An Act Regarding the Reporting Standards for Child Abuse
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §4011-A, sub-§7, as enacted by PL 2013, c. 268, §1, is amended to read:
7. Children under 6 months of age or otherwise nonambulatory. A person required to make a report under subsection 1 shall report to the department if a child who is under 6 months of age or otherwise nonambulatory exhibits evidence of the following:
A. Fracture of a bone;
B. Substantial bruising or multiple bruises;
C. Subdural hematoma;
D. Burns;
E. Poisoning; or
F. Injury resulting in substantial bleeding, soft tissue swelling or impairment of an organ.
This subsection does not require the reporting of injuries occurring as a result of the delivery of a child attended by a licensed medical practitioner.
SUMMARY
The bill creates an exception to the law mandating a report to the Department of Health and Human Services of suspected abuse or neglect of a child under 6 months of age for injuries occurring during birth when the delivery is attended by a licensed medical practitioner.