Resolve, To Provide a Program Model for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 1280
Committee Amendment CA_A_S210 (Senate)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A "to S.P. 461, L.D. 1280, "Resolve, To Provide a 
Program Model for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder" 
Amend the resolve by striking out everything after the title and before the summary 
and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. Department of Education to study program models for children 
with autism spectrum disorders. Resolved: That the Department of Education 
shall conduct a study of educational services for children with autism and other pervasive 
developmental disorders. 
The department shall convene a work group with broad 
stakeholder representation, including parents, involved in meeting the educational needs 
of children and youth with autism and other pervasive developmental disorders. The 
purpose of the work group is to analyze current educational services and to make 
recommendations that will assist the department to ensure that children and youth with 
autism and other pervasive developmental disorders have access to appropriate and 
effective services to meet their educational needs. The work group shall address the 
following issues: 
1. 
The barriers to full inclusion for a student with autism or another pervasive 
developmental disorder and how the barriers are addressed; 
2. Ensuring that appropriate individualized educational services by schools, in the 
least restrictive environment, are available to students diagnosed with autism and other 
pervasive developmental disorders and ensuring that parents are included in the process 
of determining those services; 
3. Ensuring a successful transition by schools from one grade to the next grade for a 
student diagnosed with autism or another pervasive developmental disorder; 
4. The resources about autism and other pervasive developmental disorders that are 
available to education professionals and paraprofessionals; 
5. The current gaps in information about autism and other pervasive developmental 
disorders for education professionals and paraprofessionals and how these gaps' can be 
addressed; and 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITIEEAMENDMENT"A "to S.P.461,L.D.1280 
6. The training requirements for education professionals and paraprofessionals who 
work with students diagnosed with autism and other pervasive developmental disorders; 
and be it further 
Sec. 2. Report. Resolved: That the Department of Education shall submit a 
report, including the findings and recommendations from the work group under section 1, 
to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs by January 29, 2010. 
The Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs may submit legislation 
related to this report to the Second Regular Session of the 124th Legislature.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the resolve and directs the Department of Education to 
convene a work group with broad stakeholder representation, including parents, to 
conduct a study of educational services for children with autism and other pervasive 
developmental disorders. The Department of Education is directed to submit a report, 
including the findings and recommendations from the work group, to the Joint Standing 
Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs by January 29,2010. 
WISCAL .\OTE REQlilRED 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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Approved: 05121109 frat:!. 
LD 1280 
LR 1673(02) 
Resolve, To Provide a Program Model for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 'II" 
Committee: Education and Cultural Mfairs 
FiscalNote Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Additional costs to the Department of Education associated with convening a work group, conducting the required 
study and submitting the required report can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR1673(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1