An Act To Enact the Recommendations of the Commission on Independent Living and Disability
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 0949
Committee Amendment CA_A_H578 (House)
Amends: 5 MRSA §19505, 26 MRSA §1412

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A "to H.P. 652, L.D. 949, Bill, "An Act To Enact 
the Recommendations of the Commission on Independent Living and Disability" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the 
summary and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §19505, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 1989, c. 837, §1, is amended 
to read: 
3. Pursuit of remedies. The agency may pursue administrative, legal and other 
appropriate remedies on behalf of persons with disabilities. The agency has standing to 
file a civil action for alleged violations of chapter 337, subchapter 5 in Superior Court. 
Notwithstanding section 4622, subsection 1, the agency may be awarded reasonable 
attorney's fees and costs as provided in section 4614. 
Sec. 2. 26 MRSA §1412-1 is enacted to read: 
§1412-1. Strategic planning report 
1. Annual report. In addition to its existing duties, the Statewide Independent 
Living Council, established pursuant to 29 United States Code, Sections 796 to 796f 
( 1999) and administered by the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, shall, beginning 
January 15, 2017, provide an annual report to the joint standing committee of the 
Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters and the joint 
standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction .over labor and economic 
development matters on the State's strategic planning efforts related to the ability of 
persons with disabilities to live independently, including but not limited to: 
A. Efforts to increase opportunities for persons with disabilities to live independently 
within the community; 
B. The effectiveness and coordination of programs and services designed to support 
independent living efforts; 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT"~" to H.P. 652, L.D. 949 
C. 
Efforts to improve vocational rehabilitation outcomes and efficiency in the 
development of individualized plans of employment with individuals eligible to 
receive rehabilitation services; 
D. Efforts to improve transition planning for students with disabilities by adding 
independent living assessments and strategies to prepare for postsecondary education; 
E. 
Efforts to ensure that new public buildings and public accommodations are 
accessible by persons with disabilities and to encourage the adoption of building 
codes that meet the most recent federal Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 
accessibility guidelines; 
F. Efforts to increase awareness of all available housing that is accessible and usable 
by persons with disabilities; and 
G. Any recommendations for improvement in the delivery of services to persons 
with disabilities. 
Sec. 3. 
Statewide Independent Living Council to convene a working 
group; develop statewide transportation voucher program. 
The Statewide 
Independent Living Council, established pursuant to 29 United States Code, Sections 796 
to 796f and administered by the Department of Labor, Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, 
shall convene a working group to develop a proposal for a statewide transportation 
voucher program for persons with disabilities. Members of the working group must 
include representatives from the Department of Transportation, the Department of Health 
and Human Services, the Department of Labor and a statewide agency administering 
centers for independent living. The working group shall examine the flexibility of federal 
funding and matching funds sources, consult with the University of Montana Research 
and Training Center on Disability in Rural Communities for assistance in developing the 
proposal and submit its findings and recommendations to the joint standing committee of 
the Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation matters, the joint standing 
committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters 
and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over labor, 
commerce, research and economic development matters no later than December 15, 2016. 
The joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and 
human services matters may report out a bill regarding this subject matter to the First 
Regular Session of the 128th Legislature.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment replaces the bill and does the following. 
1. 
It authorizes the agency that is designated by the Governor to serve as the 
protection and advocacy agency for persons with disabilities in Maine to bring a civil 
action in Superior Court for violations of the Maine Human Rights Act regarding public 
accommodations and allows the agency to receive reasonable attorney's fees and costs. 
2. It requires the Statewide Independent Living Council to provide an annual report 
to the Legislature on the State's strategic planning efforts to increase opportunities for 
persons with disabilities to live independently within the community in a number of 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT"~" to H.P. 652, L.D. 949 
areas, including transition planning for students, vocational rehabilitation services, 
available housing and accessibility of public accommodations. 
3. It requires the Statewide Independent Living Council to convene a working group 
to develop a statewide transportation voucher program for persons with disabilities. 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 03/17 /16 
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LD949 
LR 1641(02) 
An Act To Enact the Recommendations of the Commission on Independent Living and Disability 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment·~ { H-5/£!) 
Committee: Health and Human Services 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Minor cost increase - General Fund 
Minor revenue increase - General Fund 
Correctional and Judicial Impact Statements 
Increases the number of civil suits. 
The collection of additional filing fees may also increase General Fund revenue by minor amounts. 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Additional costs to the Statewide Independent Living Council, administered by the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, 
Department of Labor to convene the required workgroup and provide the required report can be absorbed within 
existing budgeted resources. 
Additional costs to the Departments of Transportation and Health and Human Services associated with serving on the 
work group can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources. 
LR1641(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1