| 123rd MAINE LEGISLATURE | ||||||
| LD 2027 | LR 3133(01) | |||||
| An Act To Provide Parents of Children with Disabilities Access to Ombudsman Services | ||||||
| Fiscal Note for Original Bill | ||||||
| Sponsor: Rep. Flood of Winthrop | ||||||
| Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs | ||||||
| Fiscal Note Required: Yes | ||||||
| Fiscal Note | ||||||
| Legislative Cost/Study | ||||||
| 2007-08 | 2008-09 | Projections 2009-10 | Projections 2010-11 | |||
| Net Cost (Savings) | ||||||
| General Fund | $0 | $120,000 | $120,000 | $120,000 | ||
| Appropriations/Allocations | ||||||
| General Fund | $0 | $120,000 | $120,000 | $120,000 | ||
| Legislative Cost/Study | ||||||
| This legislation requires the Education Committee to review the operations of the Ombudsman program. If the review takes place during the legislative session, there would not be any additional costs to the Legislature. However, if the review is conducted during the interim between sessions, additional costs would be incurred. Depending on the number of meetings, the cost for the joint standing committee to meet is $1,625 per meeting or $3,250 if the committee meets two times. | ||||||
| Fiscal Detail and Notes | ||||||
| This bill will require a General Fund appropriation of $120,000 annually beginning in fiscal year 2008-09 to provide funds for contractual services to create an independent ombudsman program within the Executive Department to provide services to children and families related to special education. This estimate assumes that the program will operate similarly to the existing ombudsman program that provides services to children and families of the State related to child welfare services provided by the Department of Health and Human Services and is funded at $127,000 per year. | ||||||