Whereas, former students of the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf and the Maine School for the Deaf have been using counseling and mental health services provided at no cost to them through the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services; and

Whereas, there should be no interruption of the provision of these services; and

Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:

Sec. 1. Continuation of services. The Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services shall continue to offer counseling and other mental health services at no cost to former students of the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf and the Maine School for the Deaf.

Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved.

SUMMARY

This bill is a recommendation of the Committee to Develop a Compensation Program for Victims of Abuse at the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf, created by Resolve 1999, chapter 127, Part B. The committee's final report was submitted in December 2000.

This bill requires the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services to continue to provide counseling and other mental health services to former students of the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf and the Maine School for the Deaf. These services must be provided at no cost to the service recipients.