An Act to Improve the Administration of the Baxter Compensation Program LR 1171(02) .
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 0768
Committee Amendment CA_A_S164 (Senate)
Amends: 5 MRSA §22002

COMMI TTEE AMENDMENT ,If" to S • P • 263 , 
Act To 
Improve the Administration of the 
Program" 
L.D. 768, Bill, "An 
Baxter Compensation 
Amend the bill by inserting before the enacting clause the 
following: 
'Emergency preamble. Whereas, Acts of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted 
as emergencies; and 
Whereas, the compensation panel of the Baxter Compensation 
Program has begun processing claims for compensation for persons 
abused while students at the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf 
or the Maine School for the Deaf; and 
Whereas, 
the current law could be 
release to the public of the details of 
claimant suffered; and 
read 
the 
to require the 
abuse that each 
Whereas, keeping the details of abuse confidential is seen 
as necessary for some survivors of the abuse to come forward and 
is 
important 
in 
continuing 
the 
healing 
process 
without 
jeopardizing the health and welfare of the deaf community; 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,' 
Page l-LRl171 (2) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT .. A 
.. to S.P. 263, L.D. 768 
Further amend the bill by striking out all of section 2 and 
inserting in its place the following: 
'Sec. 2. 5 MRSA §22002, sub-§8, as enacted by PL 2001, c. 439, 
Pt. T, §5, is amended to read: 
8. 
Use of trust fund. 
The authority may use up to 19% 
$407,000 of the trust fund for administrative expenses in each 
fiscal year, except that the total amount of the trust fund that 
may be used for administrative expenses for the duration of the 
program may not exceed $1,500,000.' 
Further amend the bill by inserting at the end before the 
summary the following: 
'Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the 
preamble, this Act takes effect when approved. ' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment revises the cap on administrative expenses 
for the Baxter Compensation Authority. 
Current law limits the 
administrative expenses to 15'10 of the trust fund each year; the 
bill deletes the 
cap altogether. 
This 
amendment 
limits the 
expenses to $407,000 per fiscal year, which is the total of the 
first-year costs estimated by the authority in its report of 
January 15, 2003, except that the authority is limited by an 
overall cap on administrative expenses. 
Over the course of the 
operation of the program, the maximum amount of the trust fund 
that can be used for administrative expenses is $1,500,000. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
• 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Revised: 04/15/03 ~ae 
Office of Fiscal and Program Review 
LD768 
An Act to Improve the Administration of the Baxter Compensation 
Program 
LR 1171(02) 
. 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ,4 s-/ to C( 
Committee: Judiciary 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
No net fiscal impact - Other Special Revenue Funds 
This bill changes the amount of funds to be used for administrative expenses from 15% of the trust fund to $407, 000 
in each fiscal year. The total amount for the duration of the program may not exceed $1,500,000. Expenses for 
administrative costs reduce the amount available for claims for compensation. 
LR1171(2) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1