The purposes of this act are to:
(a)
Require health practitioners, care custodians, clergy members, and employees of county adult protective services agencies and local law enforcement agencies to report known or suspected cases of abuse of elders and dependent adults and to encourage community members in general to do so.
(b)
Collect information on the numbers of abuse victims, circumstances surrounding the act of abuse, and other data which will aid the state in establishing adequate services to aid all victims of abuse in a timely, compassionate manner.
(c)
Provide for protection under the law for all those persons who report suspected cases of abuse, provided that the report is not made with malicious intent.