Chapter 572
H.P. 1446 - L.D. 2062
PART B
Sec. B-1. 20-A MRSA §7209, sub-§1, ¶B,  as amended by PL 2007, c. 307, §1, is further amended to read:
B.Â
During the period from July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2008, the The department, in a manner consistent with the authority of the board of directors of an intermediate educational unit, shall approve the annual entitlement plan and the budget for an intermediate educational unit pursuant to subsection 6 only in accordance with the following.
(1) The department shall approve the entitlement plan and the budget if the provisions of the entitlement plan and the budget are in compliance with the statewide standards established by the state intermediate educational unit pursuant to subsection 3 for the purpose of ensuring coordinated service delivery in each region of the State.
(2) In the event that the department determines that the provisions of the annual entitlement plan and the budget presented by a board of directors of an intermediate educational unit are not in compliance with the statewide standards established pursuant to subsection 3, the department shall require the board of directors of the intermediate educational unit to revise and resubmit the annual entitlement plan and the budget in a reasonable amount of time as determined by the commissioner.
(3) In the event the provisions of the resubmitted annual entitlement plan and the budget are not in compliance with the statewide standards established pursuant to subsection 3, the department is authorized to determine and approve an appropriate, final annual entitlement plan and a budget for the intermediate educational unit that is in compliance with the statewide standards established pursuant to subsection 3.
This paragraph is repealed June 30, 2008.
Sec. B-2. 20-A MRSA §7209, sub-§2,  as amended by PL 2007, c. 307, §2, is further amended to read:
2. State-level advisory committee.
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The state-level advisory committee is established for the period from July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2008 to advise on the provisions of this section. Members of the state-level advisory committee are appointed by the commissioner and must include representatives from each board of directors of a regional site described in subsection 5, the early childhood education consultant and the director of early childhood special education within the department. This subsection is repealed June 30, 2008.
Sec. B-3. 20-A MRSA §7209, sub-§3,  as corrected by RR 2007, c. 1, §9, is further amended to read:
3. State intermediate educational unit.
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The commissioner shall establish and supervise the state intermediate educational unit. The state intermediate educational unit is established as a body corporate and politic and as a public instrumentality of the State for the purpose of conducting child find activities as provided in 20 United States Code, Section 1412 (a) (3) for children from birth to under 6 years of age, ensuring the provision of early intervention services for eligible children from birth to under 3 years of age and ensuring a free, appropriate public education for eligible children at least 3 years of age and under 6 years of age. For the period from July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2008, the The state intermediate educational unit shall perform the following statewide coordination and administration functions:A. Establish standard policies and procedures for a statewide salary and benefits administration system, including personnel classifications, position descriptions and salary ranges, and a standard package of health, retirement and other fringe benefits for Child Development Services System personnel, which must be included in the annual entitlement plan described in subsection 1 beginning in fiscal year 2006-07;
B. Develop a statewide salary and benefits administration system and perform the payroll functions for Child Development Services System personnel;
B-1. Bargain collectively under Title 26, chapter 9-A if the employees of the regional sites choose to be represented by an agent for purposes of collective bargaining. In such circumstances, the state intermediate educational unit must be considered the public employer for purposes of collective bargaining;
C. Establish a centralized system for statewide fiscal administration to be implemented by September 1, 2006. The state intermediate educational unit shall establish internal controls and implement accounting policies and procedures in accordance with standards set forth by the State Controller;
D. Develop and implement a centralized data management system to be fully operational beginning July 1, 2007;
E. Establish a standard, statewide template for regional site contracts with therapeutic service providers, including policies and procedures for the review of contracts, that must be included in the annual entitlement plan described in subsection 1, beginning in fiscal year 2006-07;
F. Refine program accountability standards for compliance with federal mandates that must be included in the annual entitlement plan described in subsection 1, including the development of a performance review system to monitor and improve regional site performance through the use of efficiency ratings aligned with the accountability standards and through a compliance plan that requires the regional site to address the unmet needs of eligible children in accordance with specific targets and time frames;
G. Design and implement a statewide plan to provide professional development and training to Child Development Services System personnel;
H. Employ professional and other personnel, including those necessary to ensure the implementation of the centralized fiscal and data management systems. All state intermediate educational unit employees are employees for the purposes of the Maine Tort Claims Act; and
I. Enter into contracts, leases and agreements and any other instruments and arrangements that are necessary, incidental or convenient to the performance of its duties and the execution of its powers under this chapter.
Sec. B-4. 20-A MRSA §7209, sub-§7, ¶C,  as amended by PL 2007, c. 307, §6, is further amended to read:
C. Ensure data entry and reporting through June 30, 2008; and