An Act to Support Sibling Rights in Child Welfare Custody Matters Fiscal Detail and Notes
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 1682
Committee Amendment CA_A_S500 (Senate)
Amends: 22 MRSA §4036, 22 MRSA §4068

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT .. A." to S. P. 627, L.D. 1682, Bill, "An 
Act To Support Sibling Rights in Child Welfare Custody Matters" 
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 §4036, sub-§I, 1fF-2 is enacted to read: 
F-2. 
Visitation between the child and a sibling pursuant to 
section 4068; 
Sec. 2. 22 MRSA §4068 is enacted to read: 
§4068. 
Sibling visitation 
1. 
Visitation. 
If 
the 
court 
determines 
that 
it is 
reasonable, practicable and in the best interests of the children 
involved, the court shall order the custodian of the child who is 
the subject of the child protection proceeding and any party who 
is the custodian of a sibling of the child to make the children 
available for visitation with each other. 
The court may order a 
schedule and conditions pursuant to which the visits are to occur. 
2. 
Siblings separated through adoption. 
The 
department 
shall 
make 
reasonable 
efforts 
to 
establish 
agreements 
with 
prospective adoptive parents that provide for reasonable contact 
between an adoptive child and the child's siblings when the 
department believes that the contact will be in the children's 
best interests. 
Page I-LR2392(2) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
.... fI~ 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT .. A 
.. to S.P. 627, L.D. 1682 
3. 
Regy.est of child. 
In a child protection proceeding, a 
child may request visitation rights pursuant to subsection 1 with 
a sibling from whom the child has been separated as a result of 
the child protection proceeding. ' 
SUMMARY 
This bill requires the court to order sibling visitation for 
children who are the subjects of child protection proceedings 
when it is reasonable, practicable and in the best interests of 
the children involved to do so. 
It also requires the Department 
of Health and Human Services to make reasonable efforts to obtain 
from 
prospective 
adoptive 
parents 
an 
agreement 
to 
maintain 
visitation with a child's siblings after the adoption of the 
child. 
It authorizes a child, in a child protection action, to 
request visitation rights with a sibling from whom the child has 
been separated as a result of the child protection action. 
FISCAL NOTE REQIDRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 02110/06 ;t;?ae 
LD 1682 
LR 2392(02) 
An Act to Support Sibling Rights in Child Welfare Custody Matters 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment fA" 
Committee: Judiciary 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Enactment of this legislation may add parties to certain court proceedings and add to the time the courts devote to 
child protective cases. This may cause delays in the processing of other cases before the court. 
Any additional costs to the Department of Health and Human Services can be absorbed by the department utilizing 
existing budgetary resources. 
LR2392(2) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1