An Act To Ensure Safe Entry and Access for People Seeking Health Care and Other Constitutional Rights
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 1899
Committee: Judiciary
Sponsors: McCREIGHT, DAUGHTRY, FECTEAU, HARNETT, MEYER, RECKITT, TALBOT ROSS, TEPLER, CARNEY, VITELLI
Amends: 5 MRSA §4684-B

Legislative Document
No. 1899
H.P. 1406
House of Representatives, January 5, 2022
An Act To Ensure Safe Entry and Access for People Seeking Health 
Care and Other Constitutional Rights
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203.
Reference to the Committee on Judiciary suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative McCREIGHT of Harpswell.
Cosponsored by Senator DAUGHTRY of Cumberland and
Representatives: Speaker FECTEAU of Biddeford, HARNETT of Gardiner, MEYER of Eliot, 
RECKITT of South Portland, TALBOT ROSS of Portland, TEPLER of Topsham, Senators: 
CARNEY of Cumberland, VITELLI of Sagadahoc.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  5 MRSA §4684-B, sub-§1, ¶B-1 is enacted to read:
B-1.  "Medical safety zone" means an area extending 8 feet from the entrance of a 
building in which patients receive health services.
Sec. 2.  5 MRSA §4684-B, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 417, §3, is amended 
to read:
2.  Violation Intentional violation.  It is a violation of this section subsection for any 
person, whether or not acting under color of law, to intentionally interfere or attempt to 
intentionally interfere with the exercise or enjoyment by any other person of rights secured 
by the United States Constitution or the laws of the United States or of rights secured by 
the Constitution of Maine or laws of the State by any of the following conduct:
A.  Engaging in the physical obstruction of a building;
B.  Making or causing repeated telephone calls to a person or a building, whether or 
not conversation ensues, with the intent to impede access to a person's or building's 
telephone lines or otherwise disrupt a person's or building's activities;
C.  Activating a device or exposing a substance that releases noxious and offensive 
odors within a building; or
D.  After During the posted hours of operating after having been ordered by a law 
enforcement officer to cease such noise, at any time after the order, intentionally 
making noise that can be heard within a building and with the further intent either:
(1)  To jeopardize the health of persons receiving health services within the 
building; or
(2)  To interfere with the safe and effective delivery of those services within the 
building.
Violation of this subsection is a Class E crime.
Sec. 3.  5 MRSA §4684-B, sub-§3 is enacted to read:
3.  Knowing violation.  It is a violation of this subsection for any person to knowingly 
enter into, remain in or create an obstruction in a medical safety zone during the posted 
hours of operation of the provider of a health service, with the following exceptions:
A.  A person entering or leaving the building;
B.  A person using the public sidewalk or street right-of-way adjacent to the building 
solely for the purpose of reaching a destination other than the building;
C.  A law enforcement officer, firefighter, emergency medical services provider, 
employee of a construction company or a utility or employee of a public works 
department or other municipal service acting in the course of employment; or
D.  An employee or agent of the health service or the operator of the building acting in 
the course of employment.
Violation of this subsection is a Class E crime.
Sec. 4.  5 MRSA §4684-B, sub-§4 is enacted to read:
4.  Demarcation.  At the request of the provider of a health service, a municipality 
shall mark the boundary of the medical safety zone for the building in which the provider 
of a health service operates by painting lines or placing temporary markers.  The 
municipality shall mark the boundary not later than the 30th day after the date the 
municipality receives a request under this subsection.  The provider of a health service shall 
post or cause to be posted at least one sign at the boundary of the medical safety zone that 
contains:
A.  The following notice written in a clear and conspicuous manner: "HEALTH CARE 
FACILITY – NO STANDING IN THIS ZONE"; and
B.  A reference to subsection 3.
SUMMARY
This bill defines the term "medical safety zone" and requires the demarcation of a 
medical safety zone around a building in which patients receive health services and 
prohibits a person from entering into, remaining in or creating an obstruction in that 
medical safety zone during the hours in which health services may be provided. The bill 
also makes violating that prohibition or intentionally interfering or attempting to interfere 
with the exercise of certain constitutional rights a Class E crime.