Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §7001, sub-§2, śC, as enacted by PL 1981, c. 693, §§5 and 8, is repealed and the following enacted in its place:

C.__By reason of one or more of the following disabilities, needs special education and related services:

(1)__Mental retardation;

(2)__A hearing impairment, including deafness;

(3)__A speech or language impairment;

(4)__A visual impairment, including blindness;

(5)__A serious emotional disturbance;

(6)__An orthopedic impairment;

(7)__Autism;

(8)__A traumatic brain injury;

(9)__Other health impairment; or

(10)__A specific learning disability.

SUMMARY

This bill replaces the current part of the definition of "exceptional student" in the education laws concerning impairment requiring special education with language from federal law defining the term "child with disability."