(a) A person who engages in willful interference as defined in this chapter shall be imprisoned not more than one year or fined not more than $5,000.00, or both.

(b) A person who takes discriminatory, disciplinary, or retaliatory action against an employee, resident, or volunteer of a long-term care facility, an entity that provides long-term care through the Choices for Care program contained within Vermont's Global Commitment to Health Section 1115 demonstration, or an agency for any communication made, or information disclosed, to aid the Ombudsman's office in carrying out its functions, duties, and responsibilities, unless the original communication or disclosure was done maliciously or without good faith, shall be imprisoned not more than one year or fined not more than $5,000.00, or both. An employee, resident, or volunteer of a long-term care facility, an entity that provides long-term care through the Choices for Care program contained within Vermont's Global Commitment to Health Section 1115 demonstration, or an agency may seek damages in Superior Court against a person who takes such action prohibited by this subsection. (Added 1989, No. 251 (Adj. Sess.), § 1; amended 2013, No. 131 (Adj. Sess.), § 95; 2017, No. 23, § 1.)