An Act To Prevent HIV Transmission from a Pregnant Mother to a Child
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §19203-A, sub-§6 is enacted to read:
6. Protection of newborn infants. Subject to the consent and procedure requirements of subsection 1, a health care provider who is providing care for a pregnant woman shall include an HIV test in a standard set of medical tests performed on the woman. A health care provider who is providing care for a newborn infant shall test the infant for HIV and ensure that the results are available within 12 hours of birth of the infant if the health care provider does not know the HIV status of the mother or the health care provider believes that HIV testing is medically necessary unless a parent objects to the test on the grounds that it conflicts with the sincere religious or conscientious beliefs and practices of the parent. If a woman declines to be tested for HIV pursuant to this subsection and subsection 1, the health care provider shall document the woman’s decision in the woman’s medical record.
Effective 90 days following adjournment of the 125th Legislature, First Regular Session, unless otherwise indicated.