AUGUSTA – The horrifying death of 21-month-old Kassidy Bortner has brought to light what could be life-and-death differences between Maine and New Hampshire’s child abuse reporting laws.

Now some lawmakers, including one representing the Kittery area where the child was last seen alive in a baby sitter’s care, are calling for changes.

The Rochester, N.H., child died in November after repeatedly being subjected to physical abuse. Chad Evans, a boyfriend of Kassidy’s mother, is charged in the death.

Two of those who noticed a deterioration in the child’s condition leading up to the time of her death are Jennifer Conley and her boyfriend, F. Jeffrey Marshall, who baby-sat Kassidy regularly in their Kittery home.

But they never told authorities – and may well not have been required by law to do so.

State Rep. Stephen Estes, D-Kittery, said the case highlights a contrast between the reporting laws in Maine and its neighboring state.

In Maine, a specific list of professionals, including doctors, nurses and other medical practitioners, educators, camp counselors, police, clergy, social workers and others, are required to report signs of abuse to authorities.

Maine’s list includes “child care personnel,” but it does not appear to apply to baby sitters.

“Unless they’re clearly professional child care providers, the law is not clear as to whether informal baby sitters are covered,” said Maine Assistant Attorney General Deanna White.