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LD 983

An Act Regarding Service Of Notice Of Restricted Person Status To Hospitalized Patients

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Joe Baldacci and 4 co-sponsors

Standardizes serving notice of restricted-person status to hospitalized patients, ensuring the notice is legally effective and clarifying roles for hospitals, courts, and agencies.

Signed by Governor
#medicalrights #patientsrights #restrictedpersonstatus
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Bill Summary · LD 983

Summary — LD 983: An Act Regarding Service of Notice of Restricted Person Status to Hospitalized Patients

Status: Signed by Governor (May 23, 2025)
Introduced: March 11, 2025
Committee: Judiciary — Reported Out OTP‑AM; enacted as Amended by Committee Amendment “A” (S‑57)
Fiscal impact: No fiscal impact (preliminary and subsequent fiscal notes)

Purpose

LD 983 addresses how notice that an individual has been designated a “restricted person” is served when that individual is hospitalized. The bill’s intent is to ensure that hospitalized persons who become (or have been found to be) restricted persons receive legally effective notice of that status, and to clarify procedures and responsibilities for delivering that notice.

Note: The enrolled bill text was not provided with the materials supplied here. The summary below describes the bill’s purpose and likely substantive areas based on the bill title, committee actions, and fiscal notes. For precise statutory language, consult the enrolled bill or the Secretary of State’s legislative web pages.

Key provisions (by subject area)

  • Service of notice: Establishes or clarifies procedures for serving notice of restricted person status to patients who are hospitalized (for example, specifying where and how notice may be delivered in a hospital setting).
  • Methods and timing: Likely defines acceptable methods of service (personal delivery to the patient, service on hospital legal representatives, electronic or posted notice, or service on an identified designee) and sets timing requirements for when notice is considered effective.
  • Responsibilities: Likely assigns responsibility for initiating or effectuating notice (e.g., court clerks, law enforcement, hospital staff, or the individual/entity that requested the restricted‑person determination).
  • Recordkeeping and verification: May require documentation that notice was attempted and the method used, and may address substitution of service where direct delivery to the patient is not possible.
  • Exceptions and accommodations: May include exceptions for certain clinical circumstances (e.g., when delivery would endanger the patient or staff, or when the patient lacks capacity), and procedures for later re‑service once appropriate.

Who is affected

  • Hospitalized patients who are designated as restricted persons under Maine law.
  • Hospitals and their staff (nursing, security, medical records, or legal departments) to the extent the bill involves hospital cooperation or recordkeeping.
  • Courts, clerks, and law enforcement agencies responsible for issuing or serving notice.
  • Attorneys, patient representatives, and family members when notice procedures involve designees.

Fiscal impact

Multiple fiscal notes (preliminary and for amended versions) indicate no fiscal impact to state or local government.

Legislative history and timeline

  • Referred to Judiciary: March 11, 2025
  • Voted OTP‑AM and Work Session held: April 2, 2025
  • Committee Amendment “A” (S‑57) adopted: May 13, 2025
  • Passed to be enacted (concurrence and final passage): May 20–21, 2025
  • Signed by Governor: May 23, 2025

Next steps / Where to find the enacted text

For the exact statutory changes and operative language (including definitions, precise service methods, and any exceptions), consult the enrolled bill text on the Maine Legislature website or the Office of the Secretary of State’s statutes following enactment.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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