An Act To Amend the Polygraph Examiners Act
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1039
Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: HASKELL
Amends: 32 MRSA §7352, 32 MRSA §7365, 32 MRSA §7381, 32 MRSA §7382

Legislative Document 
No. 1039 
S.P. 365 
In Senate, March 24, 2015 
An Act To Amend the Polygraph Examiners Act 
Submitted by the Department of Public Safety pursuant to Joint Rule 204. 
Reference to the Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development 
suggested and ordered printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator HASKELL of Cumberland. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  32 MRSA §7352, sub-§§2-A and 5-A are enacted to read: 
2-A.  Criminal justice agency.  "Criminal justice agency" has the same meaning as 
in Title 16, section 803, subsection 4. 
5-A.  Polygraph examination.  "Polygraph examination" means an examination 
conducted by a polygraph examiner that consists of a pre-test phase, an in-test phase and 
a post-test phase. 
Sec. 2.  32 MRSA §7365, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2013, c. 316, §3 and affected 
by §5, is amended to read: 
1.  Disclosure prohibited.  A polygraph examiner, intern or employee of a polygraph 
examiner may not disclose information acquired from a polygraph examination, or 
records resulting from a polygraph examination, to another person other than: 
A.  The subject of the examination or the subject's attorney; 
B.  Any other person specifically designated in writing by the subject of the 
examination; 
C.  A member or agent of the department that licenses a polygraph examiner or law 
enforcement agency that supervises or controls a polygraph examiner's activities 
examiners; 
C-1.  A member or agent of a criminal justice agency that employs or contracts with 
the polygraph examiner. 
C-2.  A member or agent of a criminal justice agency, if the polygraph examiner 
conducts a polygraph examination in the course of a criminal investigation; 
D.  Another licensed polygraph examiner in private, professional consultation; or 
D-1.  A person employed by or working as an intern with the polygraph examiner; 
D-2.  The Maine Criminal Justice Academy and its board of trustees, if the subject of 
the polygraph examination is an applicant for admission to the academy or for law 
enforcement certification that is being considered by the academy or board; 
E.  The Department of Health and Human Services pursuant to section 7361, 
subsection 1, paragraph F.; or 
F.  As otherwise required or authorized by law. 
Sec. 3.  32 MRSA §7365, sub-§§2 and 4, as enacted by PL 2013, c. 316, §3 and 
affected by §5, are amended to read: 
2.  Further disclosure prohibited.  A polygraph examiner or other person to whom 
information acquired from a polygraph examination is disclosed under subsection 1 may 
not further disclose the information or records, except as otherwise required or authorized 
by law. 
4.  Records in custody of commissioner.  Records in the custody of the 
commissioner pursuant to this chapter are confidential if those records contain: 
A.  Personal medical information of an applicant or licensee under this chapter; or 
B.  Personally identifying information of a minor to whom a polygraph examination 
has been administered. 
Nothing in this chapter prohibits the use of statements or disclosures voluntarily made by 
the subject of a polygraph examination that are adverse to the subject's interests from 
being used against the subject in the course of a criminal investigation or prosecution, to 
the fullest extent permitted by law. 
Sec. 4.  32 MRSA §7381, sub-§1, ¶B, as enacted by PL 2013, c. 316, §3 and 
affected by §5, is repealed and the following enacted in its place: 
B.  Be accompanied by a nonrefundable fee in the amount of: 
(1)  For an initial polygraph examiner license, $100; 
(2)  For a renewal of a polygraph examiner license, $100; and 
(3)  For a polygraph examiner intern license, $50. 
Sec. 5.  32 MRSA §7381, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 2013, c. 316, §3 and affected 
by §5, is amended to read: 
2.  Term of initial and renewal polygraph examiner license.  A An initial 
polygraph examiner license is issued valid for a 2-year term period of 2 years and may be 
renewed.  Each renewal polygraph examiner license is valid for a period of 4 years. 
Sec. 6.  32 MRSA §7382, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 2013, c. 316, §3 and affected 
by §5, is amended to read: 
1.  Qualifications.  A person is qualified for a polygraph examiner license if the 
person: 
A.  Has not been convicted of a crime for which a license may be denied under Title 
5, chapter 341; 
B.  Either: 
(1)  Holds a baccalaureate degree from a an accredited college or university 
accredited by an organization recognized by the commissioner; or 
(2)  Has at least 5 years of active investigative experience with , including 3 years 
on a full-time basis, as a sworn member of an investigative service of the United 
States as a sworn member of a branch of the United States Armed Forces, a 
federal investigative agency or a law enforcement agency immediately preceding 
the date of application; 
C.  Is a graduate of a commissioner-approved polygraph examiner course and has 
satisfactorily completed at least 6 months of a polygraph examiner internship; and 
D.  Has passed an examination approved by the commissioner to determine the 
person's competency for a license knowledge relevant to being a licensed polygraph 
examiner in the State. 
SUMMARY 
The bill makes the following changes to the Polygraph Examiners Act: 
1.  It defines "polygraph examination;" 
2.  It specifically authorizes a polygraph examiner to disclose information acquired 
from a polygraph examination to a member of a criminal justice agency if the polygraph 
examination is conducted in the course of a criminal investigation; another licensed 
polygraph examiner in a professional consultation; an employee or intern working with 
the polygraph examiner; or as otherwise provided by law; 
3.  It provides that statements or disclosures voluntarily made by an examinee that are 
adverse to the examinee's interests may be used against the examinee in the course of a 
criminal investigation or prosecution, to the fullest extent permitted by law; 
4.  It establishes fees for initial and renewal polygraph examiner licenses, and for 
intern polygraph examiner licenses; 
5.  It extends the term of a renewal polygraph examiner license from 2 to 4 years; and 
6.  It more specifically outlines the qualifications a person must have in order to be 
eligible to obtain a polygraph examiner license.