§4011-B.__Reporting of prenatal exposure to drugs

1.__Reporting of infants with prenatal exposure to drugs.__A health care provider involved in the delivery or care of an infant who the provider knows or has reasonable cause to suspect has been born affected by illegal substance abuse or is suffering from withdrawal symptoms resulting from prenatal drug exposure, whether or not the prenatal exposure was to legal or illegal drugs, shall notify the department of that condition in the infant.__The report required by this subsection must be made in the same manner as reports of abuse or neglect required by this subchapter.

A.__This section, and any notification made pursuant to this section, may not be construed to establish a definition of "abuse" or "neglect."

B.__This section, and any notification made pursuant to this section, may not be construed to require prosecution for any illegal action, including, but not limited to, the act of exposing a fetus to drugs or other substances.

2.__Definition.__For purposes of this section, "health care provider" means a person described in section 4011-A, subsection 1, paragraph A, subparagraphs (1) to (10), (15), (17) to (20) or (22) or any person who assists in the delivery or birth of a child for compensation, including, but not limited to, a midwife.

PART AA

Sec. AA-1. 22 MRSA §1602, sub-§4, as amended by PL 1987, c. 402, Pt. A, §139 and PL 1999, c. 547, Pt. B, §78 and affected by §80, is further amended to read:

4. Permit denied; appeal. An applicant who has been aggrieved by the department's decision to deny a permit under this chapter may file within 5 30 days of the notice of the denial, a complaint with the District Court, as provided in Title 5, chapter 375. Such an applicant shall must be granted a prompt hearing before the District Court for reconsideration of the denial.

Sec. AA-2. 22 MRSA §1604, as amended by PL 1977, c. 347, §5, is further amended to read:

§1604. Permit, bond