125th MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1839		LR 2731(03)
	An Act To Define Cost Responsibility for Deaf and Hard-of-hearing Students Receiving Services from the Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf
	Fiscal Note for Bill as Engrossed with: C "A" (S-497)
	Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Fiscal Note
Potential future biennium cost increase - General Fund
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This legislation may increase the total cost of Essential Programs and Services and the State's share of that cost beginning in fiscal year 2013-14.  The General Purpose Aid for Local Schools program within the Department of Education may require additional General Fund appropriations beginning in fiscal year 2013-14 for the additional cost to the Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf (MECDHH/GBSD) to provide transportation services for students enrolled at the center school effective July 1, 2013.  This transportation service is currently provided by the local school administrative unit in which the student resides.  The additional cost to the MECDHH/GBSD to provide transportation services can not be determined at this time.  However, because state funding for both MECDHH/GBSD and local school administrative units is provided within the General Purpose Aid for Local Schools program account, the General Fund appropriation needed to support the additional cost to the MECDHH/GBSD may be partially offset by a reduction in state subsidy to those local school units who will no longer provide transportation services for students enrolled at the center school.
	Additional costs to the Department of Education and the Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf to provide the required report can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources.