# RCW 70.124.040: RCW 70.124.040: Reports to department or law enforcement agency—Action required

> Washington · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T70_C124_S040

## Section

- **Citation:** RCW 70.124.040
- **Heading:** RCW 70.124.040: Reports to department or law enforcement agency—Action required
- **Jurisdiction:** Washington
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Washington Code / Title 70 / Chapter 124 / Section 040

## Text

(1) Where a report is required under RCW 70.124.030 , an immediate oral report must be made by telephone or otherwise to either a law enforcement agency or to the department and, upon request, must be followed by a report in writing. The reports must contain the following information, if known: (a) The name and address of the person making the report; (b) The name and address of the state hospital patient; (c) The name and address of the patient's relatives having responsibility for the patient; (d) The nature and extent of the alleged injury or injuries; (e) The nature and extent of the alleged neglect; (f) The nature and extent of the alleged sexual abuse; (g) Any evidence of previous injuries, including their nature and extent; and (h) Any other information that may be helpful in establishing the cause of the patient's death, injury, or injuries, and the identity of the perpetrator or perpetrators. (2) Each law enforcement agency receiving such a report shall, in addition to taking the action required by RCW 70.124.050 , immediately relay the report to the department, and to other law enforcement agencies, including the medicaid fraud control unit of the office of the attorney general, as appropriate. For any report it receives, the department shall likewise take the required action and in addition relay the report to the appropriate law enforcement agency or agencies. The appropriate law enforcement agency or agencies must receive immediate notification when the department, upon receipt of such report, has reasonable cause to believe that a criminal act has been committed.

## Nearby sections

- [RCW 70.124.010 RCW 70.124.010: Legislative findings.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T70_C124_S010.md)
- [RCW 70.124.020 RCW 70.124.020: Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T70_C124_S020.md)
- [RCW 70.124.030 RCW 70.124.030: Reports of abuse or neglect.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T70_C124_S030.md)
- [RCW 70.124.040 RCW 70.124.040: Reports to department or law enforcement agency—Action required.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T70_C124_S040.md)
- [RCW 70.124.050 RCW 70.124.050: Investigations required—Seeking restraining orders authorized.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T70_C124_S050.md)
- [RCW 70.124.060 RCW 70.124.060: Liability of persons making reports.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T70_C124_S060.md)
- [RCW 70.124.070 RCW 70.124.070: Failure to report is gross misdemeanor.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T70_C124_S070.md)
- [RCW 70.124.080 RCW 70.124.080: Department reports of abused or neglected patients.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T70_C124_S080.md)
- [RCW 70.124.090 RCW 70.124.090: Publicizing objectives.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T70_C124_S090.md)
- [RCW 70.124.100 RCW 70.124.100: Retaliation against whistleblowers and residents—Remedies—Rules.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T70_C124_S100.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_WA_T70_C124_S040. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.