A. The department shall consult with the licensed mental health professional who has made the report and shall attempt to reach agreement with the professional as to how the report is to be pursued. If agreement is not reached, the licensed mental health professional may request a meeting under paragraph B.

B. Upon the request of the licensed mental health professional who has made the report, after the department has completed its investigation of the report under section 4021 or has received a preliminary protection order under section 4034 and where the department plans to initiate or has initiated a final protection action under section 4035 or plans to refer or has referred the report to law enforcement officials, the department shall convene at least one meeting of the licensed mental health professional who made the report, at least one representative from the department, a licensed mental health professional with expertise in child abuse or neglect and a representative of the district attorney's office having jurisdiction over the report, unless that office indicates that prosecution is unlikely.

C. The persons meeting under paragraph B shall make recommendations regarding treatment and prosecution of the person responsible for the abuse or neglect. The persons making the recommendations shall take into account the nature, extent and severity of abuse or neglect, the safety of the child and the community and needs of the child and other family members for treatment of the effects of the abuse or neglect and the willingness of the person responsible for the abuse or neglect to engage in treatment. The persons making the recommendations may review or revise these recommendations at their discretion.

The department shall, after consultation with the Maine Prosecutors Association, the Maine Psychological Association and other affected groups, report on the effects of this subsection to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over the judiciary by February 15, 1987.

The intent of this subsection is to encourage offenders to seek and effectively utilize treatment, at the same time providing any