PLEASE NOTE: Legislative Information cannot perform research, provide legal advice, or interpret Maine law. For legal assistance, please contact a qualified attorney.
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the summary and inserting the following:
‘Sec. 1. 17-A MRSA §512, sub-§1,  as enacted by PL 1975, c. 499, §1, is amended to read:
 
1.    A person is guilty of failure to report treatment of a gunshot wound if, being a licensed physicianhealth care practitioner or emergency medical services person, hethat person treats a human being for a wound apparently caused by the discharge of a firearm and knowingly fails to report the same to a law enforcement officer within 24 hoursagency immediately by the quickest means of communication.
Sec. 2. 17-A MRSA §512, sub-§3  is enacted to read:
 
3.    As used in this section, "health care practitioner" has the same meaning as in Title 24, section 2502, subsection 1-A, and "emergency medical services person" has the same meaning as in Title 32, section 83, subsection 12.’
 
SUMMARY
This amendment replaces the bill and amends the existing requirement that treatment of a gunshot wound be reported. The amendment specifies that a health care practitioner or emergency medical services person report the treatment of a wound apparently caused by the discharge of a firearm to a law enforcement agency immediately by the quickest means of communication. This amendment recognizes that not all gunshot wounds are treated in an emergency room by a physician. The amendment will better ensure that all gunshot wounds are reported and that they are reported in a timely manner.