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LD 592

An Act To Amend The Laws Governing The Crime Of Endangering The Welfare Of A Child

132nd Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Joe Baldacci and 1 co-sponsor

The bill creates Class C and Class B felonies for reckless violation of caregiver duties that seriously injure or kill a child, increasing penalties.

Died in Possession of the Senate when the Legislature adjourned Sine Die and was PLACED IN THE LEGISLATIVE FILES. (DEAD)
#aggravatedoffenses #crimes #endangeringwelfareofchild
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Bill Summary · LD 592

Summary — LD 592: An Act To Amend the Laws Governing the Crime of Endangering the Welfare of a Child

Bill number: LD 592
Sponsor: Sen. Baldacci (Penobscot)
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
Introduced: February 19, 2025
Latest procedural status: Finally passed (06/16/2025); carried over in the same posture to any special or regular session of the 132nd Legislature pursuant to Joint Order SP 800 (06/25/2025).
Committee amendment adopted: S‑385

Purpose / Intent

LD 592 revises Maine’s criminal statute on endangering the welfare of a child to create higher felony classifications where a caregiver’s reckless violation of a duty of care or protection results in serious harm or death to a child. The change is intended to increase criminal penalties for particularly harmful reckless conduct by those responsible for a child’s care.

Key provisions

  • Creates a Class C felony for endangering the health, safety, or welfare of a child when a person recklessly violates a duty of care or protection and that conduct results in serious bodily injury to the child.
  • Creates a Class B felony for endangering the health, safety, or welfare of a child when a person recklessly violates a duty of care or protection and that conduct results in the child’s death.
  • Directs work to be performed (via a contracted working group) and a report to be prepared — fiscal documents identify a one‑time administrative appropriation to support this.

(Changes are made by committee amendment S‑385 as adopted in committee and on the floor.)

Who is affected

  • Individuals with a legal duty to care for or protect children — e.g., parents, guardians, custodial caregivers, childcare providers, certain professionals — who engage in reckless conduct that harms a child.
  • The criminal justice system (courts, prosecutors, defenders), Department of Corrections, and Department of Health and Human Services (for participation in the working group/report).
  • State finances through potential fines, modest additional incarceration costs in cases resulting in felony convictions, and a one‑time appropriation to DHHS.

Fiscal and operational impact

  • FY 2025‑26: one‑time General Fund appropriation of $22,139 to DHHS for contracted services to facilitate a working group and prepare a report; an Other Special Revenue Funds allocation of $8,610 for matching funds is also shown.
  • The fiscal notes estimate a minor General Fund cost increase overall and minor increases in General Fund and other special revenue from additional fines. Any additional felony cases are expected to be minimal and absorbed within current court budgets.
  • The department fiscal note cites the current average annual cost to incarcerate one individual as $55,203 and notes uncertainty about how many additional felony convictions (if any) will result.

Procedural timeline highlights

  • Referred to Criminal Justice & Public Safety (02/19/2025).
  • Work session and divided committee report; Committee Amendment S‑385 adopted.
  • Passed by the Legislature as amended (House and Senate action culminating 06/16/2025).
  • Carried over in the same posture to any subsequent session under Joint Order SP 800 (06/25/2025).

Notes / uncertainties

  • Fiscal impacts depend on how many new prosecutions/convictions occur under the new felony classifications; the fiscal note characterizes these as likely minimal but uncertain.
  • The bill’s text as amended defines culpability as “reckless” violation of a duty of care leading to serious bodily injury or death; existing statutory context and sentencing ranges for Class B/C felonies will determine actual penalties imposed.

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

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