| | | 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 | | system. To the extent that funds are available, the department | | shall take steps necessary to preserve and maintain a viable | specialized customer telecommunications | | 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 | | The department may also use available funds to provide training | | in the use of specialized customer communications equipment. |
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| | | Sec. A-3. 26 MRSA §1419-A, as amended by PL 1999, c. 227, §§1 and | | 2, is further amended to read: |
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| | | §1419-A. Specialized customer communications equipment for |
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| | | persons with disabilities |
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| | | 1. Money for specialized customer telecommunications | equipment. The Bureau of Rehabilitation Services within the | department, pursuant to appropriation of money to the bureau for | specialized customer telecommunications equipment for deaf, hard- | of-hearing and speech-impaired persons and persons with | disabilities, shall, upon request, provide up to 50% of the cost | of specialized customer telecommunications equipment to an | organization or municipality that makes available the remaining | funds for this equipment in a manner satisfactory to the Director | of the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services. |
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| | | 2. Communications Equipment Fund. There is established the | Telecommunications | | the Division of Deafness within the Bureau of Rehabilitation | | Services. The fund is nonlapsing. The fund receives money | | transferred by the Public Utilities Commission from the universal |
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| | | service fund pursuant to Title 35-A, section 7104. The Division | | of Deafness may accept gifts or grants, including, but not | | limited to, federal grants, for the purposes of this section. | These | | to Title 35-A, section 7104 and all gifts and grants and | | authorized appropriations must be deposited in the | Telecommunications | accordance with this section. The Telecommunications | | Communications Equipment Fund may be used for purchase, lease, | | distribution, upgrading, installation, maintenance and repair of | specialized customer telecommunications | | for deaf, hard-of-hearing or speech-impaired persons and persons |
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