HP1135
LD 1573		 Session - 129th Maine Legislature
 
 LR 900
Item 1
Bill Tracking, Additional Documents Chamber Status

An Act To Clarify Provisions of the Maine Juvenile Code Regarding Inspection, Disclosure and Dissemination of Juvenile Case Records and To Change Gender-specific Terms

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. 15 MRSA §3003, sub-§3,  as amended by PL 1979, c. 681, §38, is further amended to read:

3. Bind-over hearing.   " Bind over Bind-over hearing" means a hearing at which the Juvenile Court determines whether or not to permit the State to proceed against a juvenile as if he the juvenile were an adult.

Sec. 2. 15 MRSA §3003, sub-§§4-C, 4-D and 5-A  are enacted to read:

4-C.  Court-generated information.   "Court-generated information" means records, information and documents created by the Juvenile Court to document activity in a case, including docket entries and other similar records.
4-D.  Disclosure.   "Disclosure" means the transmission of information contained in juvenile case records by any means, including orally, in writing or electronically.
5-A.  Dissemination.   "Dissemination" means release of, transmission of and access to information contained in juvenile case records expressly authorized by statute, executive order, court rule, court decision or court order.

Sec. 3. 15 MRSA §3003, sub-§6,  as enacted by PL 1977, c. 520, §1, is amended to read:

6. Emancipation.   "Emancipation" means the release of a juvenile from the legal control of his the juvenile's parents.

Sec. 4. 15 MRSA §3003, sub-§8,  as enacted by PL 1977, c. 520, §1, is amended to read:

8. Guardian.   "Guardian" means a person lawfully invested with the power, and charged with the duty, of taking care of the a person and managing the property and rights of another the person, who, because of age, is considered incapable of administering his the person's own affairs.

Sec. 5. 15 MRSA §3003, sub-§10-A  is enacted to read:

10-A.  Inspection.   "Inspection" means access to and review of juvenile case records in a manner prescribed by the Supreme Judicial Court.

Sec. 6. 15 MRSA §3003, sub-§14-C  is enacted to read:

14-C.  Juvenile case records.   "Juvenile case records" means all records, regardless of form or means of transmission, that comprise a juvenile court file of an individual case, including court-generated information, information and documents filed by filers, transcripts of depositions, hearings, proceedings and interviews, documentary exhibits in the custody of the clerk of the court, electronic records, videotapes and records of other proceedings filed with the clerk of the court. "Juvenile case records" does not include administrative or operational records of the judicial branch.

Sec. 7. 15 MRSA §3003, sub-§19-B  is enacted to read:

19-B.  Officer of the court.   "Officer of the court" means a judicial officer, including a judge, an attorney or an employee of the court including a clerk or a marshal.

Sec. 8. 15 MRSA §3003, sub-§23,  as amended by PL 1979, c. 681, §2, is further amended to read:

23. Probation.   "Probation" means a legal status created by court order in cases involving a juvenile adjudicated as having committed a juvenile crime , which that permits the juvenile to remain in his the juvenile's own home or other placement designated by the Juvenile Court subject to revocation for violation of any condition imposed by the court.

Sec. 9. 15 MRSA §3101, sub-§2, ¶D,  as amended by PL 1979, c. 681, §38, is further amended to read:

D. Juvenile Courts shall have exclusive original jurisdiction over proceedings in which an adult is alleged to have committed a juvenile crime before attaining his 18th birthday 18 years of age. For purposes of such proceedings such an a proceeding under this paragraph, the adult shall be is considered a juvenile.

Sec. 10. 15 MRSA §3101, sub-§4, ¶A,  as amended by PL 1979, c. 681, §38, is further amended to read:

A. When a petition alleges that a juvenile has committed an act which that would be murder or a Class A, B or C crime if committed by an adult, the court shall, upon request of the prosecuting attorney, continue the case for further investigation and for a bind-over hearing to determine whether the jurisdiction of the Juvenile Court over the juvenile should be waived. In the event of such If a continuance is granted under this paragraph, the court shall advise the juvenile and his the juvenile's parent or parents, guardian or legal custodian of the possible consequences of a bind-over hearing, the right to be represented by counsel, and other relevant constitutional and legal rights in connection therewith.

Sec. 11. 15 MRSA §3101, sub-§4, ¶G,  as enacted by PL 1979, c. 512, §2, is amended to read:

G. In all prosecutions for subsequent crimes, any person bound over and convicted as an adult shall must be proceeded against as if he the juvenile were an adult.

Sec. 12. 15 MRSA §3304, sub-§6,  as enacted by PL 1977, c. 520, §1, is amended to read:

6. Summons of necessary parties.   The court on its own motion or on the motion of any party may require the appearance of any person it deems the court determines necessary to the action and authorize the issuance of a summons directed to such that person. Any party to the action may request the issuance of compulsory process by the court requiring the attendance of witnesses on his own the party's behalf or on the behalf of the juvenile.

Sec. 13. 15 MRSA §3306, sub-§1,  as amended by PL 1977, c. 664, §25, is further amended to read:

1. Notice and appointment.  
A. At his a juvenile's first appearance before the court, the juvenile and his the juvenile's parent or parents, guardian or legal custodian shall must be fully advised by the court of their constitutional and legal rights, including the juvenile's right to be represented by counsel at every stage of the proceedings. At every subsequent appearance before the court, the juvenile shall must be advised of his the juvenile's right to be represented by counsel.
B. If the juvenile requests an attorney and if he the juvenile and his the juvenile's parent or parents, guardian or legal custodian are found to be without sufficient financial means, counsel shall must be appointed by the court.
C. The court may appoint counsel without such a request under paragraph B if it deems the court determines representation by counsel necessary to protect the interests of the juvenile.

Sec. 14. 15 MRSA §3307, sub-§1-A,  as amended by PL 1999, c. 624, Pt. B, §17, is further amended to read:

1-A. Disclosure of identity.   A law enforcement officer, officer of the court or , juvenile community corrections officer or other representative of the Department of Corrections may not release disclose the identity of any juvenile until a petition is filed charging the juvenile with a juvenile crime described in subsection 2. This section does not preclude the release of the identity of a juvenile to a complainant or victim if a juvenile community corrections officer decides not to file a petition in accordance with section 3301, subsection 5, paragraph A or B or if the juvenile community corrections officer requests the prosecuting attorney to file a petition in accordance with section 3301, subsection 5, paragraph C.

Sec. 15. 15 MRSA §3308,  as amended by PL 2013, c. 267, Pt. B, §6, is further amended to read:

§ 3308. Juvenile case records; inspection

1.  Inspection.   No person may inspect the records of juvenile proceedings except as provided in this section.
1-A.  Confidentiality.   Juvenile case records are confidential and may not be disclosed, disseminated, inspected or obtained except as expressly authorized by this Part. The court may not order the disclosure, dissemination or inspection of juvenile case records unless the juvenile, the juvenile's attorney or, if the juvenile does not have an attorney, the juvenile's attorney of record and the prosecuting attorney are given notice of the request and an opportunity to be heard regarding the request. In deciding whether to release any portion of juvenile case records under this subsection, the court shall consider the purposes of this Part and for which the request is being made and may restrict the disclosure, dissemination or inspection of the juvenile case records in any manner the court determines necessary or appropriate.
2. Hearings open to public.   In the case of a hearing open to the general public under section 3307, the petition, the record of the hearing and the order of adjudication are open to public inspection, provided that any court subsequently sentencing the juvenile after the juvenile has become an adult may consider only murder and Class A, Class B and Class C offenses committed by the juvenile. The petition, the record of the hearing and the order of adjudication are open to inspection by the victim , regardless of whether the hearing is open to the general public under section 3307 . , are open to inspection by:
A.  The victim;
B.  If the victim is a minor, a parent or parents, guardian or legal custodian of the victim;
C.  A licensed professional investigator under Title 32, chapter 89; and
D.  If the victim cannot act on the victim's own behalf due to death, age, physical or mental disease or disorder or intellectual disability or autism or other reason, an immediate family member, guardian or legal custodian of the victim.
3. Access to juvenile case records by parties.   Records of court proceedings and of the other records described in subsection 5 Juvenile case records must be open to inspection by and, upon request, be disclosed to the juvenile, the juvenile's parent or parents, guardian or legal custodian, the juvenile's attorney, the prosecuting attorney and to any agency to which legal custody of the juvenile was transferred as a result of adjudication. These Juvenile case records may also be open to inspection by and, upon request, be disclosed to the Department of Health and Human Services prior to adjudication if commitment to the Department of Health and Human Services is a proposed disposition.
3-A. Access to juvenile case records by victims.   The name of a juvenile subject to Juvenile Court proceedings shall must be made known by the Juvenile Court to the victim of the juvenile crime on his upon the request . of:
A.  The victim;
B.  If the victim is a minor, a parent or parents, guardian or legal custodian of the victim;
C.  A licensed professional investigator under Title 32, chapter 89; or
D.  If the victim cannot act on the victim's own behalf due to death, age, physical or mental disease or disorder or intellectual disability or autism or other reason, an immediate family member, guardian or legal custodian of the victim.
4. Access to juvenile case records by other persons.   With the consent of the court, juvenile case records of court proceedings , excluding the names of the juvenile , his and the juvenile's parent or parents, guardian , or legal custodian, his the juvenile's attorney or any other parties , may be inspected by or disseminated to persons having a legitimate interest in the proceedings or by persons conducting pertinent research studies.
5. Access to other records.   Police Other than the petition, record of the hearing and order of adjudication that are open to public inspection under section 3307, police records, juvenile community corrections officers' records and all other reports of social and clinical studies contained in juvenile case records may not be open to inspection or disseminated except with consent of the court or except to the extent that such records, reports and studies were made a part of the record of a hearing that was open to the general public under section 3307.
6. Records to Secretary of State.   Whenever a juvenile has been adjudicated as having committed a juvenile crime involving the operation of a motor vehicle, the court shall forthwith transmit to the Secretary of State an abstract, duly certified, setting forth the name of the juvenile, the offense, the date of the offense, the date of the adjudicatory hearing and any other pertinent facts. These juvenile case records are admissible in evidence in hearings conducted by the Secretary of State or any of the Secretary of State's deputies and are open to public inspection.

Nothing in this Part may be construed to limit the authority of the Secretary of State, pursuant to Title 29-A, to suspend a person's license or permit to operate a motor vehicle, right to operate a motor vehicle or right to apply for or obtain a license.

7. Dissemination of information.   The following provisions apply to the dissemination of information contained in the juvenile case records of juvenile proceedings.
A. For purposes of this subsection the following terms have the following meanings.

(1) "Administration of criminal justice" has the same meaning as found in Title 16, section 703, subsection 1.

(2) "Administration of juvenile criminal justice" means activities related to the apprehension or summonsing, detention, conditional or unconditional release, informal adjustment, initial appearance, bind over, adjudication, disposition, custody and supervision or rehabilitation of accused juveniles or adjudicated juvenile criminal offenders. It includes the collection, storage and dissemination of juvenile crime information juvenile case records.

(3) "Criminal justice agency" has the same meaning as found in Title 16, section 703, subsection 4.

(4) "Dissemination" has the same meaning as found in Title 16, section 703, subsection 6.

B. Nothing in this section precludes sharing of any information contained in the juvenile case records of court proceedings or other records described in subsection 5 by one criminal justice agency with another criminal justice agency for the administration of criminal justice or juvenile criminal justice or for criminal justice agency employment.
B-1. Nothing in this section precludes dissemination of any information contained in the juvenile case records of court proceedings and in the other records described in subsection 5, if:

(1) The juvenile has been adjudicated as having committed a juvenile crime;

(2) The information is disseminated by and to persons who directly supervise or report on the health, behavior or progress of the juvenile, the superintendent of the juvenile's school and the superintendent's designees, criminal justice agencies or agencies that are or might become responsible for the health or welfare of the juvenile as a result of a court order or by agreement with the Department of Corrections or the Department of Health and Human Services; and

(3) The information is relevant to and disseminated for the purpose of creating or maintaining an individualized plan for the juvenile's rehabilitation, including reintegration into a school.

Any information received under this paragraph is confidential and may not be further disseminated, except as otherwise provided by law.

C. Nothing in this section precludes dissemination of any information in the juvenile case records of the Department of Corrections if the person concerning whom the juvenile case records are sought, the person's legal guardian, if any, and , if the person is a minor, the person's parent or legal parents, guardian or legal custodian has given informed written consent to the disclosure of the juvenile case records.
D. When a juvenile who is adjudicated of a juvenile crime that if committed by an adult would be gross sexual assault under Title 17-A, section 253, subsection 1 is committed to a Department of Corrections juvenile correctional facility or placed on probation, the Department of Corrections shall provide, while the juvenile is committed or on probation, a copy of the juvenile's judgment and commitment to the Department of Health and Human Services, to all law enforcement agencies that have jurisdiction in those areas where the juvenile may reside, work or attend school and to the superintendent of any school system in which the juvenile attends school during the period of commitment or probation. The Department of Corrections shall provide a copy of the juvenile's judgment and commitment to all licensed and registered day-care facility operators located in the municipality where the juvenile resides, works or attends school during the period of commitment or probation. Upon request, the Department of Corrections shall also provide a copy of the juvenile's judgment and commitment to other entities that are involved in the care of children and are located in the municipality where the juvenile resides, works or attends school during the period of commitment or probation. The Department of Corrections may provide a copy of the juvenile's judgment and commitment to any other agency or person whom the Department of Corrections determines is appropriate to ensure public safety. Neither the failure of the Department of Corrections to perform the requirements of this paragraph nor compliance with this paragraph subjects the Department of Corrections or its employees to liability in a civil action.
E.  When a juvenile is charged in a juvenile petition that alleges the use or threatened use of physical force against a person or when a juvenile is adjudicated as having committed one or more juvenile crimes that involve the use or threatened use of physical force against a person, the district attorney in the district where the charges were brought shall provide to the superintendent of the juvenile's school or the superintendent's designees:

(1) The name of the juvenile;

(2) The nature of the alleged offense or offense;

(3) The date of the alleged offense or offense;

(4) The date of the petition;

(5) The date of the adjudication, if applicable; and

(6) The location of the court where the case was brought, if applicable.

All information provided under this paragraph is confidential and may not be further distributed, except as provided in Title 20-A, section 1055, subsection 11. Information provided pursuant to this paragraph to the superintendent of the juvenile's school or the superintendent's designees may not become part of the student's education record.

8. Juvenile case records sealed.   This subsection governs the sealing of juvenile case records of a person adjudicated to have committed a juvenile crime.
A. A person adjudicated to have committed a juvenile crime may petition the court to seal from public inspection all juvenile case records pertaining to the juvenile crime and its disposition, and to any prior juvenile case records and their dispositions if:

(1) At least 3 years have passed since the person's discharge from the disposition ordered for that juvenile crime;

(2) Since the date of disposition, the person has not been adjudicated to have committed a juvenile crime and has not been convicted of committing a crime; and

(3) There are no current adjudicatory proceedings pending for a juvenile or other crime.

B. The court may grant the petition if it finds that the requirements of paragraph A are satisfied, unless it finds that the general public's right to information substantially outweighs the juvenile's interest in privacy.
C. Notwithstanding subsections 3, 3-A, 4 and 5, the court order sealing the juvenile case records permits only the following persons to have access to the sealed records:

(1) The courts and criminal justice agencies as provided by this section; and

(2) The person whose juvenile case records are sealed or that person's designee.

D. If the petition is granted, the person may respond to inquiries from other than the courts and criminal justice agencies about that person's juvenile crimes, the juvenile case records of which have been sealed, as if the juvenile crimes had never occurred, without being subject to any sanctions.
8-A.  Transmission of information about a committed juvenile.   Information regarding a committed juvenile must be provided as follows:
A.  If a juvenile is committed to the Department of Corrections or the Department of Health and Human Services, the court shall transmit with the commitment order a copy of the petition, the order of adjudication, copies of any social studies, any clinical or educational reports and information pertinent to the care and treatment of the juvenile; and
B.  The Department of Corrections or the Department of Health and Human Services shall provide the court with any information concerning a juvenile committed to either department's care that the court at any time may request.
9. Victim's Compensation Board.   Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, juvenile case records of Juvenile Court proceedings and the police records and other records described in subsection 5 must be open to inspection by or be disseminated to the Victims' Compensation Board at any time if a juvenile is alleged to have committed an offense upon which an application to the board is based.

Sec. 16. 15 MRSA §3308-A, sub-§1, ¶C,  as enacted by PL 2013, c. 267, Pt. D, §1, is repealed.

Sec. 17. 15 MRSA §3308-A, sub-§2,  as enacted by PL 2013, c. 267, Pt. D, §1, is amended to read:

2. Information part of proceeding.  To the extent the juvenile intelligence and investigative record information has been made part of the court juvenile case records of a juvenile proceeding, dissemination of that juvenile intelligence and investigative record information by a Maine criminal justice agency must be as provided by section 3307 and section 3308.

Sec. 18. 15 MRSA §3308-A, sub-§3, ¶D,  as enacted by PL 2013, c. 267, Pt. D, §1, is amended to read:

D. A juvenile crime victim or that victim's agent or attorney if authorized by:

(1) Statute; or

(2) A court order pursuant to section 3307 or 3308.

As used in this paragraph, "agent" means a licensed professional investigator or an immediate family member if, due to death, age, physical or mental disease, disorder or intellectual disability or autism, the victim cannot realistically act on the victim's own behalf;

Sec. 19. 15 MRSA §3308-B  is enacted to read:

§ 3308-B.  Mandatory notice to schools

1.  Mandatory notice to school administrative unit.   When a juvenile is charged in a juvenile petition that alleges the use or threatened use of physical force against a person or when a juvenile is adjudicated as having committed one or more juvenile crimes that involve the use or threatened use of physical force against a person, the prosecuting attorney in the district where the charges were brought shall provide to the superintendent of the juvenile's school administrative unit or the superintendent's designee:
A.  The name of the juvenile;
B.  The offense alleged or adjudicated;
C.  The date of the offense;
D.  The date of the petition;
E.  The date of the adjudication, if applicable; and
F.  The location of the court where the case was brought, if applicable.
2.  Confidentiality.   Information provided under subsection 1 is confidential, may not be distributed except as provided in subsection 1 and in Title 20-A, section 1055, subsection 11 and may not be included in the juvenile's education record.

Sec. 20. 15 MRSA §3311, sub-§1,  as amended by PL 1979, c. 681, §26, is further amended to read:

1. Reports as evidence.   For the purpose of determining proper disposition of a juvenile who has been adjudicated as having committed a juvenile crime, written reports and other material relating to the juvenile's mental, physical and social history may be received by the court along with other evidence; but the court, if so requested by the juvenile, his the juvenile's parent or parents, guardian or legal custodian, or other party, shall require that the person who wrote the report or prepared the material appear as a witness and be subject to examination by the court and any party. In the absence of the request, the court may order the person who prepared the report or other material to testify if it finds that the interests of justice require it. The parent or parents, guardian or other legal custodian of the juvenile shall be informed that information for the report is being gathered.

Sec. 21. 15 MRSA §3311, sub-§2,  as amended by PL 1979, c. 681, §27, is further amended to read:

2. Notice of right to inspect.   The court shall inform the juvenile or his the juvenile's parent or parents, guardian or legal custodian of the right of examination concerning to inspect any written report or other material specified in subsection 1.

Sec. 22. 15 MRSA §3313,  as amended by PL 1995, c. 690, §5, is further amended to read:

§ 3313. Criteria for withholding an institutional disposition

1. Standard.   The court shall enter an order of disposition for a juvenile who has been adjudicated as having committed a juvenile crime without imposing placement in a secure institution as disposition unless, having regard to the nature and circumstances of the crime and the history, character and condition of the juvenile, it finds that his the confinement of the juvenile is necessary for protection of the public because:
A. There is undue risk that, during the period of a suspended sentence or probation, the juvenile will commit another crime;
B. The juvenile is in need of correctional treatment that can be provided most effectively by his the juvenile's commitment to an institution; or
C. A lesser sentence will depreciate the seriousness of the juvenile's conduct.
2. Additional consideration.   The following grounds, while not controlling the discretion of the court, shall must be accorded weight against ordering placement in a secure institution:
A. The juvenile's conduct neither caused nor threatened serious harm;
B. The juvenile did not contemplate that his the juvenile's conduct would cause or threaten serious harm;
C. The juvenile acted under a strong provocation;
D. There were substantial grounds tending to excuse or justify the juvenile's conduct, though failing to establish a defense;
E. The victim of the juvenile's conduct induced or facilitated its the commission of the conduct;
F. The juvenile has made or has agreed to make restitution to the victim of his the juvenile's conduct for the damage or injury that the victim sustained;
G. The juvenile has not previously been adjudicated to have committed a juvenile crime or has led a law-abiding life for a substantial period of time prior to the conduct which that formed the basis for the present adjudication;
H. The juvenile's conduct was the result of circumstances unlikely to recur;
I. The character and attitudes of the juvenile indicate that he the juvenile is unlikely to commit another juvenile crime;
J. The juvenile is particularly likely to respond affirmatively to probation; and
K. The confinement of the juvenile would entail excessive hardship to himself the juvenile or his the juvenile's dependents.
3. Statement of reasons accompanying disposition for juvenile adjudicated of murder or a Class A, Class B or Class C crime.   In a disposition for a juvenile crime that if committed by an adult would be murder or a Class A, Class B or Class C crime, the court shall state on the record and in open court the court's reasons for ordering or not ordering placement of the juvenile in a secure institution.

Sec. 23. 15 MRSA §3314, sub-§1, ¶A,  as amended by PL 1987, c. 400, §2, is further amended to read:

A. The court may allow the juvenile to remain in the legal custody of his the juvenile's parent or parents or a , guardian or legal custodian under such conditions as the court may impose. Conditions may include participation by the juvenile, his the juvenile's parent or parents or legal , guardian or legal custodian in treatment services aimed at the rehabilitation of the juvenile and improvement of the home environment.

Sec. 24. 15 MRSA §3316, sub-§1,  as repealed and replaced by PL 1999, c. 127, Pt. B, §6 and amended by PL 2003, c. 689, Pt. B, §6, is repealed.

Sec. 25. 15 MRSA §3501, sub-§1,  as enacted by PL 1977, c. 520, §1, is amended to read:

1. Interim care.   A juvenile may be taken into interim care by a law enforcement officer without order by the court when the officer has reasonable grounds to believe that:
A. The juvenile is abandoned, lost or seriously endangered in his the juvenile's surroundings and that immediate removal is necessary for his the juvenile's protection; or
B. The juvenile has left the care of his the juvenile's parent or parents, guardian or legal custodian without the consent of such person the parent or parents, guardian or legal custodian.

Sec. 26. 15 MRSA §3501, sub-§8,  as repealed and replaced by PL 1981, c. 619, §9 and amended by PL 2003, c. 689, Pt. B, §6, is further amended to read:

8. Interim care, voluntary services.   The Department of Health and Human Services shall inform the juvenile and his family the juvenile's parent or parents, guardian or legal custodian of social services and encourage them to voluntarily accept social services.

Sec. 27. 15 MRSA §3503,  as repealed and replaced by PL 1977, c. 664, §48, is amended to read:

§ 3503. Juveniles, voluntary return home

If a juvenile who has been taken into interim care under the provisions of section 3501 and his the juvenile's parent or parents, guardian or legal custodian agree to the juvenile's return home, the parent or parents, guardian or legal custodian shall cause the juvenile to be transported home as soon as practicable. If the parent or parents, guardian or legal custodian fail to arrange for the transportation of the juvenile, he shall the juvenile must be transported at the expense of the parent or parents, guardian or legal custodian.

Sec. 28. 15 MRSA §3506-A, sub-§1,  as enacted by PL 1981, c. 619, §12, is amended to read:

1. Petition for emancipation.   If a juvenile is 16 years of age or older and refuses to live in the home provided by his the juvenile's parent or parents, guardian or legal custodian, he the juvenile may request the District Court in the division in which his the juvenile's parent or parents, guardian or legal custodian resides to appoint counsel for him the juvenile to petition for emancipation.

Sec. 29. 15 MRSA §3506-A, sub-§2, ¶C,  as enacted by PL 1981, c. 619, §12, is amended to read:

C. The name and residence of his the juvenile's parent or parents, guardian or legal custodian.

Sec. 30. 15 MRSA §3506-A, sub-§4,  as enacted by PL 1981, c. 619, §12, is amended to read:

4. Order of emancipation.   The court shall order emancipation of the juvenile if it determines that:
A. The juvenile has made reasonable provision for his the juvenile's room, board, health care and education, vocational training or employment; and
B. The juvenile is sufficiently mature to assume responsibility for his the juvenile's own care and it is in his the juvenile's best interest to do so.

Sec. 31. 20-A MRSA §1055, sub-§11,  as amended by PL 2003, c. 190, §2, is further amended to read:

11. Notification teams.   Within 10 days after receiving notice from a district attorney of an alleged juvenile offense or juvenile offense, pursuant to Title 15, section 3308 3308-B, subsection 7, paragraph E 1 or after receiving notice from a law enforcement officer of credible information that indicates an imminent danger to the safety of students or school personnel pursuant to Title 15, section 3301-A, the superintendent shall convene a notification team. The notification team must consist of the administrator of the school building or the administrator's designee, at least one classroom teacher to whom the student is assigned, a parent or guardian of the student and a guidance counselor. The notification team is entitled to receive the information described in Title 15, section 3308 3308-B, subsection 7, paragraph E, subparagraphs (1) to (6) 1, paragraphs A to F and in Title 15, section 3301-A. The notification team shall also determine on the basis of need which school employees are entitled to receive that information.

Confidentiality of this criminal justice information regarding juveniles must be ensured at all times, and the information may be released only under the conditions of this subsection. The superintendent shall ensure that confidentiality training is provided to all school employees who have access to the information.

SUMMARY

This bill amends provisions in the Maine Juvenile Code, including:

1. Changing gender-specific terms to gender-neutral terms;

2. Creating definitions, including a definition for "juvenile case records" to include all information, records or documents that may be contained in the court records of a juvenile for an individual case; and

3. Requiring that juvenile case records be kept confidential and only disclosed, disseminated, inspected or obtained by certain parties or certain agencies or by court order.

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