173.23 Immunity - legal counsel for representative - false complaint.

173.23 Immunity - legal counsel for representative - false complaint.

(A) Representatives of the office of the state long-term care ombudsperson program are immune from civil or criminal liability for any action taken in the good faith performance of their official duties under sections 173.14 to 173.26 of the Revised Code. The department of aging shall ensure that adequate legal counsel is available to the office of the state long-term care ombudsperson program for advice and consultation and that legal representation is provided to any representative of the office against whom any legal action is brought in connection with the representative’s official duties under sections 173.14 to 173.26 of the Revised Code.

(B) A person acting in good faith is immune from civil or criminal liability incident to any of the following: providing information to the office, participating in registration of a complaint with the office, participating in investigation of a complaint by the office, or participating in an administrative or judicial proceeding resulting from a complaint.

(C) No person shall knowingly register a false complaint with the office, or knowingly swear or affirm the truth of a false complaint previously registered, when the statement is made with purpose to incriminate another.

Effective Date: 12-02-1996