An Act To Allow Marriage and Family Therapists To Serve as Mental Health Professionals in Public Schools
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 0045
Committee Amendment CA_A_H19 (House)
Amends: 20-A MRSA §7007, 20-A MRSA §7251-A

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "H " 
to H.P. 38, L.D. 45, Bill, "An Act To Allow 
Marriage and Family Therapists To Serve as Mental Health Professionals in Public 
Schools" 
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following: 
'An Act To Allow Marriage and Family Therapists To Provide Related Services in 
Public Schools' 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §7007 is enacted to read: 
§7007. Related services 
Related services must be provided by qualified individuals employed or contracted by 
the school administrative unit in accordance with rules adopted by the department 
pursuant to section 7005. 
Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §7251-A, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 395, Pt. A, §74, IS 
amended to read: 
§7251-A. Local special education services; related services 
A school administrative unit may offer or contract for special education services. A 
school administrative unit may also offer or contract for related services in accordance 
with rules adopted by the department pursuant to section 7005. 
Sec. 3. Rules amended; marriage and family therapists. The Commissioner 
of Education shall amend its rules in Chapter 101: Maine Unified Special Education 
Regulation Birth to Age Twenty to clarify that a person licensed as a marriage and family 
therapist under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 32, chapter 119 is qualified to: 
I. Serve as a qualified evaluator for children 3 to 20 years of age as described in 
Section IV, subsection 2, paragraph G of the rule; 
Page I - 125LR0192(02)-1 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
"t .. .. \,. 
II 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" J1" to H.P. 38, L.D. 45 
2. Provide related services to children with disabilities as described in Section XI of 
the rule; and 
3. Serve as a qualified licensed contractor pursuant to a contract for the provision of 
related services to children with disabilities as described in Section XVIII, subsection 1, 
paragraph C, subparagraph (3), division (a) of the rule.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment changes the title and replaces the bill to provide that school 
administrative units may employ or contract with qualified licensed individuals to 
provide related services required to assist children with disabilities to benefit from their 
special education programs. The amendment also directs the Commissioner of Education 
to amend the Department of Education rules in Chapter 101: Maine Unified Special 
Education Regulation Birth to Age Twenty to clarify that a person licensed as a marriage 
and family therapist is qualified to serve as a qualified evaluator and a qualified licensed 
contractor. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 02/18/11 
frCZC: 
LD45 
LR 192(02) 
An Act To Allow Marriage and Family Therapists To Serve as Mental Health Professionals in Public 
Schools 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "4,, 
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Additional costs to the Department of Education associated with rulemaking can be absorbed within existing budgeted 
resources. 
LRO 192(02) - Fiscal Note - Page I of I