An Act To Support Workforce Development For Families That Were Involved In Child Protective Activities By Requiring The Sealing Of Certain Records

LD 1922 requires Maine's Department of Health and Human Services to seal certain child protective records after specific time periods, directly affecting families involved in unsubstantiated, indicated, or substantiated reports of child abuse or neglect. Unsubstantiated or indicated reports are sealed immediately, while substantiated reports are sealed after 3 years (if child wasn't removed) or 3-5 years (if child was removed), unless a subsequent report occurs. Records involving child fatalities, sexual abuse, sex trafficking, or serious physical injury cannot be sealed under this law. Sealing makes records inaccessible to the public but retains them internally for legal compliance and future investigations.