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An Act To Ensure the Comprehensive Medical, Dental, Educational and Behavioral Assessment of Children Entering State Custody
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 22 MRSA §4063-A, as enacted by PL 1991, c. 194, is amended to read:
§ 4063-A.Medical examination; comprehensive assessment
 
1. Physical examination required.   The department shall ensure that a child ordered into its custody receives an appointment for a medical examination by a licensed physician or nurse practitioner within 103 working days after the department's custody of the child commences.
 
2.  Psychological assessment.     If the physician or nurse practitioner who performs a physical examination pursuant to subsection 1 determines that a psychological assessment of the child is appropriate, the department shall ensure that an appointment is obtained for such an assessment within 30 days of the physical examination.
 
3.  Medical, dental, behavioral and educational assessment.     The department shall obtain relevant records and ensure that a child ordered into its custody is referred for a comprehensive medical, dental, behavioral and educational assessment meeting the standards of a national academy of pediatrics within 30 days after the department's custody of the child commences.
 
SUMMARY
Current law regarding the physical examination and psychological assessment of children entering state custody requires the physical examination of a child within 10 working days after the child enters into the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services and a psychological assessment within 30 days of the examination if an assessment is determined appropriate by the doctor or nurse practitioner performing the physical examination. This bill shortens the time requirement for the physical examination to 3 working days and replaces the language regarding the psychological examination with language requiring a comprehensive medical, dental, behavioral and educational assessment meeting the standards of a national academy of pediatrics within 30 days after the department's custody of the child commences.