An Act To Amend the Laws Concerning Parental Rights in Child Abandonment Cases
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 17-A MRSA §553, sub-§4 is enacted to read:
4. It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution under this section that the person had voluntarily placed the child with a person, agency or medical facility and the placement resulted from communication between the person or the person's agent and the Department of Health and Human Services and health care professionals with the purpose of securing a placement that is in the best interests of the child.
Effective 90 days following adjournment of the 126th Legislature, First Regular Session, unless otherwise indicated.