Whereas, there is an immediate need for the Department of Education to begin implementation of the early childhood special education system, including employment, fiscal management, data management and service delivery; and

Whereas, failure to begin implementation would result in delays or possible disruption of early intervention and special education and related services to eligible children with disabilities and their families; 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. 5 MRSA §12004-C, sub-§8 is enacted to read:

8.__Early Childhood Expenses 20-A MRSA__7209

Special Education Board Only

of Directors

Sec. 2. 5 MRSA §12004-G, sub-§8-A, as reenacted by PL 2001, c. 471, Pt. C, §1 and affected by §10, is repealed.

Sec. 3. 20-A MRSA §1, sub-§7-A is enacted to read:

7-A.__Disability.__"Disability" has the same meaning as in section 7001.

Sec. 4. 20-A MRSA §1, sub-§12, as enacted by PL 1981, c. 693, §§5 and 8, is repealed.

Sec. 5. 20-A MRSA §1001, sub-§9-B, as amended by PL 1999, c. 424, Pt. A, §1, is further amended to read:

9-B. Disciplinary sanctions for children with disabilities. They retain the authority to sanction an exceptional student a child with a disability as defined in section 7001, subsection 2 1-A for misconduct that violates school rules. Notwithstanding the duties of school administrative units as described in section 7202, the school