AUGUSTA – The Maine House has voted to sustain a veto of a bill designed to provide faster medical evaluations for children who are entering state custody.

Supporters of the bill say the House’s Wednesday vote effectively kills the bill. The Senate voted on Tuesday to overturn Gov. Paul LePage’s veto.

Backers of the bill would say it would have required the state to conduct comprehensive medical evaluations of new wards of the state within three days of the children entering into the state’s custody. Current laws say an evaluation must take place within 10 days.

A spokesman for LePage did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the votes. The Republican governor has said the bill will “insult” state staff by implying they’re not acting as fast as possible.


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