125th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 765		LR 754(04)
	An Act To Address the Documented Educational and Rehabilitation Needs of Persons Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired
	Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "   "
	Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
			FY 2011-12	FY 2012-13	Projections  FY 2013-14	Projections  FY 2014-15
Net Cost (Savings)
	General Fund		$0	$438,263	$440,932	$445,962
Appropriations/Allocations
	General Fund		$13,963	$438,263	$440,932	$445,962
	Federal Expenditures Fund		$46,065	$37,657	$38,977	$40,172
Transfers
	General Fund		$13,963	$0	$0	$0
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This bill includes General Fund appropriations totaling $13,963 in fiscal year 2011-12 and $438,263 in fiscal year 2012-13 to the Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired within the Department of Labor to provide federally mandated services to blind and visually impaired children and adults.
	Of this amount, $13,963 in fiscal year 2011-12 and $142,595 in fiscal year 2012-13 is appropriated for one Orientation and Mobility Specialist position (effective May 1, 2012) and one Blindness and Rehabilitation Specialist position (effective July 1, 2012) to be established within the Division to provide instruction in safe and independent travel to children and adults and to provide case management services for blind children.  The $295,668 balance of the General Fund appropriation in fiscal year 2012-13 is provided to support the cost of two Certified Teacher of Visually Impaired contracted positions and two Vision Rehabilitation Therapist contracted positions to provide direct services to children in the classroom and to teach independent living and job readiness skills to certain transition age students, working age adults and seniors.
	This bill also includes Federal Expenditures Fund allocations totaling $46,065 in fiscal year 2011-12 and $37,657 in fiscal year 2012-13.  Of that amount, $40,000 is allocated on a one-time basis in fiscal year 2011-12 to support the cost of two Certified Teacher of Visually Impaired contracted postions.  The funding to support the positions will come from a one-time transfer of federal funds from the Department of Education.  The remaining $6,065 in fiscal year 2011-12 and $37,657 in fiscal year 2012-13 are provided for the cost of one half-time Orientation and Mobility Specialist position to be established within the Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired to work with children and adults in the classroom and in the community to provide instruction in safe and independent travel.
	Finally, this bill includes language that lapses $13,963 from the Governor's Training Initiative Program, General Fund account to the the General Fund no later than June 30, 2012 to offset the fiscal year 2011-12 General Fund appropriation.