Sec. 1. 19-A MRSA §1653, sub-§6-A is enacted to read:

6-A.__Custody and contact limited; sex offender.__ Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the court may not award primary residence of a minor child to a sex offender.__The court may award parent-child contact with a minor child to a sex offender only if there is another adult present to supervise the contact.__For purposes of this subsection, "sex offender" has the same meaning as defined in Title 34-A, section 11203, subsection 5.

Sec. 2. 19-A MRSA §1743 is enacted to read:

§1743.__Prohibited custody

Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the court may not award custody of a minor child to a sex offender.__For purposes of this section, "sex offender" has the same meaning as defined in Title 34-A, section 11203, subsection 5.

Sec. 3. 19-A MRSA §1803, sub-§7 is enacted to read:

7.__Supervision required; sex offender.__Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the court may award a grandparent who is a sex offender visitation with a minor grandchild only if there is another adult present to supervise the visitation.__For purposes of this subsection, "sex offender" has the same meaning as defined in Title 34-A, section 11203, subsection 5.

SUMMARY

This bill prohibits a court from awarding custody of a minor child to a person who is a convicted sex offender. The court may award visitation with a minor child to a convicted sex offender only if there is another adult present to supervise the visitation.