An Act Concerning Animal Control Officers as Mandated Reporters of Abuse
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 0584
Committee: Judiciary
Sponsors: SIMPSON, HOBBINS, BRYANT
Amends: 22 MRSA §3477, 22 MRSA §4011-A

Legislative Document 
No. 584 
H.P.451 
House of Representatives, February 5, 2007 
An Act Concerning Animal Control Officers as Mandated Reporters 
of Abuse 
Reference to the Committee on Judiciary suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative SIMPSON of Auburn. 
Cosponsored by Senator HOBBINS of York and 
Representative: BRYANT of Windham. 
Printed on recycled paper 
1J1~ 
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MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §3477, sub-§l, ~A, as repealed and replaced by PL 2003, c. 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; 
II 
(7) A podiatrist; 
(8) A registered or licensed practical nurse; 
(9) A certified nursing assistant; 
(10) A social worker; 
(II) 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; ef' 
(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Sec. 2. 22 MRSA §3477, sub-§l, ~, as repealed and replaced by PL 2003, c. 
653, §9, is amended to read: 
Page I - 123LR0883(OI)-1 
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; eF and 
Sec. 3. 22 MRSA §4011-A, suh-§l, ~A, as repealed and replaced by PL 2003, c. 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 acqUIrmg 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; aHd 
(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.