Resolve, To Study the Needs of Deaf and Hard-of-hearing Children and Adolescents
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 0553
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: EDMONDS, SMITH, BRENN AN, HALL, HATCH, TREAT

Legislative Document 
No. 553 
S.P.193 
In Senate, February 6, 2003 
Resolve, To Study the Needs of Deaf and Hard-of-hearing Children 
and Adolescents 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Senator EDMONDS of Cumberland. 
Cosponsored by Representative SMITH of Van Buren and 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Senators: BRENN AN of Cumberland, HALL of Lincoln, HATCH of Somerset, TREAT of 
Kennebec. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Emergency preamble. 
Whereas, Acts 
and 
Legislature 
do 
not 
become 
effective 
until 
adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
resolves 
of 
days 
the 
after 
Whereas, this resolve establishes the Task Force to Study 
the Needs of Deaf and Hard-of-hearing Children and Adolescents; 
and 
Whereas, 
the study must 
be initiated before the 
90-day 
period expires in order that the study may be completed and a 
report submitted in time for submission to the next legislative 
session; and 
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts 
create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of 
Maine 
and 
require 
the 
following 
legislation 
as 
immediately 
necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and 
safety; now, therefore, be it 
Sec. 1. Task force established. Resolved: 
That the Task Force 
to Study the Needs of Deaf 
and Hard-of-hearing Children and 
Adolescents, referred to in this resolve as "the task force," is 
established; and be it further 
Sec. 2. Task force membership. Resolved: 
That the task force 
consists of 12 members appointed as follows: 
1. 
Two members of the Senate, appointed by the President of 
the Senate; 
2. 
Two members of the House of Representatives, appointed 
by the Speaker of the House; 
3. 
Five members appointed by the Governor as follows: 
A. 
A 
behavioral 
health 
service 
provider 
providing 
specialized services for deaf or hard-of-hearing youths; 
B. 
A behavioral health service provider not serving deaf or 
hard-of-hearing youths; 
C.A parent of a deaf or hard-of-hearing youth; 
D. 
A 
representative 
of 
a 
hospital 
with 
an 
inpatient 
psychiatric unit; and 
E. 
A representative of a public school district; 
4. 
The 
Commissioner 
commissioner's designee; 
of 
Human 
Page l-LR0987(1) 
Services, 
or 
the 
5. 
The Commissioner of Education, 
or the commissioner's 
designee; and 
6. 
The 
Commissioner 
of 
Behavioral 
and 
Developmental 
Services, or the commissioner's 
designee; and be it further 
Sec. 3. Chairs. Resolved: 
That the first-named Senate member 
is the Senate chair of the task force and the first-named House 
of Representatives member is the House chair of the task force; 
and be it further 
Sec. 4. Appointments; convening of task force. Resolved: 
That all 
appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the 
effective date of this resolve. 
The appointing authorities shall 
notify the Executive Director of the Legislative Council once all 
appointments 
have 
been 
completed. 
wi thin 
days 
after 
appointment of all members, the chairs shall call and convene the 
first meeting of the task force; and be it further 
Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: 
That the task force shall examine 
the behavioral, developmental, social, emotional and educational 
needs of deaf and hard-of-hearing children and adolescents who 
are 
not 
receiving 
adequate 
services 
because 
of 
a 
lack 
of 
appropr iate resources in the State. 
In examining these issues, 
the task force shall specifically examine: 
1. 
Services that are currently available to serve the needs 
of deaf 
and hard-of-hearing children and adolescents 
and the 
ability of 
those 
providers 
to 
provide 
culturally 
competent, 
linguistically accessible services; 
2. 
Demographic 
data 
of 
the 
numbers 
of 
deaf 
and 
hard-of-hearing 
children 
and 
adolescents 
in 
need 
of 
such 
specialized services and projections regarding the number of deaf 
and 
hard-of-hearing 
younger 
children 
who 
may 
require 
such 
services in the future; and 
3. 
Proposals designed to improve the delivery of services 
to 
meet 
the 
needs 
of 
deaf 
and hard-of-hearing children 
and 
adolescents, including, but not limited to, the development of 
in-state 
specialty 
services, 
collaborative 
agreements 
with 
bordering states 
and 
states 
with 
specialized facilities 
and 
training initiatives; and be it further 
Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: 
That, upon 
Legislative Council, 
the Office of Policy and 
shall provide necessary staffing services to the 
be it further 
approval of the 
Legal Analysis 
task force; and 
Sec. 7. Compensation. Resolved: 
That the legislative members 
of the task force are entitled to receive legislative per diem, 
as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 3, section 2, and 
reimbursement for travel and other necessary expenses related to 
their attendance at meetings of the task force. 
Public members 
not otherwise compensated by their employers or other entities 
that they represent are entitled to receive 
reimbursement of 
necessary expenses for their attendance at authorized meetings of 
the task force; and be it further 
Sec. 8. Report. Resolved: 
That the task force shall submit a 
report that includes its findings and recommendations, including 
suggested legislation, to the 2nd Regular Session of the 121st 
Legislature no later than December 10, 2003. 
The task force is 
not authorized to introduce legislation; and be it further 
Sec. 9. Extension. Resolved: 
That, if the task force requires 
a 
limited extension of time complete its study and make its 
report, it may apply to the Legislative Council, which may grant 
an extension; and be it further 
Sec. 10. Task force budget. Resolved: 
That the chairs of the 
task force, 
with assistance from the task force staff, shall 
administer the task force's budget. 
wi thin 10 days after its 
first meeting, 
the task force shall present 
a 
work plan and 
proposed budget to the Legislative Council for its approval. 
The 
task force may not incur expenses that \.ould result in the task 
force exceeding its approved budget. 
Upon request from the task force, the Executive Director of 
the Legislative Councilor the 
executive director's designee 
shall promptly provide the task force chairs and staff with a 
status report on the task force's budget, expenditures incurred 
and paid and available funds. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the 
preamble, this resolve takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve establishes the Task Force to Study the Needs 
of Deaf and Hard-of-hearing Children and Adolescents.