PART A

Sec. A-1. 26 MRSA §1419, sub-§1, ¶B-2, as amended by PL 2001, c. 377, §1, is further amended to read:

B-2. "Specialized customer telecommunications communications equipment" means telecommunications communications equipment used by persons with disabilities to conduct telephone communications or equipment that provides or assists in providing emergency alert notification to deaf persons or hard-of-hearing persons. "Specialized customer telecommunications communications equipment" includes but is not limited to teletypewriters, artificial larynges, signaling devices, amplified handsets, large number dial overlays, direct telephone dialing, fax machines, equipment necessary to use short message services or text message services or and other equipment used by persons with disabilities to provide access to telephone networks and equipment that provides or facilitates emergency alert notification to deaf persons or hard-of- hearing persons.

Sec. A-2. 26 MRSA §1419, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1997, c. 751, Pt. A, §3, is further amended to read:

2. Specialized customer communications equipment system. The department shall consult with appropriate agencies and organizations serving deaf, hard-of-hearing or speech-impaired persons and persons with disabilities concerning the needs of the specialized customer telecommunications communications equipment system. To the extent that funds are available, the department shall take steps necessary to preserve and maintain a viable specialized customer telecommunications communications equipment system for use by deaf, hard-of-hearing or speech-impaired persons and persons with disabilities in this State, including, but not limited to, providing for repair services and equipment for loaning to persons whose specialized customer telecommunications communications equipment is being repaired. The department may also use available funds to provide training in the use of specialized customer communications equipment.

Sec. A-3. 26 MRSA §1419-A, as amended by PL 1999, c. 227, §§1 and 2, is further amended to read:

§1419-A. Specialized customer communications equipment for

persons with disabilities

1. Money for specialized customer telecommunications equipment. The Bureau of Rehabilitation Services within the