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An Act Concerning Animal Control Officers as Mandated Reporters of Abuse
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §3477, sub-§1, ¶A,  as repealed and replaced by PL 2003, c. 653, §9, is amended to read:
 
A.  While acting in a professional capacity:
 
(1) An allopathic or osteopathic physician;
 
(2) A medical intern;
 
(3) A medical examiner;
 
(4) A physician's assistant;
 
(5) A dentist;
 
(6) A chiropractor;
 
(7) A podiatrist;
 
(8) A registered or licensed practical nurse;
 
(9) A certified nursing assistant;
 
(10) A social worker;
 
(11) A psychologist;
 
(12) A pharmacist;
 
(13) A physical therapist;
 
(14) A speech therapist;
 
(15) An occupational therapist;
 
(16) A mental health professional;
 
(17) A law enforcement official;
 
(18) Emergency room personnel;
 
(19) An ambulance attendant;
 
(20) An emergency medical technician;
 
(21) Unlicensed assistive personnel;
 
(22) A humane agent employed by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources; or
 
(23) A clergy member acquiring the information as a result of clerical professional work except for information received during confidential communications; and
 
(24) An animal control officer as defined in Title 7, section 3907, subsection 4;
Sec. 2. 22 MRSA §3477, sub-§1, ¶B,  as repealed and replaced by PL 2003, c. 653, §9, is amended to read:
 
B.  Any person who has assumed full, intermittent or occasional responsibility for the care or custody of the incapacitated or dependent adult, regardless of whether the person receives compensation; orand
Sec. 3. 22 MRSA §4011-A, sub-§1, ¶A,  as repealed and replaced by PL 2003, c. 599, §8 and as affected by §§9 and 14, is amended to read:
 
A.  When acting in a professional capacity:
 
(1) An allopathic or osteopathic physician, resident or intern;
 
(2) An emergency medical services person;
 
(3) A medical examiner;
 
(4) A physician's assistant;
 
(5) A dentist;
 
(6) A dental hygienist;
 
(7) A dental assistant;
 
(8) A chiropractor;
 
(9) A podiatrist;
 
(10) A registered or licensed practical nurse;
 
(11) A teacher;
 
(12) A guidance counselor;
 
(13) A school official;
 
(14) A children's summer camp administrator or counselor;
 
(15) A social worker;
 
(16) A court-appointed special advocate or guardian ad litem for the child;
 
(17) A homemaker;
 
(18) A home health aide;
 
(19) A medical or social service worker;
 
(20) A psychologist;
 
(21) Child care personnel;
 
(22) A mental health professional;
 
(23) A law enforcement official;
 
(24) A state or municipal fire inspector;
 
(25) A municipal code enforcement official;
 
(26) A commercial film and photographic print processor;
 
(27) A clergy member acquiring the information as a result of clerical professional work except for information received during confidential communications;
 
(28) A chair of a professional licensing board that has jurisdiction over mandated reporters; and
 
(29) A humane agent employed by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Resources; and
 
(30) An animal control officer as defined in Title 7, section 3907, subsection 4;
 
SUMMARY
This bill adds animal control officers to the list of professionals who are mandated to report suspected cases of abuse of children and incapacitated or dependent adults.