Sec. 1. 34-B MRSA §1205, sub-§3, ¶¶F and G, as enacted by PL 1989, c. 7, Pt. N, §3, are amended to read:

F. Make and publish reports necessary to the performance of the duties described in this section. The chief advocate may report findings of the office to groups outside the department, such as legislative bodies, advisory committees, commissions, law enforcement agencies and the press, and may authorize the advocates in the Office of Advocacy to so communicate. At least annually, the chief advocate shall report both in person and in writing to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over mental health and mental retardation; and

G. Negotiate joint working agreements with the Department of Human Services concerning procedures and respective responsibilities for conducting investigations in state institutions of allegations of abuse pursuant to the Child and Family Services and Child Protection Act, Title 22, chapter 1071. ; and

Sec. 2. 34-B MRSA §1205, sub-§3, ¶H is enacted to read:

H. Beginning January 15, 1999 and annually thereafter, make annual reports before January 15th each year, both in person and in writing, to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over mental health and mental retardation matters.__ At a minimum, the report must contain information related to:

(1) The number of complaints made to the office;

(2)__The actions taken by the office on behalf of clients of the department;

(3)__The numbers of hearings or grievance procedures of the department when the office represented clients;

(4)__The numbers of referrals the office made to other advocacy agencies; and

(5)__The development of written protocols and policies between the office and the State's designated federal protection and advocacy agency for individuals with disabilities regarding the relationship between the office and the agency and the distinction between the services provided to individuals by these 2 entities.