Resolve, To Establish a Working Group To Study the Effectiveness and Timeliness of Early Identification and Intervention for Children with Hearing Loss in Maine
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 1239
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: FARRINGTON, TURNER, BARSTOW

Legislative Document 
No. 1239 
H.P.881 
House of Representatives, March 8,2007 
Resolve, To Establish a Working Group To Study the Effectiveness 
and Timeliness of Early Identification and Intervention for Children 
with Hearing Loss in Maine 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative FARRINGTON of Gorham. 
Cosponsored by Senator TURNER of Cumberland and 
Representative: BARSTOW of Gorham. 
PrimeO on recyclet.l paper 
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MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, this resolve establishes a working group to study the effectiveness and 
timeliness of early identification and intervention for children with hearing loss; and 
Whereas, this resolve requires that the working group submit a report and 
recommended legislation by December 7, 2007, and the work needs to begin as soon as 
possible; 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 
'Iegislative 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. Working group established. Resolved: That the Working Group To 
. Study the Effectiveness and Timeliness of Early Identification and Intervention for 
Children with Hearing Loss in Maine, referred to in this resolve as "the working group," 
is established; and be it further 
Sec. 2. Working group membership. Resolved: 
That the working group 
consists of 18 members appointed as follows: 
1. The following members appointed by the President of the Senate: 
A. Two members of the Senate. When making the appointments, the President of 
the Senate shall give preference to members from the Joint Standing Committee on 
Education and Cultural Affairs and to members from the Joint Standing Committee 
on Health and Human Services; 
B. One member from the Maine Newborn Hearing Program within the Department 
of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Health or Department of Health and 
Human Services; 
C. One member from the Maine chapter of the American Academy of Pediatricians; 
D. One member from the Maine Society of Otolaryngologists; 
E. One member from a parent organization whose mission is to serve children and 
families with hearing loss; 
F. One member from the Maine Academy of Audiology; and 
G. 
One member from the Maine Administrators of Services for Children with 
Disabilities; 
2. The following members appointed by the Speaker of the House: 
Page I - 123LRJ932(Ol)-1 
A. Two members of the House of Representatives. When making the appointments, 
the Speaker of the House shall give preference to members from the Joint Standing 
Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs and to members from the Joint 
Standing Committee on Health and Human Services; 
B. One member from an auditory oral training program for deaf education; 
C. One member from a manual training program for deaf education; 
D. One member who is a parent of a child with hearing loss identified at birth and 
whose child uses an auditory oral approach for communication; 
E. One member who is a parent of a child with hearing loss identified at birth and 
whose child uses manual communication; 
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F. One adult \Vho is deaf or hard-of-hearing who uses an auditory oral approach for 
communication; and 
G. One adult who is deaf or hard-of-hearing who uses manual communication; 
3. The Director of the Maine Education Center for the Deaf and Hard-of-hearing or 
the director's designee; and 
4. The Executive Director of hear ME now! or the director's designee; and be it 
further 
Sec. 3. 
Chairs. Resolved: That the first-named Senate member is the Senate 
chair of the working group and the first-named House of Representatives member is the 
House chair of the working group; and be it further 
Sec. 4. Appointments. 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. Within 15 days after appointment of all members, the chairs shall call and 
convene the first meeting of the working group, which must be no later than 30 days after 
the appointment of all members is complete; and be it further 
Sec. 5. 
Duties. Resolved: That the working group shall examine issues of 
access to timely and accurate diagnosis of hearing loss by 3 months of age, and review 
and assess the processes by which families are informed of their options for 
communication and for finding providers in the State. 
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In examining these issues, the working group shall specifically examine: 
1. The definition of a "highly qualified provider" in various professions serving this 
population; 
2. The operation and effectiveness of existing programs and resources for families 
who have children who have been identified as having hearing loss; 
3. Opportunities for coordination to maximize the effects of available resources; 
4. The need for state or private programs to supplement state programs or to enable 
existing programs to serve a greater portion ofthose eligible; 
5. 
Techniques to use resources in new ways or new combinations that have the 
potential for easing the burden on current providers and enhancing the training of current 
and new providers to enable equal access to highly qualified providers to all children 
statewide; 
6. The effects of limited resources for diagnostic testing and poor reimbursement 
rates; and 
7. Programs and techniques that are employed in other states or countries; and be it 
further 
Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: That the Legislative Council shall provide 
necessary staffing services to the working group; and be it further 
Sec. 7. Compensation. Resolved: That the legislative members of the working 
group are entitled to receive the 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 authorized meetings of the working group. Public members 
not otherwise compensated by their employers or other entities that they represent are 
entitled to receive reimbursement of necessary expenses and, upon a demonstration of 
financial hardship, a per diem equal to the legislative per diem for their attendance at 
authorized meetings of the working group; and be it further 
Sec. 8. Report. Resolved: That, no later than December 7, 2007, the working 
group shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including 
suggested legislation, to the Second Regular Session of the 123rd Legislature. 
The 
working group is not authorized to introduce legislation; and be it further 
Sec. 9. Extension. Resolved: That, if the working group requires a limited 
extension of time to 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. Working group budget. Resolved: That the working group shall seek 
outside funds to fully fund all costs of the working group. If sufficient outside funding 
has not been received by the working group by September 15, 2007 to fully fund all costs 
of the working group, no meetings are authorized and no expenses of any kind may be 
incurred or reimbursed. Contributions to support the work of the working group may not 
be accepted from any party having a pecuniary or other vested interest in the outcome of 
the matters being studied. Any person, other than a state agency, desiring to make a 
financial or in-kind contribution must certifY to the Legislative Council that it has no 
pecuniary or other vested interest in the outcome of the study. The certification must be 
made in the manner prescribed by the Legislative Council. All contributions are subject 
to approval by the Legislative Council. All funds accepted must be forwarded to the 
Executive Director of the Legislative Counc.:il along with an accounting record that 
includes the amount of the funds, the date the funds were received, from whom the funds 
were received and the purpose of and any limitation on the use of the funds. 
The 
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Executive Director of the Legislative Council shall administer any funds received by the 
working group. The executive director shall notify the chairs of the working group when 
sufficient funding has been received. Within 10 days after its first meeting, the working 
group shall present a work plan and proposed budget to the Legislative Council for its 
approval. The working group may not incur expenses that would result in the working 
group's exceeding its approved budget. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited In the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This resolve establishes the Working Group To Study the Effectiveness and 
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Timeliness of Early Identification and Intervention for Children with Hearing Loss in 
Maine. 
The working group shall submit a report that includes its findings and 
recommendations, including suggest legislation, to the Second Regular Session of the 
123rd Legislature . 
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