Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §4021, sub-§3, ¶D is enacted to read:

D.__The department shall make an audio recording of every interview with a child it conducts or in which it is involved.__Information collected from an interview that is not recorded may not be used in a child protective proceeding unless the judge determines that exigent circumstances exist to warrant the use of this information.__ The department shall provide a copy of the recording of the interview to the child's parent prior to the proceeding in which the information is used.

SUMMARY

This bill requires the Department of Human Services to make an audio recording of all interviews with children subject to child protective proceedings. If a recording is not made, the department can not use the information in a child protective proceeding unless a judge decides that exigent circumstances exist to require the information to be used. The department shall provide the parent of the child a copy of the recording before the proceeding in which the information is used.