An Act To Implement the Recommendations of the Report Defining 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
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §7403, as amended by PL 2011, c. 683, §2, is further amended to read:
§ 7403. Responsibility; location; geographic access
The center school is responsible for providing a free, appropriate public education to students enrolled pursuant to chapter 301. The center school programs are operated by the Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf located on Mackworth Island or at a location determined by the school board in accordance with section 7407, subsection 17. Satellite school programs, including a residential program in accordance with section 7407, subsection 17, may be located near the population centers of deaf and hard-of-hearing students within the State.
This subsection is repealed July 1, 2015.
Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §7405, sub-§4 is enacted to read:
Sec. 3. 20-A MRSA §7405-A is enacted to read:
§ 7405-A. Placement; state and federal educational services requirements; technical assistance
Beginning July 1, 2015, the following provisions apply to student placement, state and federal educational services requirements and technical assistance.
(1) Speech-language therapy;
(2) Audiology in conjunction with the student’s primary audiologist;
(3) Occupational therapy;
(4) Transportation;
(5) Interpreting services;
(6) Extended school year services;
(7) Frequency modulation systems;
(8) Evaluation for the following services:
(a) Occupational therapy;
(b) Speech-language therapy;
(c) American Sign Language;
(d) Psychoeducational assessment for placement; and
(e) Academic achievement; and
(9) Behavioral supports and planning.
Beginning July 1, 2015, the costs of related services not listed in this paragraph are the responsibility of the school administrative unit in which a deaf or hard-of-hearing student resides for those students attending the center school or in one of the satellite school programs operated by the Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf beginning in the 2015-2016 school year.
The school board shall pay the room and board costs for each student placed in a residential program in the center school or in one of the satellite school programs through funds appropriated by the State.