Senate overturns veto of bill that provides prompt medical care for foster children

AUGUSTA — With a 33-1 vote, the Maine Senate on Tuesday overturned Gov. Paul LePage’s veto of LD 213, a bill that provides for prompt medical evaluations for children entering state custody.

The bill had previously won the unanimous support of the Health and Human Services Committee, the House of Representatives and the Maine Senate.

“I want to thank my colleagues for recognizing that, notwithstanding the governor’s objections, this is a good bill for children, many of whom are entering state custody in tragic conditions,” said Sen. Geoff Gratwick, D-Bangor, who sponsored the bill. “These kids aren’t asking to become state wards. They often come from difficult circumstance — physical abuse, neglect, violence, drug dependence. It is critical they receive prompt medical attention, and this bill guarantees it.”

LD 213 will require the state to conduct comprehensive medical evaluations of new state wards within three days of the child entering state custody, as recommended by federal guidelines.

Current law requires an evaluation within 10 days, but many medical groups, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, say that is too long to wait. In testimony provided by the Maine Chapter of the AAP, Dr. Stephen Meister wrote that foster children “have 3 to 7 times more chronic medical conditions, birth defects and academic failure than non-fostered children from similar socioeconomic status.”

The bill now goes to the House of Representatives for a veto override vote.

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