Sec. D-17. 22 MRSA §4002, sub-§7, as enacted by PL 1979, c. 733, §18, is amended to read:

7. Parent. "Parent" means a natural or adoptive parent, unless parental rights have been terminated person whose parental rights have not been terminated and who has established a parent- child relationship with the child under Title 19-A, section 1841.

Sec. D-18. 22 MRSA §4002, sub-§8-A is enacted to read:

8-A.__Putative parent.__"Putative parent" means a person who alleges himself or herself to be, or is alleged to be, the genetic or possible genetic parent of the child, but whose parentage has not been determined.__"Putative parent" does not include:

A.__A presumed parent as defined in Title 19-A, section 1832, subsection 16;

B.__A person whose parental rights have been terminated or declared not to exist; or

C.__A donor as defined in Title 19-A, section 1832, subsection 8.

Sec. D-19. 22 MRSA §4005, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1983, c. 783, §2, is further amended to read:

2. Parents. Parents, putative parents and custodians are entitled to legal counsel in child protection proceedings, except a request for a preliminary protection order under section 4034 or a petition for a medical treatment order under section 4071, but including hearings on those orders. They may request the court to appoint legal counsel for them. The court, if it finds them indigent, shall appoint and pay the reasonable costs and expenses of their legal counsel.

Sec. D-20. 22 MRSA §4031, sub-§3, as corrected by RR 1999, c. 1, §29, is amended to read:

3. Scope of authority. The court shall consider and act on child protection petitions regardless of other decrees regarding a child's care and custody. The requirements and provisions of