An Act To Establish the Hearing Assistance Program for Low-income Persons Who Are Elderly or Disabled
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 1055
Committee Amendment CA_A_H501 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to H.P. 773, L.D. 1055, Bill, "An Act To 
Establish the Hearing Assistance Program for Low-income Persons Who Are Elderly or 
Disabled" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'Resolve, To Establish a Working Group To Study the Prevalence and Cost 
of Hearing Loss and the Use of Hearing Aids and Other Devices in Maine's 
Elderly Population' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and before the summary and 
inserting the following: 
'Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, a growing number of elderly individuals who have a significant hearing 
loss are unable to afford hearing aids; and 
Whereas, current programs provide inadequate assistance to prevent a growing 
number of elderly individuals from suffering significant hearing loss without remedy; 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 Prevalence and Cost of Hearing Loss and the Use of Hearing Aids and Other 
Devices in Maine's Elderly Population, 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 the director of the Division of Deafness within the Department of Labor, 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
I' 
~ 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A "to H.P. 773, L.D. 1055 
Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, who shall be the chair of the working group; the 
director of the Office of Elder Services within the Department of Health and Human 
Services or the director's designee; and the following 7 members appointed by the 
Governor: 
1. One member from the Maine Academy of Audiology; 
2. One member from the Area Agencies on Aging; 
3. One adult consumer with a hearing loss who uses a hearing aid; 
4. 
A representative from the Department of Labor, Bureau of Rehabilitation 
Services, Division of Deafness Advisory Council's ad hoc committee on the late-deafened 
and hard-of-hearing; 
5. One adult consumer with a hearing loss, representing the deaf community; 
6. One member from a consumer services agency that serves the mental health needs 
of elderly citizens; and 
7. One member from the Maine Center on Deafness; and be it further 
Sec. 3. Appointments. Resolved: That all appointments must be made no later 
than 30 days following the effective date of this resolve. 
Within 15 days after 
appointment of all members, the chair 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. 4. Duties. Resolved: That the working group shall study the prevalence and 
cost of hearing loss in Maine's elderly population. 
In examining these issues, the working group shall specifically examine: 
1. The number of elderly individuals who have a hearing loss significant enough to 
affect their daily functioning, community participation or finances; 
2. The impact of untreated hearing loss on elderly individuals who need hearing aids 
but cannot afford them; 
3. The operation and effectiveness of existing programs available to assist elderly 
individuals with hearing aids; 
4. Opportunities for coordination among existing state programs, or with the private 
sector, to maximize the effects of available resources; 
5. 
Approaches, opportunities, techniques and programs used in other states to 
address the need for hearing aids by elderly individuals; 
6. Options on potential approaches, techniques and programs in Maine for providing 
hearing aids to elderly individuals, including different methods of program administration 
and delivery so as to maximize program availability statewide and minimize overhead 
costs; 
7. The projected cost of developing and delivering a pilot program to provide hearing 
aids to elderly individuals; 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
iiO 
~lf. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A " 
to H.P. 773, L.D. 1055 
8. The projected cost of taking no action to develop any program to provide hearing 
aids to elderly individuals; and 
9. 
The feasibility of funding from the state universal service fund a hearing 
assistance program, to include grants to eligible low-income persons for the purchase of 
hearing aids and subsidies for captioned telephone service; and be it further 
Sec. 5. Staff assistance. Resolved: That the Department of Labor and the 
Department of Health and Human Services shall provide, within existing budgeted 
resources, necessary staffing services to the working group; and be it further 
Sec. 6. Report. Resolved: That, no later than December 7, 2007, the working 
group shall submit a report to the Joint Standing Committee on Labor and the Joint 
Standing Committee on Health and Human Services that includes its findings and 
recommendations, including suggested legislation for the Second Regular Session of the 
123rd Legislature. The working group is not authorized to introduce legislation. The 
Joint Standing Committee on Labor and the Joint Standing Committee on Health and 
Human Services are authorized to submit legislation pertaining to the report. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill and establishes the Working Group to Study the 
Prevalence and Cost of Hearing Loss and Use of Hearing Aids and Other Devices in 
Maine's Elderly Population. The working group shall submit a report of its findings and 
recommendations, including suggested legislation, to the Joint Standing Committee on 
Labor and the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services by December 7, 
2007. The committees are authorized to submit legislation pertaining to the report. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 06/07/07 
~ac 
LD 1055 
LR 1129(02) 
An Act To Establish the Hearing Assistance Program for Low-income Persons Who Are Elderly or 
Disabled 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment .. A 
.. 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Committee: Labor 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Minor cost increase - Other Special Revenue Funds 
Additional costs to the Division of Deafness, Bureau of Rehabilitation, Maine Department of Labor and to the 
Department of Health and Human Services associated with participating in and staffing the working group can be 
absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LRI129(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1