An Act To
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 0231
Committee Amendment CA_A_H279 (House)
Amends: 20-A MRSA §4710-B

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A " 
to H.P. 163, L.D. 231, Bill, 
Ensure That Schoolchildren with Dyslexia Receive the Assistance Needed" 
"An Act To 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §4710-B is enacted to read: 
§4710-B. Dyslexia screening 
1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the 
following terms have the following meanings. 
A. "Alphabet knowledge" means the ability to name, distinguish shapes of, write and 
identify the sounds of the letters of the alphabet. 
B. "Decoding" means the ability to apply knowledge of letter-sound relationships. 
C. "Dyslexia" means a condition that is neurological in origin and characterized by 
difficulties with accurate or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and 
decoding abilities that typically result from a deficit in the phonological component 
of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and in 
relation to the provision of effective classroom instruction; the secondary 
consequences of dyslexia may include problems in reading comprehension and 
reduced reading experience that can impede growth of vocabulary and background 
knowledge. 
D. "Encoding" means the ability to put ideas into messages to be delivered to and 
understood by other people. 
E. "Phonological and phonemic awareness" means awareness of the phonological 
structure of words. 
F. "Rapid naming" means the ability to connect visual and verbal information by 
giving appropriate names to common objects, colors, letters and digits. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
;i C., 
.~ (. 
" 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT"~" to H.P. 163, L.D. 231 
G. 
"Sound-symbol recognition" means the ability to understand the relationship 
between symbols or combinations of symbols and the sounds they make .. 
2. 
Dyslexia screening. 
Beginning in the 2016-2017 school year, a school 
administrative unit shall screen for dyslexia students from kindergarten to grade 2 who 
have difficulty, as identified by a classroom teacher, in an area described in paragraphs A 
to F. The screening of a student must include an examination of the student's: 
A. Phonological and phonemic awareness; 
B. Sound-symbol recognition; 
C. Alphabet imowledge; 
D. Decoding skills; 
E. Rapid naming skills; and 
F. Encoding skills. 
3. Dyslexia coordinator. There is created within the department the position of 
dyslexia coordinator to assist the department in complying with the provisions of this 
section and the general education interventions required in the department's special 
education rules as they pertain to students struggling with reading or showing early 
indicators of reading difficulty. The dyslexia coordinator must have a background in 
reading and language difficulties, including dyslexia, and in language and literacy. The 
dyslexia coordinator shall develop before March 1, 2016 and update annually thereafter a 
plan that: 
A. Implements dyslexia awareness training for teachers; 
B. Implements professional development in evidence-based screening practices; and 
C. Identifies needs of school administrative units for implementing evidence-based 
practices and response to scientific, research-based intervention strategies for reading 
and language-based learning difficulties. 
Sec. 2. 
Appointment of dyslexia coordinator. 
The Commissioner of 
Education shall hire a dyslexia coordinator pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 
20-A, section 4710-B by October 1,2015. 
Sec. 3. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF 
Special Services Team Z080 
Initiative: Provides funds for one Education Specialist m position to serve as a dyslexia 
coordinator within the Department of Education. 
GENERAL FUND 
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT 
Personal Services 
2015-16 
1.000 
$63,038 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
2016-17 
1.000 
$90,628 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT li " 
to H.P. 163, L.D. 231 
All Other 
GENERAL FUND TOTAL 
SUMMARY 
$9,966 
$73,004 
$11,165 
$101,793 
This amendment replaces the bill. 
It defmes "dyslexia" and requires school 
administrative units to screen for dyslexia only those students from kindergarten to grade 
who have certain difficulties, as noted by a classroom teacher, beginning in the 2016-
2017 school year. It also requires the Department of Education to hire a dyslexia 
coordinator by October 1, 2015 and describes the dyslexia coordinator's duties. The 
amendment adds an appropriations and allocations section. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 04/28/15 
;WaC!. 
LD231 
LR 159(02) 
An Act To Ensure That Schoolchildren with Dyslexia Receive the Assistance Needed 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ,~, C H -drr1 \ 
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs 
') 
Net Cost (Savings) 
General Fund 
Appropriations/Allocations 
General Fund 
State Mandates 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
State Mandate - Unfunded 
FY 2015-16 
FY2016-17 
$73,004 
$101,793 
$73,004 
$101,793 
Projections 
FY 2017-18 
$105,418 
$105,418 
Required Activity 
Unit Affected 
Requires school administrative units to annually screen certain students for dyslexia. 
School 
Projections 
FY2018-19 
$109,188 
$109,188 • 
Local Cost 
Moderate 
statewide 
The required local activities in this bill may represent a State mandate pursuant to the Constitution of Maine. Unless 
General Fund appropriations are provided to fund at least 90% of the additional costs or a Mandate Preamble is 
amended to the bill and two-thirds of the members of each House vote to exempt this mandate from the funding 
requirement, municipalities may not be required to implement these changes. 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
This bill includes General Fund appropriations of $73 ,004 in fiscal year 2015-16 and $101,793 in fiscal year 2016-17 
to the Special Services Team program within the Department of Education for the personal services and all other costs 
for one Education Specialist III position to serve as a dyslexia coordinator within the department effective October 1, 
2015. 
Although this bill contains General Fund appropriations to fund the dyslexia coordinator position, the Department of 
Education has indicated that a "change package" to the Governor's proposed 2016-2017 biennial budget will include 
an initiative to create a federally funded Education Specialist III position as part of a proposal to reorganize the 
Special Services Team. According to the department this position, if approved, can be used for the dyslexia 
coordinator and the General Fund position included in this bill will not be needed. Depending on the final actions of 
the Legislature on the'2016-2017 biennial budget, this fiscal note may need to be adjusted. 
LR0159(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1