Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §4008-B is enacted to read:

§4008-B.__Interviews of children

1.__Limitation on interviews.__Law enforcement officers and department staff investigating an allegation of abuse or neglect or participating in a child protection proceeding shall make every effort to minimize the number of interviews that a child must undergo and to limit the number of interviewers present at each interview.__The law enforcement officers and department staff shall:

A.__Conduct interviews jointly with all entities involved in the investigation or the proceeding;

B.__During an interview, use communication devices such as earpieces and microphones to limit the number of persons conducting the interview;

C.__Share information with investigators to the extent permitted under law, provided the entity that receives the shared information protects confidential information; and

D.__Videotape every interview, unless that is not possible, in which case the officers and staff shall tape record the interview.

2.__Disclosure of interview information to the person accused.__ Interview information is evidence that must be disclosed to the person accused of abuse, neglect or other wrongdoing with respect to the child, regardless of whether the investigation relates to a civil or criminal matter.

SUMMARY

This bill requires law enforcement officers and Department of Human Services staff who are investigating or participating in a child protection proceeding to limit the number of interviews and the number of interviewers that a child must face. It also requires that the information collected in the interview be disclosed to the person accused of abuse, neglect or other wrongdoing with respect to the child, regardless of whether the investigation relates to a criminal or a civil matter.