An Act To Support Improvements in Child Protective Services
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 1853
Committee Amendment CA_A_S458 (Senate)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A "to S.P. 605, L.D. 1853, "An Act To Support 
Improvements in Child Protective Services" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, To Increase Oversight of the Child Welfare System' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and inserting the following: 
'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 duty to protect children from abuse and neglect is a fundamental priority 
of the Legislature; and 
Whereas, the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over 
health and human services matters must receive reports from citizen review panels and the 
Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child and Family Services as soon 
as possible in order to consider legislation affecting the duty to protect children from abuse 
and neglect; 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. Citizen panels quarterly reports. Resolved: That the child welfare 
advisory panel, referred to in this section as "the advisory panel," established pursuant to 
the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 4010-D and the child death and serious injury 
review panel, referred to in this section as "the review panel," established in Title 22, 
section 4004, subsection 1, paragraph E, shall submit reports to the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters at 
least every 3 months beginning in June 2022 and until June 30, 2024. The advisory panel 
and the review panel may choose to submit combined reports or separate reports. Any 
5 
presentations of the reports to the committee must be presented by the citizen members of 
Page I - 130LR2278(02) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
.. R~5s 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" ~ "to S.P. 605, L.D. 1853 Cs-y_ ~ 
the panels to the extent possible. Each quarterly report must contain, at minimum, the 
following: 
I. A summary of generalized and anonymized observations in the prior 3-month period 
regarding efforts by the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child and 
Family Services to improve the child welfare system; 
2. A summary of the collaboration between the advisory panel and the review panel 
as well as the Justice for Children Task Force established in 2006 that reports to the 
Supreme Judicial Court; and 
3. Any recommendations on how to further protect the State's children through 
Department of Health and Human Services policy and rulemaking and through legislation. 
Sec. 2. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child and 
Family Services to provide quarterly reports. Resolved: That the Department of 
Health and Human Services, Office of Child and Family Services shall submit reports to 
the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human 
services matters at least every 3 months beginning in June 2022 and until June 30, 2024. 
The reports must address the progress in implementing the recommendations of the Casey 
Family Programs and Collaborative Safety report completed for the department in October 
2021, responses to recommendations from the child welfare advisory panel established 
pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 4010-D and progress in efforts 
described in the department's annual report on child welfare. The reports must address, at 
minimum, the following: 
1. 
Efforts to further coordinate and advance child welfare services in primary, 
secondary and tertiary prevention, as those prevention services are described by the Office 
of Child and Family Services; 
2. Efforts to expand the use and value of family team meetings; 
3. Efforts to expand the use of participation of people with lived experience in the 
development of policy regarding and operation of the child welfare system; 
4. A review of the department's policies and practices regarding domestic violence and 
the ability of the nonoffending parent to assume custody of the children; 
5. Efforts to work with the Guardian Ad Litem Review Board under the Board of 
Overseers of the Bar, the judicial branch and other interested parties to improve the training 
and support of guardians ad litem; and 
6. Any recommendations on how to further protect the State's children, through 
department policy and rulemaking and legislation. 
Sec. 3. Legislation authorized. Resolved: That the joint standing committee of 
the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters is authorized to 
report out related legislation to the next regular or special session of the Legislature after 
any quarterly report submitted pursuant to this resolve. 
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.' 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section 
number to read consecutively. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
ROS 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A "to S.P. 605, L.D. 1853 ( <_:y L\~ 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill, which is a concept draft. The amendment enacts 
reporting requirements as follows. 
1. The child welfare advisory panel and the child death and serious injury review panel 
are required to submit quarterly reports to the joint standing committee of the Legislature 
having jurisdiction over health and human services matters on the child welfare system and 
efforts to collaborate between the citizen review panels required by the federal Child Abuse 
Prevention and Treatment Act. 
2. The Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Child and Family 
Services is required to submit quarterly reports to the joint standing col111Ilittee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters regarding progress 
in implementing the recommendations of the Casey Family Programs and Collaborative 
Safety report completed for the department in October 2021, responses to 
recommendations from the child welfare advisory panel established pursuant to the Maine 
Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 4010-D and progress in efforts described in the 
department's annual report on child welfare. 
3. The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and 
human services matters is authorized to report out legislation pursuant to any of the reports 
at the next regular or special session of the Legislature. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 03/16/22 feae. 
LD 1853 
LR 2278(02) 
An Act To Support Improvements in Child Protective Services 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 'W(~-C\~ 
Committee: Health and Human Services 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Any additional costs to the Department of Health and Human Services from the provisions of this bill are expected to 
be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR2278(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1