The school board must provide a preliminary report, including initial findings and recommendations, to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters on or before February 1, 2001. The final report, including findings and recommendations on the residential capacity of both the residential program at Mackworth Island and any satellite program that may be established, must be provided no later than February 1, 2002. The report recommendations must also include a plan to ensure access to residential programs in geographic areas of the State that have a significant population of deaf and hard-of-hearing students. This plan must address the following issues: what the funding needs are of any proposed satellite day and residential programs and how those needs would be funded, whether the current residential program located on Mackworth Island is consistent with the plan, how short-term residential program needs should be addressed and whether or not the school board should adopt a criterion limiting the age of students who may be enrolled in a residential program established by the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf.

Sec. 15. Transition provisions. Except as otherwise provided by this Act, all references in the laws of the State to the School Board of the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf refer to the school board in its capacity as an independent agency.

1. Funds transferred. All funds and invested assets of the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf must be transferred to the School Board of the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf in its capacity as an independent agency.

2. Rules and procedures. All rules and procedures in effect on the effective date of this Act pertaining to the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf remain in effect until rescinded or amended by the School Board of the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf in its capacity as an independent agency.

3. Equipment and property transferred. The State retains ownership of Mackworth Island and the facilities of the Governor