Sec. 5. 22 MRSA §4087, as enacted by PL 1989, c. 400, §§7 and 14, is repealed.

Sec. 6. 22 MRSA §4087-A is enacted to read:

§4087-A.__Child welfare services ombudsman program

1.__Program established.__The department shall establish and maintain a child welfare services ombudsman program by contract with such nonprofit organizations that the department finds best able to provide the services.__The purpose of the ombudsman program is to represent the best interests of individuals involved in the State's child welfare system as a class and to investigate and resolve complaints against state agencies that may be infringing on the rights of individuals involved in the State's child welfare system.

2.__Powers and duties.__The ombudsman program may:

A.__Provide advocacy services to individual citizens in matters relating to those child welfare services provided by and under the jurisdiction of the State;

B.__Review and evaluate, on a continuing basis, state and federal policies and programs relating to the provision of child welfare services conducted or assisted by any state departments or agencies for the purpose of identifying and addressing patterns or recurrent problems with the State's child welfare system;

C.__Receive, investigate and resolve inquiries, complaints, problems or requests for information and assistance regarding the State's child welfare services;

D.__Serve as a liaison for communication between individuals;

E.__Coordinate information and make referrals for services to relevant state agencies or other organizations when appropriate;

F.__Market and operate a toll-free telephone number for individuals involved in the child welfare system;