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130th MAINE LEGISLATURE |
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LD 1632 |
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LR 586(02) |
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An Act To Update
the Laws Regarding the Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of
Hearing and the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf |
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Fiscal Note for
Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment " " |
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Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs |
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Fiscal Note Required: Yes |
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Fiscal Note |
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Current biennium cost increase - local school administrative
units
Potential future biennium cost increase - General Fund |
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Fiscal Detail
and Notes |
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This bill shifts
responsibility for tuition costs for deaf and hard-of-hearing students to
receive site-based services at a host school from the Maine Educational
Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and the Governor Baxter School for
the Deaf (MECDHH/GBSD) to the school administrative unit (SAU) that sends the
student to the host school. This will
increase costs to the sending SAU's until the student count is reflected in
the sending SAU's subsidy calculation under the essential programs and
services funding model. The bill also shifts the responsibility for the
transportation costs to allow deaf and hard-of-hearing students to attend
extracurricular events held at the center from the MECDHH/GBSD to the sending
school. While the tuition costs will be included in the calculation of state
subsidy to the affected SAU's beginning in fiscal year 2023-24, the costs
associated with transportation to extracurricular events will be fully borne
by the sending school. |
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This legislation
also redefines statewide outreach services required to be provided by
MECDHH/GBSD to SAU's that serve children who are deaf or hard of hearing and
their families. To the extent that the new definition expands outreach
services beyond what the center is currently required to provide, there may
be increased costs to the center. State funding for the center is included in
the annual General Fund appropriation for GPA within the Department of
Education as part of the targeted education funds. If additional funds are
required in order for the MECDHH/GBSD to fulfill the requirements related to
outreach services as defined in this bill, the center may include a request
for additional funding as part of its budget submission to the Commissioner
of Education for the 2024-2025 biennial budget pursuant to Title 20-A MRSA,
section 7407, subsection 4-B. A portion of the increased cost to the center
may be offset by any savings from the shifting of tuition and transportation
costs described above. |
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