An Act To Amend Certain Definitions In The Child And Family Services And Child Protection Act

LD 1406 amends Maine's definitions of "abuse or neglect" and "jeopardy to health or welfare" in the Child and Family Services and Child Protection Act. It expands "abuse or neglect" to include serious harm from a caregiver's failure to provide essential needs (food, clothing, shelter, education, or medical care) when the caregiver is financially able to provide them or has been offered reasonable means to do so. The bill removes a prior requirement that the child must lack protection from specific threats for a case to qualify as abuse or neglect. These changes directly affect how child protective services identify and address neglect cases, particularly when caregivers refuse to provide basic necessities despite having the means to do so.