The list of people required to report suspected abuse to the state Department of Human Services is getting longer.

Clergy were already required under Maine statute to report suspected child abuse or neglect.

But an update of Maine’s statute approved last month adds other religious leaders and workers to the list of those responsible. It also mandates that clergy report to DHS suspected abuse or neglect of adults.

The measure defines a church official as “any person affiliated with a church or religious institution who serves in an administrative capacity or otherwise assumes a position of trust or responsibility to the members of that church or religious institution while acting in that capacity regardless of whether the person receives compensation.”

Using that definition, bishops, deacons, Sunday school teachers, church and synagogue board members as well as employees such as secretaries, janitors and music directors would be required to report suspected child abuse directly to DHS officials.

The broadened definition was included in a bill, LD 309, the Legislature passed and the governor signed. It was designed to toughen a statute that requires health care providers, school officials, child care workers and others to report suspected child abuse or neglect to the DHS.

Rep. Thomas Bull, D-Freeport, sponsored the bill at the urging of a constituent. He described the bill as “fine-tuning and tweaking” existing law rather than creating a new statute.

The bill garnered no opposition, but Marc Mutty, lobbyist for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland, said in March that it was unnecessary from the church’s perspective.

“We already are mandated reporters” for suspected child abuse, he said. “I think it’s redundant and it changes absolutely nothing.”

The legislation will take effect 90 days after the current legislative session adjourns later this month.