An Act To Allow the Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf To Lease Classroom Space to Independent Schools (AFTER DEADLINE)
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 1979
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: CUMMINGS, MITCHELL, BRAUTIGAM, CAIN, DAVIS, HARLOW, NORTON, TURNER
Amends: 20-A MRSA §7407

Legislative Document 
No. 1979 
H.P. 1386 
House of Representatives, January 26, 2006 
An Act To Allow the Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and 
Hard of Hearing and the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf To 
Lease Classroom Space to Independent Schools 
(AFTER DEADLINE) 
(EMERGENCY) 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
205. 
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed. 
Presented by Representative CUMMINGS of POItland. 
Cosponsored by Senator MITCHELL of Kennebec and 
7J1~ 
/J7. 7l!tl£~{ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: BRAUTIGAM of Falmouth, CAIN of Orono, DAVIS of Falmouth, 
HARLOW of Portland, NORTON of Bangor, Senator: TURNER of Cumberland. 
Prmted on n!cydeJ paper 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts of the Legislature do not become effective 
until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, this legislation will allow the Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and 
Hard of Hearing and the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf to enter into agreements to 
lease space at those schools to elementary schools; and 
Whereas, this legislation needs to take effect in time to allow those elementary 
schools to plan for the 2006-2007 school year; 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 enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §7407, sub-§6, as amended by PL 1999, c. 775, § II, IS 
further amended to read: 
6. 
Collection of fees. The school board may charge service, lease and rental fees 
for use of facilities of the school. Any funds received for service, lease and rental fees 
must be retained by the school. 
Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §7407, sub-§12-A is enacted to read: 
12-A. 
Lease of school property. 
The school board mav enter into lease 
agreements with independent accredited elementary schools to allow those independent 
accredited elementarv schools to use school property, including the use of the school 
facilities on Mackworth Island. Any funds received pursuant to this subsection must be 
used by the school board to benefit statewide educational services. 
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes 
effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This bill specifically provides authority to the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf 
and the Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing to lease facilities of 
the school to independent accredited elementary schools. Funds from this type of lease 
must be used to benefit the consultation services provided to families of children from 
birth to 5 years of age who are deaf or hard-of-hearing students, consulting services to 
school administrative units that serve school-age deaf or hard-of-hearing children and 
services provided through the parent-infant-toddler program, the preschool program and 
the communication garden program provided at the center school. 
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