An Act To Provide Parents of Children with Disabilities Access to Ombudsman Services
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 2027
Committee Amendment CA_A_H760 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" f-J " to H.P. 1411, L.D. 2027, Bill, "An Act To 
Provide Parents of Children with Disabilities Access to Ombudsman Services" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, To Examine the Information, Training and Support Services 
Provided to Parents of Children with Disabilities' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and before the summary and 
inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. Work group review of resources available to families of children 
with disabilities. Resolved: 
That the Maine Developmental Disabilities Council, 
established by the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, section 12004-1, subsection 66 and 
referred to in this resolve as "the council," shall convene a work group to examine the 
information, training and support services that are available to the families of children 
with disabilities regarding special education programs and special education services. 
The work group shall: 
1. Review existing information, training and support services available to families of 
children with disabilities, including the extent to which ombudsman services would be 
beneficial to the parents of children with disabilities; 
2. Identify gaps and other limitations in existing resources that limit the capacity to 
address families' needs for information, training and support services to effectively 
participate in programming for their children; 
3. Identify potential additional resources needed to address gaps and limitations in 
existing resources; 
4. Consider input gathered from the families of children with disabilities across the 
State; and 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" ~ "to H.P. 1411, L.D. 2027 
5. Develop recommendations for changes in current law, rules or policies; and be it 
further 
Sec. 2. Work group membership. Resolved: That the work group convened 
pursuant to section I consists of members appointed by the executive committee of the 
council to represent the following organizations: 
1. Maine Parent Federation, Inc.; 
2. Maine Administrators of Services for Children with Disabilities; 
3. Maine Education Association; 
4. Maine Principals' Association; 
5. Disability Rights Center; 
6. KIDS Legal, a statewide project of Pine Tree Legal Assistance; 
7. Maine Developmental Disabilities Council; 
8. Learning Disabilities Association of Maine; 
9. Autism Society of Maine; 
10. 
The Maine Transition Network that implements the transition servIce 
coordination as set forth in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 20-A, chapter 308; 
11. Maine Children's Alliance; 
12. Department of Education; and 
13. Other organizations as determined by the executive committee of the council; 
and be it further 
Sec. 3. Convening of work group; staffing assistance; funding. Resolved: 
That the council shall provide the necessary resources to organize and support the work 
of the work group convened pursuant to section 1, including convening and providing any 
necessary staffing services for the work group; and be it further 
Sec. 4. Report. Resolved: That the council shall submit a report that includes a 
summary of input gathered from families across the State regarding the information, 
training and support services available to them and the findings of the work group 
convened pursuant to section I, recommendations and any suggested legislation to the 
joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters no 
later than January 31, 2009. Upon receipt of the report required by this section, the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters shall 
review the findings and recommendations of the report and may introduce a bill during 
the session to which the report is submitted to implement its recommendations on matters 
relating to the study.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment strikes the bill and replaces it with a resolve that directs the Maine 
Developmental Disabilities Council to establish a work group to examine the information, 
training and support services that are currently available to the parents of children with 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" 
"to H.P. 1411, L.D. 2027 
I 
disabilities regarding special education programs and services, including the extent to 
which ombudsman services would be beneficial to the parents of children with 
disabilities. 
The Maine Developmental Disabilities Council shall convene the work 
group and provide all staffing assistance and funding necessary to carry out the duties of 
the work group. The Maine Developmental Disabilities Council shall submit a report no 
later than January 31, 2009 to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having 
jurisdiction over education matters, which may introduce a bill to the 124th Legislature 
on matters relating to the recommendations of the work group. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 03/07/08 MaC':-
LD 2027 
LR 3133(02) 
An Act To Provide Parents of Children with Disabilities Access to Ombudsman Services 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " ~ " 
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Additional costs to the Maine Development Disabilities Council, the Department of Education and the Department of 
Administrative and Financial Services associated with the workgroup participation and review can be absorbed withir 
existing budgeted resources. 
LR3133(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1