(a) Reportable incidents as defined in this Part and in section 488 of the Social Services Law shall be reported immediately upon discovery to the Vulnerable Persons’ Central Register (VPCR), in accordance with section 491 of the Social Services Law. Discovery occurs when the mandated reporter witnesses a suspected reportable incident or when another person who was involved in or witnessed the incident, including the vulnerable person, comes before the mandated reporter in the mandated reporter’s professional or official capacity and provides the mandated reporter with reasonable cause to suspect that the vulnerable person has been subjected to a reportable incident.

(b) Each mandated reporter who has reasonable cause to suspect that a vulnerable person has been subjected to a reportable incident as described above, is required to make a report to the VPCR unless the mandated reporter has actual knowledge that the reportable incident has already been reported to the VPCR and that the mandated reporter has been named as a person with knowledge of the incident in such report.

(c) Nothing contained herein shall affect or diminish the obligation of persons who are mandated to make reports to the Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment pursuant to section 413 of the Social Services Law.