An Act To Improve the Child Welfare Ombudsman Function
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 0219
Committee Amendment CA_A_S371 (Senate)
Amends: 22 MRSA §4087-A

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT A· to S.P. 72, L.D. 219, Bill, "An Act 
To Improve the Child Welfare Ombudsman Function" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting 
clause and before the summary and inserting in its place the 
following: 
. Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §4087-A, sub-§4, as amended by PL 2003, c. 
20, Pt. EEE, §1, is further amended to read: 
4. 
Services. 
The program shall provide services directly 
or under contract. 
The first priority in the work of the program 
and any contract for ombudsman services must be case-specific 
advocacy services. 
In performing services 
u~der this section, 
the program, as it determines to be appropriate, may create and 
maintain records and case-specific reports. 
Any work on systems 
improvements or 
lobbying must be adjunctive to case-specific 
activities. 
The program may: 
A. 
Provide information to the public about the services of 
the program through a comprehensive outreach program. 
The 
ombudsman 
shall provide 
information 
through 
a 
toll-free 
telephone number or numbers; 
B. 
Answer inquiries, investigate and work toward resolution 
of complaints regarding the performance and services of the 
department 
and participate in conferences, 
meetings 
and 
studies that may improve the performance of the department; 
Page l-I,E:0604 (2) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
~ 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT A. to S.P. 72, L.D. 219 
C. 
Provide services to persons to assist them in protecting 
their rights; 
D. 
Inform persons of the means of obtaining services from 
the department; 
E. 
Provide information and referral services; 
F. 
Analyze 
and 
provide 
opinions 
agencies, 
the 
Governor 
and 
the 
programs, rules, policies and laws; 
and 
recommendations 
to 
Legislature 
on 
state 
G. 
Determine what types of complaints and inquiries will be 
accepted for action by the program and adopt policies and 
procedures 
regarding 
communication 
with 
persons 
making 
inquiries or complaints and the department; 
H. 
Apply for and utilize grants, gifts and funds for the 
purpose of performing the duties of the program; and 
I. 
Collect and analyze records and data relevant to the 
duties and activities of the program and make reports as 
required by law or determined to be appropriate. 
Sec. 2. 22 MRSA §4087-A, sub-§6, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 
439, Pt. X, 
§S, is repealed and the following enacted in its 
place: 
6. 
Confidentiality of records. 
Information held by or 
records or 
cas~-specific reports maintained by the program are 
confidential,. Disclosure may be made as allowed or required in 
accordance with thE: provisions of section 4008 c' subsections 2 and 
3. 
Unlawful 
dissemination is subject to 
the provisions 
of 
section 4008. subsection 4.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill. 
It authorizes the child 
welfare ombudsman program to create records and case-specific 
reports. 
It 
designates 
all 
information, 
records 
and 
case-specific reports as confidential and subjects disclosure to 
the provisions of the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 
4008, subsections 2, 3 and 4. 
: COMMITTEE AMENDMENT