Wash. Rev. Code » Title 74 · Chapter 74.34
Revised Code of Washington

Wash. Rev. Code § 74.34.063 (2026)

✓ current as of May 2026
Find cases: SyfertCases citing this section WA-LEGapp.leg.wa.gov JustiaTitle on Justia CornellLII Search CasesGoogle Scholar
(1) The department shall initiate a response to a report, no later than twenty-four hours after knowledge of the report, of suspected abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, or self-neglect of a vulnerable adult.
(2) When the initial report or investigation by the department indicates that the alleged abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation, or neglect may be criminal, the department shall make an immediate report to the appropriate law enforcement agency. The department and law enforcement will coordinate in investigating reports made under this chapter. The department may provide protective services and other remedies as specified in this chapter.
(3) The law enforcement agency or the department shall report the incident in writing to the proper county prosecutor or city attorney for appropriate action whenever the investigation reveals that a crime may have been committed.
(4) Upon request, the department and law enforcement shall share information contained in reports and findings of abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation, and neglect of vulnerable adults with each other, consistent with RCW 74.04.060, chapter 42.56 RCW, and other applicable confidentiality laws.
(5) Unless prohibited by federal law, the department of social and health services may share with the department of children, youth, and families information contained in reports and findings of abandonment, abuse, financial exploitation, and neglect of vulnerable adults.
(6) The department shall notify the proper licensing authority concerning any report received under this chapter that alleges that a person who is professionally licensed, certified, or registered under Title 18 RCW has abandoned, abused, financially exploited, or neglected a vulnerable adult.
[ 2023 c 44 s 2; 2017 3rd sp.s. c 6 s 818; 2005 c 274 s 354; 1999 c 176 s 8.]

Notes:

Effective date—2017 3rd sp.s. c 6 ss 102, 104-115, 201-227, 301-337, 401-419, 501-513, 801-803, and 805-822: See note following RCW 43.216.025.
Conflict with federal requirements—2017 3rd sp.s. c 6: See RCW 43.216.908.
Findings—Purpose—Severability—Conflict with federal requirements—1999 c 176: See notes following RCW 74.34.005.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 7 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 2012–2026 · leading case: Verda Lee Crosswhite Vv Washington State Dept. of Soc. & Health Servs., 389 P.3d 731 (Wash. Ct. App. 2017).
Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment
Verda Lee Crosswhite Vv Washington State Dept. of Soc. & Health Servs., 389 P.3d 731 (Wash. Ct. App. 2017). · cites it 2× “RCW 74.34.063(1), .067. It assigned this investigation to Rebecca Withrow, a social worker with its Adult Protective Services program.”
Ryan v. Dep't of Soc. & Health Servs., 287 P.3d 629 (Wash. Ct. App. 2012). · cites it 3× “RCW 74.34.063(2). It is required to notify the proper licensing authority of any complaint against any individual professionally licensed, certified, or registered with the state.”
Goldsmith v. Dep't of Soc. & Health Servs., 280 P.3d 1173 (Wash. Ct. App. 2012). · cites it 2× “RCW 74.34.063(2). As the Department asserts, the legislature has identified several purposes for its findings in order to protect the vulnerable adult victim and other vulnerable adults.”
Northstar Case Mgmt. Obo Raymond Bell, V. State Of Wa Dshs (Wash. Ct. App. 2026). · cites it 15× “34 RCW—specifically, RCW 74.34.063 and .067—a private plaintiff may pursue a claim against the State for negligent investigation or negligent failure to provide protective services.”
Debra Koshelnik v. D.s.h.s. (Wash. Ct. App. 2016). “~ RCW 74.34.063(1) (stating that the Department shall initiate a response to a report of abuse of a vulnerable adult no later than 24 hours after knowledge of the report).”
Maria E. Romero v. DSHS (Wash. Ct. App. 2024). “RCW 74.34.063(1), (6).2 Under RCW 74.34.068(1), once DSHS completes its investigation, it must “notify the alleged perpetrator regarding the outcome.”
Blake Huegel, V. D.s.h.s., State Of Wa (Wash. Ct. App. 2024). “Former RCW 74.34.063(1) (2017).1 When the Department finalizes a substantiated finding that a caregiver or other person abused a vulnerable adult, the perpetrator is put on a vulnerable adult abuse registry.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 74.34.063(1) — 5 cases
Verda Lee Crosswhite Vv Washington State Dept. of Soc. & Health Servs., 389 P.3d 731 (Wash. Ct. App. 2017). “RCW 74.34.063(1), .067. It assigned this investigation to Rebecca Withrow, a social worker with its Adult Protective Services program.”
Debra Koshelnik v. D.s.h.s. (Wash. Ct. App. 2016). “~ RCW 74.34.063(1) (stating that the Department shall initiate a response to a report of abuse of a vulnerable adult no later than 24 hours after knowledge of the report).”
Maria E. Romero v. DSHS (Wash. Ct. App. 2024). “RCW 74.34.063(1), (6).2 Under RCW 74.34.068(1), once DSHS completes its investigation, it must “notify the alleged perpetrator regarding the outcome.”
Blake Huegel, V. D.s.h.s., State Of Wa (Wash. Ct. App. 2024). “Former RCW 74.34.063(1) (2017).1 When the Department finalizes a substantiated finding that a caregiver or other person abused a vulnerable adult, the perpetrator is put on a vulnerable adult abuse registry.”
Northstar Case Mgmt. Obo Raymond Bell, V. State Of Wa Dshs (Wash. Ct. App. 2026). “34 RCW—specifically, RCW 74.34.063 and .067—a private plaintiff may pursue a claim against the State for negligent investigation or negligent failure to provide protective services.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 74.34.063(2) — 3 cases
Ryan v. Dep't of Soc. & Health Servs., 287 P.3d 629 (Wash. Ct. App. 2012). “RCW 74.34.063(2). It is required to notify the proper licensing authority of any complaint against any individual professionally licensed, certified, or registered with the state.”
Goldsmith v. Dep't of Soc. & Health Servs., 280 P.3d 1173 (Wash. Ct. App. 2012). “RCW 74.34.063(2). As the Department asserts, the legislature has identified several purposes for its findings in order to protect the vulnerable adult victim and other vulnerable adults.”
Northstar Case Mgmt. Obo Raymond Bell, V. State Of Wa Dshs (Wash. Ct. App. 2026). “34 RCW—specifically, RCW 74.34.063 and .067—a private plaintiff may pursue a claim against the State for negligent investigation or negligent failure to provide protective services.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 74.34.063(3) — 1 case
Northstar Case Mgmt. Obo Raymond Bell, V. State Of Wa Dshs (Wash. Ct. App. 2026). “34 RCW—specifically, RCW 74.34.063 and .067—a private plaintiff may pursue a claim against the State for negligent investigation or negligent failure to provide protective services.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 74.34.063(5) — 2 cases
Goldsmith v. Dep't of Soc. & Health Servs., 280 P.3d 1173 (Wash. Ct. App. 2012). “RCW 74.34.063(2). As the Department asserts, the legislature has identified several purposes for its findings in order to protect the vulnerable adult victim and other vulnerable adults.”
Ryan v. Dep't of Soc. & Health Servs., 287 P.3d 629 (Wash. Ct. App. 2012). “RCW 74.34.063(2). It is required to notify the proper licensing authority of any complaint against any individual professionally licensed, certified, or registered with the state.”
— Wash. Rev. Code § 74.34.063(6) — 1 case
Northstar Case Mgmt. Obo Raymond Bell, V. State Of Wa Dshs (Wash. Ct. App. 2026). “34 RCW—specifically, RCW 74.34.063 and .067—a private plaintiff may pursue a claim against the State for negligent investigation or negligent failure to provide protective services.”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.