An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Report Defining Cost Responsibility for Deaf II and Hard-of-hearing Students Receiving Services from the Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf
Maine Legislature, Session 126, LD 1769
Committee Amendment CA_A_S479 (Senate)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A " to S.P. 703, L.D. 1769, Bill, "An Act To 
Implement the Recommendations of the Report Defining Cost Responsibility for Deaf 
II 
and Hard-of-hearing Students Receiving Services from the Maine Educational Center for 
the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf' 
Amend the bill in section 3 in §7405-A by striking out all of subsection 1 (page 1, 
lines 22 to 36 and page 2, lines 1 to 3 in L.D.) and inserting the following: 
'1. Placement. The school administrative unit in which a deaf or hard-of-hearing 
student resides is responsible for providing a free, appropriate public education pursuant 
to chapter 301 for a student placed in the center school or in one of the satellite school 
programs. An individualized education program team for a school administrative unit in 
which a deaf or hard-of-hearing student resides is responsible for the placement decision 
of that student and, when the center school or one of the satellite school programs is 
being considered as a placement for the student, shall invite a representative of the center 
school or the satellite school to attend the individualized education program team meeting 
at which this placement is being considered. The Maine Educational Center for the Deaf 
and Hard of Hearing is responsible for the sums necessary to ensure that the services 
required to meet the individualized education program for each student placed in the 
center school or in one of the satellite school programs are provided, including: 
A. The cost of tuition; and 
B. The costs of transportation and other related services as defined by section 7001, 
subsection 4-B, including the following related services: 
(1) Speech-language therapy; 
(2) Audiology in conjunction with the student's primary audiologist; 
(3) Occupational therapy; 
(4) Transportation; 
(5) Interpreting services; 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ",A" to S.P. 703, L.D. 1769 
(6) Extended school year services; 
(7) Frequency modulation systems; 
(8) Evaluation for the following services: 
(a) Occupational therapy; 
(b) Speech-language therapy; 
(c) American Sign Language; 
(d) Psychoeducational assessment for placement; and 
(e) Academic achievement; and 
(9) Behavioral supports and planning. 
Beginning July I, 2015, the costs of related services not listed in this paragraph are 
the responsibility of the school administrative unit in which a deaf or hard-of-hearing 
student resides for those students attending the center school or in one of the satellite 
school programs operated by the Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of 
Hearing and the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf beginning in the 2015-2016 
school year. 
The school board shall pay the room and board costs for each student placed in a 
residential program in the center school or in one of the satellite school programs through 
funds appropriated by the State.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment clarifies that, beginning July 1, 2015, the Maine Educational Center 
for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing is responsible for the sums necessary to ensure that 
services required to meet the individualized education program are provided, including 
tuition, transportation services and other related services as defined by the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 20-A, section 7001, subsection 4-B, for each student placed in the center 
school or in one of the satellite school programs operated by the Maine Educational 
Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf. 
Beginning July 1, 2015, the school administrative unit in which a deaf or hard-of-hearing 
student resides is responsible for the costs of providing only those related services as 
defined by Title 20-A, section 7001, subsection 4-B that are not specified in the list of 
related services that must be provided by the Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and 
Hard of Hearing for students attending the center school program or one of the satellite 
school programs beginning in the 2015-2016 school year. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 03/31114 *ac:.. 
LD 1769 
LR 2735(02) 
An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Report Defining Cost Responsibility for Deaf and 
Hard-of-hearing Students Receiving Services from the Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and 
Hard of Hearing and the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment~" (S;..cqc:) 
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs 
. 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Future biennium cost increase - General Fund 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
The Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing/Governor Baxter School for the Deaf 
(MECDHHlGBSD) estimates that the requirements in this legislation will increase costs to the school by 
approximately $360,000 per year beginning in fiscal year 2015-16. State funding for the MECDHH/GBSD is 
included in the annual General Fund appropriation for the General Purpose Aid for Local Schools program within the 
Department of Education as part of the miscellaneous costs and adjustments. The department has indicated that it will 
include funding for the additional costs associated with this legislation in its budget beginning in fiscal year 2015-16. 
Unless additional General Fund support is provided to the miscellaneous costs and adjustments category beginning in 
fiscal year 2015-16, other line items within that category may need to be reduced in order to support the increased 
funding to the MECDHH/GBSD. 
LR2735(02) - Fiscal Note - Page I of I