Sen. Phil Bartlett, D-Gorham, has been asked to submit legislation that would prevent the identification of juveniles in circumstances where their names can currently be used.

The request comes from the family of Lyndsey McLaughlin, a 16-year-old girl who recently pleaded not criminally responsible by reason of insanity to an incident where she stabbed her friend, Barbara Kring, in the neck and throat in Scarborough.

McLaughlin’s family has asked that Bartlett submit legislation to protect the names of minors caught up in similar incidents in the future. The Current used the name of the juvenile in its reports of the incident.

Bartlett plans on submitting the legislation during the Legislature’s next session since the current session is reserved for emergency bills. Bartlett said when he begins crafting the bill he would refer to what other states do to protect the identities of juveniles.

Bartlett said he was sympathetic to concerns about the identities of minors being revealed. He said the naming of juveniles in such circumstances might cause them further harm especially considering that they cannot counter statements made because they are facing pending criminal charges.

“I think there are some legitimate concerns that have been raised,” he said. “Ideally, you want to provide the best protection you can for young people.”

Meanwhile, Bartlett’s bill requiring training for police and prosecutors in dealing with people with autism received positive comment during a public hearing last month. He hopes it will positive committee recommendation on Friday.

The bill is in response to a request by the Barbara Kring and her mother Denise who felt if emergency personnel had the proper training then they would have been better equipped to understand Barbara Kring’s actions at the scene. Barbara Kring has Asperger Syndrome, a form of autism.

Bartlett said everyone who testified during a committee hearing last month was in support of the bill and the only question raised was the program’s cost and the scope of the additional training.

Bartlett is planning on investigating possible changes in the juvenile code that now allows juvenile offenders who plea to crimes using insanity defense to receive no punishment.

After Judge Peter Goranites accepted McLaughlin’s plea last month she was no longer required to receive any court ordered therapy and received no punishment. At the conclusion of the hearing, Goranites noted that he wished the law would allow him to place some follow-up conditions.

Bartlett said he plans on conducting some research on the subject this summer for possible submittal next session.