On a vote of 33-1, the Maine Senate has overturned Gov. Paul LePage’s veto of a bill that provides for prompt medical evaluations of Maine foster children.
The measure reduces the time the state has to conduct comprehensive medical evaluations of new state wards to three days from the current ten.
“It was passed unanimously by the committee,” says the bill’s sponsor, Democratic Sen. Geoff Gratwick from Bangor. “It went under the hammer both here in the Senate and in the House. It has really no fiscal note and its major benefit is going to come now, but also over the next 20 years as these kids are treated much more accurately and much sooner.”
Gratwick says that foster children don’t ask to become state wards and that they often come from difficult circumstances. He says it’s critical they receive the prompt medical attention guaranteed by the legislation.
The override must now be considered by the Maine House.
