Resolve, To Establish the Task Force To Identify Special Education Cost Drivers and Innovative Approaches to Services
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 0642
Committee Amendment CA_A_H106 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" A" to H.P. 456, L.D. 642, "Resolve, To Establish 
the Task Force To Identify Special Education Cost Drivers and Innovative Approaches to 
Services'' 
Amend the resolve by striking out all of section 2 and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 2. Task force membership. Resolved: That the task force consists of 13 
members appointed as follows: 
1. A Senate member of the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural 
Affairs, appointed by the President of the Senate; 
2. 
A House of Representatives member of the Joint Standing Committee on 
Education and Cultural Affairs, appointed by the Speaker of the House; 
3. 
A school superintendent representing the Maine School Superintendents 
Association, appointed by the President of the Senate; 
4. A member of a school board representing the Maine School Boards Association, 
appointed by the Speaker of the House; 
5. Two special education directors representing a statewide association of special 
education directors or teachers, appointed by the President of the Senate. One of the 
members must be a special education director who serves an urban school administrative 
unit, and the other member must be a special education director who serves a rural school 
administrative unit; 
6. 
A principal representing the Maine Principals' Association, appointed by the 
Speaker of the House; 
7. 
A teacher representing the Maine Education Association, appointed by the 
President of the Senate; 
8. A parent of a student with special needs representing a statewide association of 
parents of students with special needs, appointed by the Speaker of the House; 
·COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
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COMMITTEE AMENDMENT" 4 
"to H.P. 456, L.D. 642 
9. An advocate for students with special needs, appointed by the President of the 
Senate; 
10. A school finance manager or a school business manager, appointed by the 
Speaker of the House; 
11. A special education student who graduated from a school administrative unit in 
the State within the last 5 years, appointed by the President of the Senate; and 
12. An employee of the Department of Education, appointed by the Commissioner of 
Education; and be it further' 
Amend the resolve by striking out all of section 5 and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 5. Duties; authorized meetings. Resolved: That the task force shall 
address the rising cost of special education and the maintenance of high-quality services 
that accommodate the needs of all children by identifying cost drivers and recommending 
innovative approaches to serving students. The task force may hold no more than 5 
meetings; and be it further' 
Amend the resolve by striking out all of section 7 and inserting the following: 
'Sec. 7. Report. Resolved: That, no later than December 6, 2017, the task force 
shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested 
legislation, for presentation to the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural 
Affairs. The Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs may submit a 
bill to the Second Regular Session of the 128th Legislature.' 
SUMMARY 
This amendment adds 4 members to the task force, increasing its membership to 13 
members, and authorizes the task force to hold up to 5 meetings. The amendment also 
clarifies that the task force report must be submitted to the Joint Standing Committee on 
Education and Cultural Affairs, which is authorized to submit a bill to the Second 
Regular Session of the 128th Legislature. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
(See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
Approved: 04/23/17 feac.. 
LD642 
LR 787(02) 
Resolve, To Establish the Task Force To Identify Special Education Cost Drivers and Innovative 
Approaches to Services 
Legislative Cost/Study 
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment'~" { J-1-) Dio) 
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
Legislative Cost/Study 
The general operating expenses of this study are projected to be $1,500 in fiscal year 2017-18. The Legislature's 
proposed budget includes $10,000 in fiscal year 2017-18 for legislative studies. Whether this amount is sufficient to 
fund all studies will depend on the number of studies authorized by the Legislative Council and the Legislature. The 
additional costs of providing staffing assistance to the study during the interim can be absorbed utilizing existing 
budgeted staff resources. 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
Additional costs to the Department of Education to serve on the task force can be absorbed within existing budgeted 
resources. 
LR0787(02) - Fiscal Note - Page I of I