Resolve, to Reestablish the Task Force on Accessibility to Appropriate Communication Methods for Deaf and Hard-of-hearing Patients
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 2255
Committee Amendment CA_A_H886 (House)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "/T" to H,P, 1446, L.D. 2255, "Resolve, to
Reestablish the Task Force on Accessibility to Appropriate Communication Methods for
Deaf and Hard-of-hearing Patients"
Amend the resolve in section 2 in the 2nd line (page 1, line 18 in L.D.) by striking out
the following; "10" and inserting the following: '13'
Amend the resolve in section 2 by striking out all of subsection 1 (page 1, lines 19 and
20 in L.D.) and inserting the following:
'1, Two members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, including one
member of the party holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature and one member
of the party holding the 2nd largest number of seats in the Legislature;'
Amend the resolve in section 2 by striking out all of subsection 2 (page 1, lines 21 and
22 in L,D.) and inserting the following;
'2. Two members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the
House of Representatives, including one member of the party holding the largest number
of seats in the Legislature and one member of the party holding the 2nd largest number of
seats in the Legislature;'
Amend the resolve in section 2 in subsection 9 in the last line (page 2, line 3 in L.D.)
by striking out the following: "and"
Amend the resolve in section 2 by inserting after subsection 9 the following:
'10, One member who is a certified deaf interpreter, appointed by the Commissioner
of Health and Human Services; and'
Amend the resolve in section 2 by renumbering die subsections to read consecutively.
Amend the resolve by strikmg out all of section 3 and inserting the following;
'See. 3. Chairs. Resolved: That the first-named Senate member is the Senate chair
and the first-named House of Representatives member is the House chair of the task force,'
Amend the resolve by inserting after section 6 the following:
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
ROS
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "M" to H.P, 1446, L,D. 2255
"M"toH.P,
'See. 7. Communication access real-time translation. Resolved: That the
Legislative Council, to the extent possible, shall provide for communication access real-
time translation at task force meetings.'
Amend the resolve by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or
section number to read consecutively.
SUMMARY
This amendment does the following;
1, Replaces the member of the task force who is a member of the Senate who serves
on the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services with 2 members of the
Senate, including one member of the party holding the largest number of seats in the
Legislature and one member of the party holding the 2nd largest number of seats in the
Legislature;
2. Replaces the member of the task force who is a member of the House of
Representatives who selves on the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human
Services with 2 members of the House of Representatives, including one member of the
party holding the largest number of seats in the Legislature and one member of the party
holding the 2nd largest number of seats m the Legislature;
3. Adds a task force member who is a certified deaf interpreter; and
4. Adds language stating that the Legislative Council, to the extent possible, must
provide for communication access real-time translation at task force meetings.
FISCAL NOTE REQIHRED
(See attached)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Approved: 03/19/24 ^tSKc--
LD 2255 LR 3094(02)
Resolve, to Reestablish the Task Force on Accessibility to Appropriate Communication Methods for
Deaf and Hard-of-hearing Patients
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment '/^'
Committee: Health and Human Services
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Legislative CosVStudy ,
Legislative Cost/Study
The general operatmg expenses of this study are projected to be $2,520 in fiscal year 2023-24 and $2,770 in fiscal
year 2024-25. The Legislature's budget for the 2024-2025 biennium includes $14,500 in each of fiscal years 2023-24
and 2024-25 for the costs of legislative studies, as well as $38,909 of balances carried over from prior years for this
purpose. Whether these amounts are 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
Any additional costs to the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Labor, the University of
Maine System, the Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and the Governor Baxter School for
the Deaf and the Disability Rights Center to take part in a task force are expected to be minor and can be absorbed
within existing budgeted resources,
T,n3094('n2'l - Fiscal Nn+s - Pam 1 nf 1