CHAPTER 251
H.P. 382 - L.D. 527
An Act to Strengthen the Mandatory Child Abuse Reporting Laws
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 22 MRSA �4011, sub-�1, as amended by PL 1989, c. 819, �2, is further amended to read:
1. Reasonable cause to suspect. When, while acting in a professional capacity, an adult who is a medical or osteopathic physician, resident, intern, emergency medical services person, medical examiner, physician's assistant, dentist, dental hygienist, dental assistant, chiropractor, podiatrist, registered or licensed practical nurse, teacher, guidance counselor, school official, social worker, court appointed special advocate or guardian ad litem for the child, homemaker, home health aide, medical or social service worker, psychologist, child care personnel, mental health professional, law enforcement official, state fire inspector, municipal code enforcement official, municipal fire inspector, commercial film and photographic print processor, clergy member acquiring the information as a result of clerical professional work except for information received during confidential communications or chair of a professional licensing board that has jurisdiction over mandated reporters knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that a child has been or is likely to be abused or neglected, that person shall immediately report or cause a report to be made to the department.
A. Whenever a person is required to report in a capacity as a member of the staff of a medical or public or private institution, agency or facility, that person shall immediately notify either the person in charge of the institution, agency or facility, or a designated agent, who shall then cause a report to be made. The staff may also make a report directly to the department.
B. Any person may make a report if that person knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that a child has been or is likely to be abused or neglected.
D. When, while acting in a professional capacity, any person required to report under this section knows or has reasonable cause to suspect that a child has been abused or neglected by a person not responsible for the child, the person shall immediately report or cause a report to be made to the appropriate district attorney's office.
Effective September 19, 1997, unless otherwise indicated.
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