CHAPTER 84
S.P. 193 - L.D. 553
Resolve, To Study the Needs of Deaf and Hard-of-hearing Children and Adolescents
Sec. 1. Task force established. Resolved: That the Task Force to Study the Needs of Deaf and Hard-of-hearing Children and Adolescents, referred to in this resolve as "the task force," is established; and be it further
Sec. 2. Task force membership. Resolved: That the task force consists of 18 members appointed as follows:
1. Two members of the Senate, appointed by the President of the Senate;
2. Two members of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House;
3. Five members appointed by the Speaker of the House as follows:
A. A behavioral health service provider providing specialized services for deaf or hard-of-hearing youths;
B. A behavioral health service provider not serving deaf or hard-of-hearing youths;
C. A parent of a deaf or hard-of-hearing youth;
D. A representative of a hospital with an inpatient psychiatric unit; and
E. A representative of a public school district;
4. Six members appointed by the President of the Senate as follows:
A. A representative from the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf;
B. A representative of educators of deaf students;
C. A representative of the Department of Labor, Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, Division of Deafness;
D. A representative of providers of behavioral health services;
E. A representative of persons who advocate for deaf students in special education proceedings; and
F. A representative of a nationally accredited, statewide provider of behavioral health services providing specialized mental health services for deaf or hard-of-hearing youths in a day treatment model;
5. The Commissioner of Human Services, or the commissioner's designee;
6. The Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee; and
7. The Commissioner of Behavioral and Developmental Services, or the commissioner's designee; and be it further
Sec. 3. Chairs. Resolved: That the first-named Senate member is the Senate chair of the task force and the first-named House of Representatives member is the House chair of the task force; and be it further
Sec. 4. Appointments; convening of task force; meetings. Resolved: That all appointments must be made no later than 30 days following the effective date of this resolve. The appointing authorities shall notify the Executive Director of the Legislative Council once all appointments have been completed. Within 15 days after appointment of all members, the chairs shall call and convene the first meeting of the task force. The task force may hold up to 4 meetings; and be it further
Sec. 5. Duties. Resolved: That the task force shall examine the behavioral, developmental, social, emotional and educational needs of deaf and hard-of-hearing children and adolescents who are not receiving adequate services because of a lack of appropriate resources in the State. In examining these issues, the task force shall specifically examine:
1. Services that are currently available to serve the needs of deaf and hard-of-hearing children and adolescents and the ability of the providers of those services to provide culturally competent, linguistically accessible services. The task force shall review educational services within the context of the behavioral and mental health needs of the children and adolescents;
2. Demographic data of the numbers of deaf and hard-of-hearing children and adolescents in need of such specialized services and projections regarding the number of deaf and hard-of-hearing younger children who may require such services in the future; and
3. Proposals designed to improve the delivery of services to meet the needs of deaf and hard-of-hearing children and adolescents, including, but not limited to, the development of in-state specialty services, collaborative agreements with bordering states and states with specialized facilities and training initiatives; and be it further
Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: That, upon approval of the Legislative Council, the Office of Policy and Legal Analysis shall provide necessary staffing services to the task force; and be it further
Sec. 7. Compensation. Resolved: That the legislative members of the task force are entitled to receive legislative per diem, as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 3, section 2, and reimbursement for travel and other necessary expenses related to their attendance at meetings of the task force. Public members not otherwise compensated by their employers or other entities that they represent are entitled to receive reimbursement of necessary expenses and, upon a demonstration of financial hardship, a per diem equal to the legislative per diem for their attendance at authorized meetings of the task force; and be it further
Sec. 8. Report. Resolved: That the task force shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested legislation, to the Second Regular Session of the 121st Legislature no later than December 3, 2003. The task force is not authorized to introduce legislation; and be it further
Sec. 9. Extension. Resolved: That, if the task force requires a limited extension of time to complete its study and make its report, it may apply to the Legislative Council, which may grant an extension; and be it further
Sec. 10. Task force budget. Resolved: That the chairs of the task force, with assistance from the task force staff, shall administer the task force's budget. Within 10 days after its first meeting, the task force shall present a work plan and proposed budget to the Legislative Council for its approval. The task force may not incur expenses that would result in the task force exceeding its approved budget.
Upon request from the task force, the Executive Director of the Legislative Council or the executive director's designee shall promptly provide the task force chairs and staff with a status report on the task force's budget, expenditures incurred and paid and available funds.
Effective September 13, 2003, unless otherwise indicated.
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