| G.__Provide a range of alternative dispute resolution | methods to individuals, including the pursuit of legal | remedies when appropriate; |
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| H.__Advise, consult and assist the executive and legislative | branches on activities of State Government relating to child | welfare services and recommend improvements to the quality | of child welfare services in State Government; and |
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| I.__Make annual reports relating to the activities of the | ombudsman program to the department and the joint standing | committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over human | services. |
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| | 3.__Access to files and records.__The ombudsman program has | access, limited only by the law, to the files, records and | personnel of the department or any agency or entity administered, | licensed or funded by the department for the purposes of | investigation of an inquiry or complaint. The ombudsman may also | enter the premises of the department or any agency or entity | administered, licensed or funded by the department for the | purposes of investigation of an inquiry or complaint. |
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| | 4.__Confidentiality of records.__Information or records | maintained by the ombudsman program relating to a complaint or | investigation may not be disclosed unless the ombudsman | authorizes the disclosure and the disclosure is otherwise | permitted pursuant to section 4008.__The ombudsman may not | disclose the identity of any complainant unless the complainant | or a legal representative of the complainant consents in writing | to the disclosure or a court orders the disclosure. A complainant | or a legal representative of the complainant, in providing the | consent, may specify to whom the identity may be disclosed and | for what purposes, in which event no other disclosure is | authorized. |
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| | 5.__Immunity.__Any person that in good faith participates in | the registering of a complaint with the ombudsman program | pursuant to this section or in good faith investigates that | complaint as an employee or volunteer of the ombudsman program is | immune from any civil or criminal liability that otherwise might | result from these actions. For the purpose of any civil or | criminal proceedings, there is a rebuttable presumption that any | person acting pursuant to this section did so in good faith. |
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| | Sec. 7. 22 MRSA §4089, sub-§1, ķE, as enacted by PL 1989, c. 819, §6, | is amended to read: |
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