{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/51.5-148.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/51.5-148.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/51.5-148.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/51.5-148.html"}],"law_id":86085,"edition_id":1,"section_id":86085,"structure_id":16922,"section_number":"51.5-148","catch_line":"Establishment of Adult Protective Services Unit; powers and duties","history":"2012, cc. 803, 835; 2014, c. 285.","full_text":"A\n\nThe Department shall have responsibility for the planning and oversight of adult protective services in the Commonwealth. The Commissioner shall establish within the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services an Adult Protective Services Unit which shall oversee the planning, administration, and implementation of adult protective services in the Commonwealth. Adult protective services shall be provided to the public by local departments of social services pursuant to Chapter 16 (§ 63.2-1600 et seq.) of Title 63.2 in cooperation with the Department and subject to the regulations and oversight of the Commissioner.B\n\nThe Adult Protective Services Unit shall have the following powers and duties:1\n\nTo work together with local departments of social services to support, strengthen, and evaluate adult protective services programs provided by such local departments;2\n\nTo assist local departments of social services in developing and implementing programs to respond to and prevent adult abuse, neglect, or exploitation;3\n\nTo prepare, disseminate, and present educational programs and materials on adult abuse, neglect, and exploitation to mandated reporters and the public;4\n\nTo establish minimum standards of training and provide educational opportunities to qualify workers in the field of adult protective services to determine whether reports of adult abuse, neglect, or exploitation are substantiated. The Department shall establish and provide a uniform training program for adult protective services workers in the Commonwealth. All adult protective services workers shall complete such training within one year from the date of implementation of the training program or within the first year of their employment;5\n\nTo develop policies and procedures to guide the work of persons in the field of adult protective services;6\n\nTo prepare and disseminate statistical information on adult protective services in Virginia;7\n\nTo operate an adult protective services 24-hour toll-free hotline and provide training and technical assistance to the hotline staff;8\n\nTo provide coordination among the adult protective services program and other state agencies; and9\n\nTo work collaboratively with other agencies in the Commonwealth to facilitate the reporting and investigation of suspected adult abuse, neglect, or exploitation.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":308218,"text":"The Department shall have responsibility for the planning and oversight of adult protective services in the Commonwealth. The Commissioner shall establish within the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services an Adult Protective Services Unit which shall oversee the planning, administration, and implementation of adult protective services in the Commonwealth. Adult protective services shall be provided to the public by local departments of social services pursuant to Chapter 16 (§ 63.2-1600 et seq.) of Title 63.2 in cooperation with the Department and subject to the regulations and oversight of the Commissioner.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":308219,"text":"The Adult Protective Services Unit shall have the following powers and duties:","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"B1"},"2":{"id":308220,"text":"To work together with local departments of social services to support, strengthen, and evaluate adult protective services programs provided by such local departments;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","1"],"prefix":"1","entire_prefix":"B1","prefix_anchor":"B1","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"B2"},"3":{"id":308221,"text":"To assist local departments of social services in developing and implementing programs to respond to and prevent adult abuse, neglect, or exploitation;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"B2","prefix_anchor":"B2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B1","next_prefix":"B3"},"4":{"id":308222,"text":"To prepare, disseminate, and present educational programs and materials on adult abuse, neglect, and exploitation to mandated reporters and the public;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"B3","prefix_anchor":"B3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B2","next_prefix":"B4"},"5":{"id":308223,"text":"To establish minimum standards of training and provide educational opportunities to qualify workers in the field of adult protective services to determine whether reports of adult abuse, neglect, or exploitation are substantiated. The Department shall establish and provide a uniform training program for adult protective services workers in the Commonwealth. All adult protective services workers shall complete such training within one year from the date of implementation of the training program or within the first year of their employment;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","4"],"prefix":"4","entire_prefix":"B4","prefix_anchor":"B4","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B3","next_prefix":"B5"},"6":{"id":308224,"text":"To develop policies and procedures to guide the work of persons in the field of adult protective services;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","5"],"prefix":"5","entire_prefix":"B5","prefix_anchor":"B5","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B4","next_prefix":"B6"},"7":{"id":308225,"text":"To prepare and disseminate statistical information on adult protective services in Virginia;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","6"],"prefix":"6","entire_prefix":"B6","prefix_anchor":"B6","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B5","next_prefix":"B7"},"8":{"id":308226,"text":"To operate an adult protective services 24-hour toll-free hotline and provide training and technical assistance to the hotline staff;","type":"section","prefixes":["B","7"],"prefix":"7","entire_prefix":"B7","prefix_anchor":"B7","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B6","next_prefix":"B8"},"9":{"id":308227,"text":"To provide coordination among the adult protective services program and other state agencies; and","type":"section","prefixes":["B","8"],"prefix":"8","entire_prefix":"B8","prefix_anchor":"B8","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B7","next_prefix":"B9"},"10":{"id":308228,"text":"To work collaboratively with other agencies in the Commonwealth to facilitate the reporting and investigation of suspected adult abuse, neglect, or exploitation.","type":"section","prefixes":["B","9"],"prefix":"9","entire_prefix":"B9","prefix_anchor":"B9","level":2,"prior_prefix":"B8"}},"ancestry":[{"id":16922,"edition_id":1,"name":"Adult Protective Services","identifier":"5","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12945,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 04:59:44","date_modified":"2026-06-26 04:59:44","permalink":{"id":236925,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":16922,"identifier":"5","token":"51.5\/14\/5","url":"\/51.5\/14\/5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12945,"edition_id":1,"name":"Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services","identifier":"14","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12761,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:03","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:03","permalink":{"id":236679,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12945,"identifier":"14","token":"51.5\/14","url":"\/51.5\/14\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12761,"edition_id":1,"name":"Persons With Disabilities","identifier":"51.5","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:43:51","permalink":{"id":236393,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12761,"identifier":"51.5","token":"51.5","url":"\/51.5\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":86085,"structure_id":16922,"section_number":"51.5-148","catch_line":"Establishment of Adult Protective Services Unit; powers and duties","url":"\/51.5-148\/","token":"51.5\/14\/5\/51.5-148","metadata":false}],"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/51.5-148\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2012. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 803<\/a> and 835<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year. It has been modified 1 time. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. That modification is as follows: in 2014, chapter 285<\/a>.<\/p>","references":[{"id":66954,"section_number":"32.1-283.6","catch_line":"Local and regional adult fatality review teams established; membership; authority; confidentiality; immunity","order_by":null,"url":"\/32.1-283.6\/"},{"id":62128,"section_number":"51.5-120","catch_line":"Cooperation of Department with other state departments","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.5-120\/"},{"id":80461,"section_number":"51.5-122","catch_line":"Confidential records and information concerning adult services and adult protective services; penalty","order_by":null,"url":"\/51.5-122\/"},{"id":72379,"section_number":"63.2-100","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-100\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":62375,"section_number":"63.2-1600","catch_line":"Home-based services","order_by":null,"url":"\/63.2-1600\/"}],"permalink":{"id":236927,"object_type":"law","relational_id":86085,"identifier":"51.5-148","token":"51.5\/14\/5\/51.5-148","url":"\/51.5-148\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/51.5-148\/","token":"51.5\/14\/5\/51.5-148","dublin_core":{"Title":"Establishment of Adult Protective Services Unit; powers and duties","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 51.5-148","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The Department<\/span> shall have responsibility for the planning and oversight of adult protective services in the Commonwealth. The Commissioner<\/span> shall establish within the Department<\/span> for Aging and Rehabilitative Services an Adult Protective Services Unit which shall oversee the planning, administration, and implementation of adult protective services in the Commonwealth. Adult protective services shall be provided to the public by local departments<\/span> of social services pursuant to Chapter 16 (§ 63.2-1600<\/a> et seq.) of Title 63.2 in cooperation with the Department<\/span> and subject to the regulations and oversight of the Commissioner<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> The Adult Protective Services Unit shall have the following powers and duties: <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

1.<\/span> To work together with local departments<\/span> of social services to support, strengthen, and evaluate adult protective services programs provided by such local departments<\/span>; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> To assist local departments<\/span> of social services in developing and implementing programs to respond to and prevent adult abuse, neglect, or exploitation; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> To prepare, disseminate, and present educational programs and materials<\/span> on adult abuse, neglect, and exploitation to mandated reporters and the public; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

4.<\/span> To establish minimum standards of training and provide educational opportunities to qualify workers in the field of adult protective services to determine whether reports of adult abuse, neglect, or exploitation are substantiated. The Department<\/span> shall establish and provide a uniform training program for adult protective services workers in the Commonwealth. All adult protective services workers shall complete such training within one year from the date of implementation of the training program or within the first year of their employment; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

5.<\/span> To develop policies and procedures to guide the work of persons in the field of adult protective services; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

6.<\/span> To prepare and disseminate statistical information on adult protective services in Virginia; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

7.<\/span> To operate an adult protective services 24-hour toll-free hotline and provide training and technical assistance to the hotline staff; <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

8.<\/span> To provide coordination among the adult protective services program and other state agencies; and <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

9.<\/span> To work collaboratively with other agencies in the Commonwealth to facilitate the reporting and investigation of suspected adult abuse, neglect, or exploitation. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nESTABLISHMENT OF ADULT PROTECTIVE SERVICES UNIT; POWERS AND DUTIES (\u00a7 51.5-148)\n\nA. The Department shall have responsibility for the planning and oversight of\nadult protective services in the Commonwealth. The Commissioner shall establish\nwithin the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services an Adult Protective\nServices Unit which shall oversee the planning, administration, and\nimplementation of adult protective services in the Commonwealth. Adult\nprotective services shall be provided to the public by local departments of\nsocial services pursuant to Chapter 16 (§ 63.2-1600 et seq.) of Title 63.2\nin cooperation with the Department and subject to the regulations and oversight\nof the Commissioner.\n\nB. The Adult Protective Services Unit shall have the following powers and\nduties:\n\n 1. To work together with local departments of social services to support,\n strengthen, and evaluate adult protective services programs provided by such\n local departments;\n\n 2. To assist local departments of social services in developing and\n implementing programs to respond to and prevent adult abuse, neglect, or\n exploitation;\n\n 3. To prepare, disseminate, and present educational programs and materials on\n adult abuse, neglect, and exploitation to mandated reporters and the public;\n\n 4. To establish minimum standards of training and provide educational\n opportunities to qualify workers in the field of adult protective services to\n determine whether reports of adult abuse, neglect, or exploitation are\n substantiated. The Department shall establish and provide a uniform training\n program for adult protective services workers in the Commonwealth. All adult\n protective services workers shall complete such training within one year from\n the date of implementation of the training program or within the first year of\n their employment;\n\n 5. To develop policies and procedures to guide the work of persons in the\n field of adult protective services;\n\n 6. To prepare and disseminate statistical information on adult protective\n services in Virginia;\n\n 7. To operate an adult protective services 24-hour toll-free hotline and\n provide training and technical assistance to the hotline staff;\n\n 8. To provide coordination among the adult protective services program and\n other state agencies; and\n\n 9. To work collaboratively with other agencies in the Commonwealth to\n facilitate the reporting and investigation of suspected adult abuse, neglect,\n or exploitation.\n\nHISTORY: 2012, cc. 803, 835; 2014, c. 285.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}