An Act To Implement Respectful Language Amendments
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 1419
Committee Amendment CA_A_H402 (House)
Committee: Health and Human Services

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,,4 " to H.P. 995, L.D. 1419, Bill, "An Act To 
Implement Respectful Language Amendments" 
Amend the bill in Part A by striking out all of section 4 (page 1, lines 25 to 30 in 
L.D.) 
Amend the bi 11 by striking out all of Part B and inserting the following: 
'PARTB 
Sec. B-1. Develop recommendations for changes in statutory language. 
The Department of Health and Human Services, referred to in this Part as "the 
department," shall review the Maine Revised Statutes to identifY those sections that use 
the term "mental retardation" or "mentally retarded" and develop recommendations for 
removal of the terms or substitutions of language that reflect the recommendations of the 
respectful language working group in the report submitted by the Maine Developmental 
Disabilities Council to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services 
pursuant to Resolve 2007, chapter 62. The department shall seek input from interested 
stakeholders in the development of those recommendations. 
Sec. B-2. Report and recommendations. By January 15, 2010, the department 
shall submit a report to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services 
regarding recommended changes for the Maine Revised Statutes pursuant to section 1. 
Sec. B-3. 
Authority for legislation. After receipt and review of the 
recommendations submitted pursuant to section 2, the Joint Standing Committee on 
Health and Human Services may submit legislation to the Second Regular Session of the 
124th Legislature.' 
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or 
section number to read consecutively. 
Page I - 124LRlS84(02)-1 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
G\ ~~. 
tr;. tJ" ... ~~ 
, . 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT A" to H.P. 995, L.D. 1419 
SUMMARY 
This amendment removes a section of the bill that changes terminology in the section 
of law related to licensing of private mental hospitals. It removes all of Part B in the bill, 
which proposes to change references in law related to "mental retardation" to respectful 
terminology. The amendment directs the Department of Health and Human Services to 
review the statutes and identify the sections that use the terms "mental retardation" and 
"mentally retarded" and report recommendations for changes to the Joint Standing 
Committee on Health and Human Services. The amendment authorizes the committee to 
submit a bill to the Second Regular Session of the 124th Legislature based on these 
recommendations. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
\ 
\ t' 
,) 
:) 
) 
~ 
I 
\\ 
("'\, 
',,,.-
Approved: 05/24/09 waC!. 
LD 1419 
LR 1584(02) 
An Act To Implement Respectful Language Amendments 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment '4" 
Committee: Health and Human Services 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Additional costs to the Department of Health and Human Services can be absorbed by the department utilizing 
existing budgeted resources. 
LR 1584(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1