| Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: |
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| | Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §4011, sub-§1, as amended by PL 1997, c. 251, §1, is | further amended to read: |
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| | 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, employee of a children's summer camp, 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| | Sec. 2. 22 MRSA §4011, sub-§1-A, as enacted by PL 1985, c. 495, §20, | is amended to read: |
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| | 1-A. Mental health treatment. When a licensed mental health | professional is required to report under subsection 1, and |
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