An Act to Amend the
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 0592
Committee Amendment CA_A_S385 (Senate)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A '' to S,P, 276, L.D. 592, "An Act to Amend the 
Laws Governing the Crime of Endangering the Welfare of a Child" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, to Study Laws Regarding Endangering the Welfare of a Child' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and inse11ing the following: 
'Sec. 1. Office of Child and Family Services to convene working group. 
Resolved: That the Depat1ment of Health and Human Services, Office of Child and 
Family Se1vices, established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 5308 and 
referred to in this resolve as "the office," shall convene a working group with broad 
representation to study the laws regarding endangering the welfare of a child. 
Sec. 2, Membership. Resolved: That the working group under section 1 consists 
of, at a minimum, the following members: 
I. The director of the office or the dit'ector's designee; 
2. The Commissioner of Public Safety or the commissioner's designee; 
3, The chair of the Criminal Law Advisory Commission or the chair's designee; 
4. The Victim Se1vices Coordinator of the Office of Victim Services within the 
Department of Conections or the coordinator's designee; 
5, A representative of a statewide organization advocating on behalf of children; 
6. A representative of a statewide organization with expertise in the child welfare 
system advocating on behalf of children; 
7. A representative of a statewide organization representing domestic violence victims; 
8. A representative of a statewide association representing prosecutors; 
9. A representative of a statewide association representing criminal defense attomeys; 
10. A representative of a statewide organization advocating for civil libe11ies; 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
ROS 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to S.P. 276, L.D. 592 l,_)· 3f5SJ 
11. A representative of a statewide association representing law enforcement officers; 
and 
12. A representative of a statewide organization representing individuals with 
substance use disorder. 
Sec. 3. Working group duties. Resolved: That the working group under section 1 
shall, at a minimum, study the following issues: 
' 
l. Current developments in state law as they relate to endangering the welfare of a 
child, including, but not limited to, the cl'imes of assault, manslaughter and endangering 
the welfare of a child, and whether those current state laws are sufficiently protective; 
2. Whether establishing a Class C or higher crime for endangering the welfare of a 
child when it results in serious bodily inju1y would deter actions that endanger the welfare 
of a child; 
3. Whether establishing a Class C or higher crime for endangering the welfare of a 
child when it results in sedous bodily injury would deter parents from seeking medical 
assistance for their child; and 
4. How other states' criminal statutes establish crimes for endangering the welfare of 
a child and the efficacy of those laws. 
Sec, 4. Report. Resolved: That, by January 1, 2026, the office shall submit a repmt 
that includes the findings and recommendations of the working group under section 1, 
including suggested legislation, for presentation to the Joint Standing Committee on 
Criminal Justice and Public Safety. The committee may submit legislation based on the 
report to the Second Regular Session of the 132nd Legislature. 
Sec. 5. 
Appropriations and allocations. Resolved: That the following 
appropriations and allocations are made. 
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF 
Office of Child and Family Services - Centrnl 0307 
Initiative: Provides one-time funding for contracted services to facilitate a working group 
and prepare a report. 
GENERAL FUND 
2025-26 
2026-27 
All Other 
$22,139 
$0 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
$22,139 
$0 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
2025-26 
2026-27 
All Other 
$8,610 
$0 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL 
$8,610 
$0 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Pait letter or section 
number to read consecutively. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
ROS 
COMMl'JTEE AMENDMENT" A "to S.P. 276, L,D. S92 (.SJ.BS) 
SUMMARY 
This amendment, which is the majority rep01t of the committee, replaces the bill with 
a resolve. The amendment directs the Department of Health and Human Services, Office 
of Child and Family Services to convene a working gl'Oup to study the laws regarding 
endangering the welfare of a child. In conducting the study, the working grnup must study 
developments in state law regarding endangering the welfare of a child; whether 
establishing a felony-level crime for endangering the welfare of a child when it results in 
serious bodily injury will deter actions that endanger the welfare of a child or if it would 
deter parents from seeking medical assistance for their child; and how other states' criminal 
statutes establish crimes for endangering the welfare of a child. The office is required to 
submit a repott by January 1, 2026 to the Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice 
and Public Safety, which may submit legislation to the Second Regular Session of the 
132nd Legislatm·e. The amendment adds an appropriations and allocations section. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Revised: 06/11/25 LRL 
LD592 
LR 1475(02) 
An Act to Amend the Laws Governing the Crime of Endangering the Welfare of a Child 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "/f ( 5-j%J 
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety 
• 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
FY 2025-26 
$22,139 
FY 2026-27 
Projections 
FY 2027-28 
Projections 
FY2028-29 
Net Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
Appropriations/Allocations 
General Fund 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
$22,139 
$8,610 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
$0 
The bill includes a one-time General Fund appropriation to the Department of Health and Human Services of $22,139 
in fiscal year 2025-26 for contracted services to facilitate a working group and prepare a report. An Other Special 
Revenue Funds allocation is also included for matching funds, 
Any additional costs to the Departments of Corrections and Public Safety from serving on the working grnup are 
expected to be minor and can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR1475(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1