1. Services that are currently available to serve the needs of deaf and hard-of-hearing children and adolescents and the ability of the providers of those services to provide culturally competent, linguistically accessible services. The task force shall review educational services within the context of the behavioral and mental health needs of the children and adolescents;

2. Demographic data of the numbers of deaf and hard-of- hearing children and adolescents in need of such specialized services and projections regarding the number of deaf and hard- of-hearing younger children who may require such services in the future; and

3. Proposals designed to improve the delivery of services to meet the needs of deaf and hard-of-hearing children and adolescents, including, but not limited to, the development of in-state specialty services, collaborative agreements with bordering states and states with specialized facilities and training initiatives; and be it further

Sec. 6. Staff assistance. Resolved: That, upon approval of the Legislative Council, the Office of Policy and Legal Analysis shall provide necessary staffing services to the task force; and be it further

Sec. 7. Compensation. Resolved: That the legislative members of the task force are entitled to receive legislative per diem, as defined in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 3, section 2, and reimbursement for travel and other necessary expenses related to their attendance at meetings of the task force. Public members not otherwise compensated by their employers or other entities that they represent are entitled to receive reimbursement of necessary expenses and, upon a demonstration of financial hardship, a per diem equal to the legislative per diem for their attendance at authorized meetings of the task force; and be it further

Sec. 8. Report. Resolved: That the task force shall submit a report that includes its findings and recommendations, including suggested legislation, to the Second Regular Session of the 121st Legislature no later than December 3, 2003. The task force is not authorized to introduce legislation; and be it further

Sec. 9. Extension. Resolved: That, if the task force requires a limited extension of time to complete its study and