Resolve, To Create the Task Force on the Prevention of Sexual Abuse of Children
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 1705
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: MAKER, RAYE, BURNS, ESPLING, OLSEN, VOLK, ALFOND, DIAMOND, MASON, PLOWMAN

Legislative Document 
No. 1705 
H.P. 1257 
House of Representatives, December 23, 2011 
Resolve, To Create the Task Force on the Prevention of Sexual 
Abuse of Children 
(EMERGENCY) 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203. 
Received by the Clerk of the House on December 21, 2011.  Referred to the Committee on 
Health and Human Services pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint 
Rule 401. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative MAKER of Calais. 
Cosponsored by President RAYE of Washington and 
Representatives: BURNS of Whiting, ESPLING of New Gloucester, OLSEN of Phippsburg, 
VOLK of Scarborough, Senators: ALFOND of Cumberland, DIAMOND of Cumberland, 
MASON of Androscoggin, PLOWMAN of Penobscot. 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, the Task Force on the Prevention of Sexual Abuse of Children is 
established to create and adopt a policy addressing sexual abuse of children; and 
Whereas, the study must be initiated before the 90-day period expires in order that 
the study may be completed and a report submitted in time for submission to the next 
legislative session; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within 
the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as 
immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, 
therefore, be it 
Sec. 1.  Task force established.  Resolved:  That the Task Force on the 
Prevention of Sexual Abuse of Children, referred to in this resolve as "the task force," is 
established; and be it further 
Sec. 2.  Task force membership.  Resolved:  That the task force consists of 12 
members appointed as follows: 
1.  Two members of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate; 
2.  A representative of an organization representing law enforcement, appointed by 
the President of the Senate; 
3.  A representative of a statewide professional teachers organization, appointed by 
the President of the Senate; 
4.  Two members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the 
House; 
5.  A representative of an organization involved in the prevention of child abuse, 
appointed by the Speaker of the House; 
6.  A person who is a victim of sexual abuse, appointed by the Speaker of the House; 
7.  A representative of an organization representing school management, appointed 
by the Speaker of the House; 
8.  The Director of the Bureau of Child and Family Services within the Department of 
Health and Human Services, or the director's designee; 
9.  The Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee; and 
10.  The Director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention within the 
Department of Health and Human Services, or the director's designee; and be it further 
Sec. 3.  Compensation.  Resolved:  That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, 
members of the task force shall serve without compensation and may not be reimbursed 
for their expenses; and be it further 
Sec. 4.  Chairs.  Resolved:  That the first-named Senate member is the Senate 
chair and the first-named House of Representatives member is the House chair of the task 
force; and be it further 
Sec. 5.  Appointments; convening of task force.  Resolved:  That all 
appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this 
resolve.  The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative 
Council once all appointments have been completed.  After appointment of all members, 
the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the task force.  If 30 days or more 
after the effective date of this resolve a majority of but not all appointments have been 
made, the chairs may request authority and the Legislative Council may grant authority 
for the task force to meet and conduct its business; and be it further 
Sec. 6.  Duties.  Resolved:  That the task force shall make recommendations for 
preventing child sexual abuse.  In making those recommendations, the task force shall: 
1.  Gather information concerning child sexual abuse throughout the State; 
2.  Receive reports and testimony from individuals, state and local agencies, 
community-based organizations and other public and private organizations; 
3.  Create goals for state policy to prevent child sexual abuse; and 
4.  Adopt a policy addressing sexual abuse of children.  The policy adopted may 
include age-appropriate curricula for students in prekindergarten to grade 5; methods for 
increasing teacher, student and parent awareness of issues regarding sexual abuse of 
children, including warning signs indicating that a child may be a victim of sexual abuse; 
actions that a child who is a victim of sexual abuse may take to obtain assistance and 
intervention; and available counseling options for children affected by sexual abuse; and 
be it further 
Sec. 7.  Staff assistance.  Resolved:  That, notwithstanding Joint Rule 353, the 
Legislative Council shall provide necessary staffing services to the task force; and be it 
further 
Sec. 8.  Report.  Resolved:  That, no later than November 7, 2012, the task force 
shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested 
legislation, to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
health and human services matters.  That joint standing committee is authorized to 
introduce a bill to the First Regular Session of the 126th Legislature related to the subject 
matter of the report. 
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve establishes the Task Force on the Prevention of Sexual Abuse of 
Children, which is directed to research issues regarding child sexual abuse in Maine and 
to adopt policies to address those issues.  The policies may include age-appropriate 
curricula for schoolchildren from prekindergarten to grade 5 and methods to increase 
teacher, student and parent awareness of the issues regarding child sexual abuse.  The 
task force is also directed to submit a report to the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters, and the joint 
standing committee is authorized to submit legislation to the First Regular Session of the 
126th Legislature based on that report.