Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA c. 304, as amended, is further amended by repealing the chapter headnote and enacting the following in its place:

CHAPTER 304

MAINE EDUCATIONAL CENTER FOR THE DEAF

AND HARD OF HEARING

Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §7401, as amended by PL 1999, c. 775, §1, is further amended to read:

§7401. School established

The Governor Baxter School for the Deaf Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing is established as a public school pursuant to this chapter for the purpose of educating deaf and hard-of-hearing students. The school is a body politic and corporate and is an instrumentality and agency of the State. The exercise by the school of the powers conferred by this chapter is the performance of an essential public function by and on behalf of the State.

Sec. 3. 20-A MRSA §7402, as amended by PL 1999, c. 775, §3, is further amended to read:

§7402. Definitions

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.

1. School. "School" means the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing established under this chapter, including the center school located at Mackworth Island known as the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf and any satellite school within the State that may be operated under a contracted services agreement.

2. School board. "School board" means the School Board of the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.

3. Sending school. "Sending school" means any school administrative unit that has a student in attendance at the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing.