Sec. 2. 10 MRSA §374, sub-§3, as amended by PL 1999, c. 731, Pt. FF, §6, is further amended to read:

3. Administer loan program. The board shall administer the Kim Wallace Adaptive Equipment Loan Program Fund established by this chapter and may contract with the Finance Authority of Maine and state or community-based groups dealing with disabled persons for such assistance in administering the program as the board may require. The board may employ persons, including private legal counsel and financial experts, on either a temporary or permanent basis,__in order to carry out any of its powers and duties.__ Employees of the board are not subject to Title 5, chapter 71 and Title 5, chapter 372, subchapter 2.

Sec. 3. 10 MRSA §374, sub-§4, ¶C, as enacted by PL 1997, c. 489, §2, is repealed.

Sec. 4. 10 MRSA §374, sub-§4, ¶D is enacted to read:

D.__Loan applications may be approved or denied by the board only at a regular or special meeting except as follows:

(1)__Approval of applications for loans may be delegated by the board to a subcommittee of the board containing at least 5 members if an applicant would suffer undue hardship by waiting for the next regular meeting; or

(2)__Approval of applications for loans may be delegated to outside contractors with criteria and terms as provided by the board and approved no less than annually.

All approved loans must be ratified by the board at the board's next regular or special meeting.__All loans recommended for denial by the delegated authority must be acted upon by the board at the board's next regular or special meeting.

Sec. 5. 10 MRSA §375, sub-§1, as enacted by PL 1987, c. 817, §2, is amended to read: