holds a certificate issued under Chapter 4701. of the Revised Code as a certified public accountant or is registered under that chapter as a public accountant; (aa) An individual licensed under Chapter 4735. of the Revised Code as a real estate broker or real estate salesperson; (bb) An individual appointed and commissioned under section 147.01 of the Revised Code as a notary public; (cc) An employee of a bank, savings bank, savings and loan association, or credit union organized under the laws of this state, another state, or the United States; (dd) A dealer, investment adviser, sales person, or investment advisor representative licensed under Chapter 1707. of the Revised Code; (ee) A financial planner accredited by a national accreditation agency; (ff) Any other individual who is a senior service provider, other than a representative of the office of the state long-term care ombudsman program as defined in section 173.14 of the Revised Code. (B) Any person having reasonable cause to believe that an adult has suffered abuse, neglect, or exploitation may report, or cause a report to be made of such belief to the county department of job and family services. This division applies to a representative of the office of the state long-term care ombudsman program only to the extent permitted by federal law. (C) The reports made under this section shall be made orally or in writing except that oral reports shall be followed by a written report if a written report is requested by the department. Written reports shall include: (1) The name, address, and approximate age of the adult who is the subject of the report; (2) The name and address of the individual responsible for the adult's care, if any individual is, and if the individual is known; (3) The nature and extent of the alleged abuse, neglect, or exploitation of the adult; (4) The basis of the reporter's belief that the adult has been abused, neglected, or exploited. (D) Any person with reasonable cause to believe that an adult is suffering abuse, neglect, or exploitation who makes a report pursuant to this section or who testifies in any administrative or judicial proceeding arising from such a report, or any employee of the state or any of its subdivisions who is discharging responsibilities under section 5101.65 of the Revised Code shall be immune from civil or criminal liability on account of such investigation, report, or testimony, except liability for perjury, unless the person has acted in bad faith or with malicious purpose. (E) No employer or any other person with the authority to do so shall do any of the following as a result of an employee's having filed a report under this section: (1) Discharge, demote, transfer, or prepare a negative work performance evaluation; (2) Reduce benefits, pay, or work privileges; (3) Take any other action detrimental to an employee or in any way retaliate against the employee. (F) The written or oral report provided for in this section and the investigatory report provided for in section 5101.65 of the Revised Code are confidential and are not public records, as defined in section 149.43 of the Revised Code. In accordance with rules adopted by the department of job and family services, information contained in the report shall upon request be made available to the adult who is the subject of the report and to legal counsel for the adult. If it determines that there is a risk of harm to a person who makes a report under this section or to the adult who is the subject of the report, the county department of job and family services may redact the name and identifying information related to the person who made the report. (G) The county department of job and family services shall be available to receive the written or oral report provided for in this section twenty-four hours a day and seven days a week. Last updated March 8, 2023 at 1:06 PM Available Versions of this Section July 1, 2000 – House Bill 471 - 123rd General Assembly [ View July 1, 2000 Version ] September 29, 2018 – House Bill 49 - 132nd General Assembly [ View September 29, 2018 Version ] March 20, 2019 – Amended by Senate Bill 158 - 132nd General Assembly [ View March 20, 2019 Version ] March 31, 2021 – Amended by House Bill 24 - 133rd General Assembly [ View March 31, 2021 Version ] September 30, 2021 – Amended by House Bill 110 - 134th General Assembly [ View September 30, 2021 Version ] April 4, 2023 – Amended by Senate Bill 288 - 134th General Assembly [ View April 4, 2023 Version ]