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An Act To Increase the Number of Mandated Reporters of Abuse, Neglect or Exploitation
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 16 MRSA §53-A, sub-§2,  as enacted by PL 1983, c. 319, is amended to read:
 
2. Privileged communications.   Except with regard to reporting, cooperating in an investigation or giving evidence pursuant to Title 22, chapter 958-A or 1071, or except at the request, or with the consent of, the victim of sexual assault, noa sexual assault counselor may not be required to testify in any civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding at law or in equity about any information which hethat the sexual assault counselor may have acquired in providing sexual assault counseling services. A sexual assault counselor or a rape crisis center may not be required to disclose to the court any records, notes, memoranda or documents containing confidential communications. When a court in the exercise of sound discretion deemsdetermines the disclosure necessary to the proper administration of justice, no information communicated to, or otherwise learned by, that sexual assault counselor in connection with the provision of sexual assault counseling services may beis not privileged and disclosure may be required.
Sec. 2. 16 MRSA §53-B, sub-§3, ¶A,  as enacted by PL 1995, c. 128, §1, is amended to read:
 
A.  When disclosure is required under Title 22, chapter 958-A or 1071 and that disclosure is in accordance with the provisions of thateither chapter;
Sec. 3. 16 MRSA §53-C, sub-§3, ¶B,  as enacted by PL 1999, c. 369, §1, is amended to read:
 
B.  When disclosure is required under Title 22, chapter 958-A or 1071 and that disclosure is in accordance with thateither chapter;
Sec. 4. 22 MRSA §3477, sub-§1, ¶A,  as repealed and replaced by PL 2003, c. 653, §9, is amended to read: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;
 
(24) A sexual assault counselor; or
 
(25) A family or domestic violence victim advocate;
Sec. 5. 22 MRSA §4011-A, sub-§1, ¶A,  as repealed and replaced by PL 2003, c. 599, §8 and 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;
 
(30) A sexual assault counselor; and
 
(31) A family or domestic violence victim advocate;
 
SUMMARY
This bill adds sexual assault counselors and family or domestic violence victim advocates to the list of mandated reporters of suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation to both the child protective unit and the adult protective unit within the Department of Health and Human Services. This bill creates an exception for each new reporter in the statutes that would otherwise govern client confidentiality in order to permit this mandatory reporting.