Sec. 1. 15 MRSA §3501, sub-§10 is enacted to read:

10.__Law enforcement responsibility.__If a juvenile in the custody of the Department of Human Services has been placed in interim care that includes temporary shelter and runs away from that placement, the law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction where the temporary shelter is located is responsible for finding the juvenile.__If that law enforcement agency does not locate that juvenile within 48 hours after receiving notice that the juvenile has run away, the responsibility for finding the juvenile reverts to the law enforcement agency in the jurisdiction of the juvenile's legal residence.

SUMMARY

This bill specifies that if a juvenile in the custody of the Department of Human Services runs away from an interim care placement that includes temporary shelter, the law enforcement agency in the jurisdiction from which the juvenile has run away is responsible for finding that juvenile. The bill further specifies that, if that law enforcement agency does not locate the juvenile within 48 hours, the responsibility reverts to the law enforcement agency in the jurisdiction of the juvenile's legal residence.