Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §4002, sub-§5-B is enacted to read:

5-B.__Department.__"Department" means the department or a private agency and its employees who are authorized to act on behalf of the department pursuant to section 4004, subsection 4.

Sec. 2. 22 MRSA §4004, sub-§4 is enacted to read:

4.__Department may contract with private agency.__The department may contract with a private agency to perform duties described in this chapter that include full case and court responsibility for a child in state custody who is working toward a specified case goal.__A private agency contracting with the department to perform duties described in this chapter has the same powers as the department with respect to those duties.__A private agency contracting with the department is entitled to the same immunity in law provided to the department and its employees when performing duties under this chapter.

SUMMARY

This bill allows the Department of Health and Human Services to contract with a private agency to perform duties within the Child and Family Services and Child Protection Act that involve full case and court responsibility when a child is in state custody and working toward a specified case goal.