HP0059
LD 61
First Regular Session - 123rd Legislature - Text: MS-Word, RTF or PDF LR 342
Item 1
Bill Tracking Chamber Status

An Act To Add Abortion Providers to the List of Mandated Reporters to the Department of Health and Human Services

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

Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §4011-A, sub-§1, ¶A,  as repealed and replaced by PL 2003, c. 599, §8 and affected by §§9 and 14, is amended to read:

A.  When acting in a professional capacity:

(1) An allopathic or osteopathic physician, resident or intern;

(2) An emergency medical services person;

(3) A medical examiner;

(4) A physician's assistant;

(5) A dentist;

(6) A dental hygienist;

(7) A dental assistant;

(8) A chiropractor;

(9) A podiatrist;

(10) A registered or licensed practical nurse;

(11) A teacher;

(12) A guidance counselor;

(13) A school official;

(14) A children's summer camp administrator or counselor;

(15) A social worker;

(16) A court-appointed special advocate or guardian ad litem for the child;

(17) A homemaker;

(18) A home health aide;

(19) A medical or social service worker;

(20) A psychologist;

(21) Child care personnel;

(22) A mental health professional;

(23) A law enforcement official;

(24) A state or municipal fire inspector;

(25) A municipal code enforcement official;

(26) A commercial film and photographic print processor;

(27) A clergy member acquiring the information as a result of clerical professional work except for information received during confidential communications;

(28) A chair of a professional licensing board that has jurisdiction over mandated reporters; and

(29) A humane agent employed by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources; and

(30) A provider of abortion services when that provider knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that a child under 16 years of age has been sexually abused by a family member. When a report is made under this subparagraph, the department shall keep confidential that the child had sought abortion services.

summary

This bill makes providers of abortion services mandatory reporters of child sex abuse with regard to a child under 16 years of age when the provider knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that the child has been sexually abused by a family member. The bill makes confidential the information that the child had sought abortion services.


Top of Page