A. Adopt or amend rules to assure and protect the rights of due process for exceptional students children with disabilities; and

B. Inform and train each school administrative unit on exceptional students' the rights of children with disabilities to due process under state laws and rules and federal law and regulations; and

6. Technical assistance. May, on the request of a school administrative unit, provide technical assistance in the formulation of a plan or subsequent report required of all administrative units. Assistance shall may not be designed to transfer the responsibility for or actual development of the plan or report.

Sec. 22. 20-A MRSA §7207-A, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1989, c. 700, Pt. B, §46 and enacted by c. 857, §56 and amended by PL 2003, c. 689, Pt. B, §6, is further amended to read:

2. Objection to appointments. When an exceptional student a child with a disability is a state ward and the Department of Health and Human Services has notified the school administrative unit and the Department of Education that the Department of Health and Human Services objects to the appointment of the foster parent as the surrogate parent, the foster parent may not be automatically appointed to serve as surrogate parent for the exceptional student child with a disability. When an exceptional student a child with a disability is a state ward and the Department of Health and Human Services objects to the appointment of the foster parent as the surrogate parent, the Department of Health and Human Services shall recommend to the Department of Education an individual to serve as surrogate parent.

Sec. 23. 20-A MRSA §7207-B, sub-§3-A, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 441, §1, is repealed.

Sec. 24. 20-A MRSA §7207-B, sub-§4, as amended by PL 1985, c. 797, §41, is further amended to read:

4. Hearing officers, immunity. The State shall train ensure that impartial hearing officers meet the criteria contained in the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 United States Code, Section 1400 et seq., as amended. For purposes of the Maine Tort Claims Act only, Title 14, chapter 741, hearing officers, while they are carrying out their official