An Act To Create a Children's Education Advocate

Sec. 1. The Department of Education, or the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services jointly, shall contract with the Disability Rights Center, the State's designated protection and advocacy agency for persons with disabilities pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 511 and under the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act, 42 United States Code, Section 15002 et seq. and 45 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1386, Subpart B, for the services of an advocate to advocate on behalf of children with serious disabilities in education-related matters. This advocate at the Disability Rights Center will perform and replace the services formerly provided through an advocate whose position in the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Advocacy Services has been vacated and that remains unfilled.

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This bill requires the Department of Education, or the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services jointly, to fund an advocacy position within the Disability Rights Center, the State's designated protection and advocacy agency, to provide advocacy services for children with serious disabilities in education-related matters. This service was formerly provided through a vacated and unfilled position in the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Advocacy Services. The contract with the Disability Rights Center would replace the Office of Advocacy position and services. The Disability Rights Center is the designated protection and advocacy agency for persons with disabilities pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 5, chapter 511 and under the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act, 42 United States Code, Section 15002 et seq. and 45 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 1386, Subpart B.