LD 1300
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LD 1300 Title Page An Act to Establish the Child Ombudsman Office and Improve Child Protective Pro... Page 2 of 2
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LR 1336
Item 1

 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

 
Sec. 1. 22 MRSA c. 1071, sub-c. X-A is amended by repealing the
subchapter headnote and enacting the following in its place:

 
SUBCHAPTER X-A

 
CHILD OMBUDSMAN OFFICE

 
Sec. 2. 22 MRSA §4087, as enacted by PL 1989, c. 400, §§7 and 14,
is repealed.

 
Sec. 3. 22 MRSA §4087-A is enacted to read:

 
§4087-A.__Child Ombudsman Office

 
1.__Office established.__The Child Ombudsman Office is
established as an independent office within the Department of
Human Services to provide ombudsman services to the people of the
State regarding all matters in which a child is receiving or
requesting services from a state agency.__The office shall
consider and promote the best interests of children and their
families, answer inquiries and investigate, provide advice
regarding and work toward resolution of complaints against state
agencies that may be infringing on the rights of individuals.

 
2.__Definitions.__As used in this subchapter, unless the
context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the
following meanings.

 
A.__"Agency" means a department or agency of the State, a
person or entity providing services under a contract with a
state department or agency, or a school administrative unit.__
"Agency" does not include private individuals, companies or
organizations; federal, county or municipal governments;
institutions of higher education; elected officials or
representatives; or the Judicial Department.

 
B. "Office" means the Child Ombudsman Office established
under this section.

 
C.__"Ombudsman" means the director of the office and persons
employed or volunteering to perform the work of the office.

 
3.__Contracted services.__The office must operate by contract
with a nonprofit organization that the Governor finds to be free
of potential conflict of interest and best able to provide the
services under subsection 4 on a statewide basis.__The ombudsman
may not be actively involved in political party activities or
publicly endorse, solicit funds for or make


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