CHAPTER 411
S.P. 144 - L.D. 446
An Act To Mandate Payment of Licensed Sign Language Interpreters for Driver Education Students
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 29-A MRSA §1352, sub-§1, as affected by PL 1995, c. 65, Pt. A, §153 and amended by Pt. B, §14 and affected by Pt. C, §15, is further amended to read:
1. Motorcycle driver education required. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle instruction permit, license or endorsement may not be issued to a person, unless that person presents a certificate of successful completion of a motorcycle driver education program and examination approved by the Secretary of State, except as provided in this subsection. If a person is hearing-impaired and a course is not readily available to that person, the Secretary of State may arrange for that person to complete a motorcycle driver education program using an electronic communications system. The program must meet the requirements of this section.
Sec. 2. 29-A MRSA §1354, sub-§5-A, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 505, §15 and affected by §22, is amended to read:
5-A. License fees. Except as provided in section 1355, license License fees must be paid to the Secretary of State and deposited into the Highway Fund. The following fees apply.
A. The fee for a driver education school license is $125.
B. The fee for a driver education teacher or instructor license is $80.
C. Each license issued pursuant to this section expires one year from the date of issuance. The fee for the renewal of a driver education school license is $125. The fee for the renewal of a driver education teacher or instructor license is $80.
D. A noncommercial driver education school that offers driver education for course credit and does not charge a fee for driver education is exempt from the license fees required in this subsection. A driver education teacher employed by and providing driver education only in a school exempt from license fees in accordance with this paragraph is also exempt from license fees required in this subsection.
This subsection takes effect January 1, 1997.
Sec. 3. 29-A MRSA §1355, as enacted by PL 1995, c. 505, §16 and affected by §22, is repealed.
Sec. 4. 29-A MRSA §1357 is enacted to read:
§1357. Communication services for deaf and hard-of-hearing persons
1. Definitions. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.
A. "CART" means computer-assisted real-time transcription using specialized equipment to transcribe real-time word-for-word spoken English into written English that can be viewed on a computer screen or projected onto a large screen.
B. "CART provider" means a person who provides CART.
C. "Deaf person" means a person whose sense of hearing is nonfunctional for the purpose of communication and who must depend primarily upon visual communication.
D. "Hard-of-hearing person" means a person who has a hearing loss resulting in a functional loss, but not to the extent that the person must depend primarily upon visual communication.
E. "Licensed interpreter" means a person who provides sign language interpreting services and is licensed under Title 32, section 1524 or section 1524-B.
2. Licensed interpreter services or CART required for driver education. When a deaf or hard-of-hearing person is required to complete a driver education course and examination pursuant to section 1351 or 1352, the Secretary of State shall provide a licensed interpreter or CART provider to allow for completion of the driver education course and examination. Licensed interpreter services or CART provided under this section must be paid for by the Secretary of State.
Sec. 5. Appropriations and allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.
SECRETARY OF STATE, DEPARTMENT OF
ADMINISTRATION - MOTOR VEHICLES 0077
Initiative: Allocates funds for the cost of providing certain services from licensed sign language interpreters.
HIGHWAY FUND 2005-06 2006-07
All Other $126,000 $168,000
__________ __________
HIGHWAY FUND TOTAL $126,000 $168,000
Effective September 17, 2005.
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