130th MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST REGULAR SESSION-2021
Legislative Document No. 762
H.P. 567 House of Representatives, March 5, 2021
An Act To Clarify the Response to Truancy under the Child and
Family Services and Child Protection Act
Submitted by the Department of Health and Human Services pursuant to Joint Rule 204.
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative MEYER of Eliot.
Printed on recycled paper
 1 Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
2 Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §4002, sub-§1, as amended by PL 2015, c. 360, §2, is further
3 amended to read:
4 1. Abuse or neglect. "Abuse or neglect" means a threat to a child's health or welfare
5 by physical, mental or emotional injury or impairment, sexual abuse or exploitation
6 including under Title 17-A, sections 282, 852, 853 and 855, deprivation of essential needs
7 or lack of protection from these or failure to ensure compliance with school attendance
8 requirements under Title 20‑A, section 3272, subsection 2, paragraph B or section 5051-A,
9 subsection 1, paragraph C truancy under Title 20-A, section 3272, subsection 2, paragraph
10 C or section 5051-A, subsection 1, paragraph C or D, by a person responsible for the child.
11 Sec. 2. 22 MRSA §4002, sub-§6, ¶B, as amended by PL 2007, c. 304, §11, is
12 further amended to read:
13 B. Deprivation of adequate food, clothing, shelter, supervision or care or education
14 when the child is at least 7 years of age and has not completed grade 6;
15 Sec. 3. 22 MRSA §4002, sub-§6, ¶B-2 is enacted to read:
16 B-2. Truancy under Title 20-A, section 3272, subsection 2, paragraph C or section
17 5051-A, subsection 1, paragraph C or D;
18 SUMMARY
19 This bill amends definitions in the Child and Family Services and Child Protection Act
20 to update cross-references and to ensure the Department of Health and Human Services has
21 the authority to intervene in situations involving truancy under the Maine Revised Statutes,
22 Title 20-A.
Page 1 - 130LR0068(01)


Statutes affected:
Bill Text LD 762, HP 567: 22.4002