PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO LD 1903
Sponsor:
Part FFF

Amendthe bill in by insertinga new Part as follows:

Sec. _-1 Appropriations and Allocations. The following appropriations and allocations are made.

LABOR, DEPARTMENT OF

Blind and Visually Impaired - Division for LD 0126

Initiative: Provides on-going funds for one Certified Teacher of Visually Impaired contracted position toprovide direct services to children in the classroom.

GENERAL FUND2011-122012-13

All other $0 $79,410

______

GENERAL FUND TOTAL $0$79,410

Blind and Visually Impaired - Division for LD 0126

Initiative: Provides on-going funds for one Orientation and Mobility Specialist position and related all other to provide instruction in safe and independent travel to children and adults.

GENERAL FUND / 2011-12 / 2012-13
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT / 0.000 / 1.000
Personal Services / $0 / $66,312
All Other / $0 / $5,000
GENERAL FUND TOTAL / $0 / $71,312
Blind and Visually Impaired - Division for the 0126

Initiative: Provides funds for one half-time Orientation and Mobility Specialist position to work with children and adults in the classroom and in the community providing instruction in safe and dependent travel.

HI-W-11-201214:24LEGISLATURE FISCAL OFFICE / 207 287 / 6469P.02/03
FEDERALEXPENDITURES FUND / 2011-12 / 2012-13
POSITIONS - LEGISLATIVE COUNT / 0.000 / 0.500
Personal Services / $0 / $37,657
GENERAL FUND TOTAL / $0 / $37,657
LABOR, DEPARTMENTOF
DEPARTMENT TOTALS / 2011-12 / 2012-13
GENERAL FUND / $0 / $150,722
FEDERAL EXPENDIT / $0 / $37,657
DEPARTMENT TOTAL – ALL FUNDS / $0 / $188,379

Sec. __-2. Savings. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Commissioner of Education and the Commissioner of Labor shall work together to identify $287,541 in efficiencies and savings within existing General Fund programs of the Department of Education and the Department of Labor in order to support the cost of one full-time Blindness and Rehabilitation Specialist position within the Division for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Department of Labor, one Teacher of Visually Impaired Children contracted position and 2 Vision Rehabilitation Therapist contracted positions to provide services to blind and visually impaired children and adults.

Sec. ___-3. Report. No later than September 15, 2012, the Commissioner of Education and the Commissioner of Labor shall present their findings to the Joint Standing Committee on Appropriation and Financial Affairs, the Joint Standing Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs and the Joint Standing Committee on Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development along with a plan to apply the identified savings to support the positions identified in section.

INTERDEPARTMENTAL MEMO6 April 2012 (written by hand)

Senator Rosen, Chair, Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations Financial Affairs Representative Flood, Chair, Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations Financial Affairs Members of the Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations & Financial Affairs

Re: LD765, "An Act To Address the Documented Educational and Rehabilitation Needs of Persons Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired"

  • MDOL and MDOE will work collaboratively to ensure that all blind and visuallyimpaired children in Maine are served through education programs provided by MDOL/BRS/DBVI and their contractors in order to comply with USDOE/IDEA and the MDOE "children first" (as specified in LD765) mandates.
  • MDOL and MDOE will research existing DBVI program services, expendituresand contract specifications to determine possible inefficiencies and duplicative services in order toredirect potential savings to provide services that are currently inadequate. This may include:
  • Redirecting personnel who serve children and adults to serve children first, where geography considerations so dictate; AND/OR
  • Requiring improved outcomes from DBVI or contracts; AND/OR
  • Funding certain aspects of the prod R. through already existing programs at-DOE (i.e. assistive technology); AND/OR
  • Determining which reports are necessary to comply with mandates.

MDOL will continue to fund education to blind and visually impaired children through the current General Fund appropriation.

MDOE and MDOL stand ready to work collaboratively to meet the needs of the blind and visually impaired children and adults in the State of Maine. We urge you to fund the positions as listed and prioritized in the attached report.