Title 35-A, §8704: Advisory Council

§8704. Advisory Council

The Telecommunications Relay Services Advisory Council, as established by Title 5, section 12004-G, subsection 30-C, shall evaluate telecommunications relay services in this State and provide advice to providers of telecommunications relay services. [2005, c. 605, §5 (AMD).]

1. Membership. The advisory council consists of 12 members as follows:

A. The Director of the Division for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Late Deafened, Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, Department of Labor, or a designee; [2009, c. 174, §26 (AMD).]

B. The chair of the Commission for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing and Late Deafened established by Title 5, section 12004-J, subsection 17, or a designee; [2009, c. 652, Pt. A, §48 (AMD).]

C. One member from the Public Utilities Commission, appointed by the commissioners; [1989, c. 851, §7 (NEW).]

D. One member from the office of the Public Advocate, appointed by the Public Advocate; and [1989, c. 851, §7 (NEW).]

E. Eight members appointed by the Governor as follows:

(1) One member from the Maine Educational Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing and the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf;

(2) One member from a statewide association for the deaf;

(3) One member from a center on deafness;

(4) One member from the largest incumbent local exchange carrier providing telecommunications relay service in this State;

(5) One member of a telephone association in this State, except that the representative under this subparagraph may not be a representative of the carrier under subparagraph (4);

(6) Two members from the general public who use telecommunications devices for the deaf as a primary means of telecommunications; and

(7) One member representing a cellular or wireless service provider. [2009, c. 68, §13 (AMD).]

[ 2009, c. 652, Pt. A, §48 (AMD) .]

2. Compensation. Compensation is not authorized.

[ 1989, c. 851, §7 (NEW) .]

3. Technical assistance. The commission shall provide technical assistance to the advisory council.

[ 1989, c. 851, §7 (NEW) .]

4. Appointment of chair and vice-chair. The members shall annually elect a chair and a vice-chair from among the membership. The vice-chair shall serve as acting chair in the absence of the chair. The council shall meet at the call of the chair but no fewer than 4 times during the calendar year. The chair may delegate, as necessary, duties to members to carry out the functions of the council.

[ 1989, c. 851, §7 (NEW) .]

5. Powers and duties. The advisory council shall evaluate telecommunications relay services in this State and shall advise providers of telecommunications relay services regarding telecommunications relay service matters, including, but not limited to, the development of training standards and an evaluation of the service being provided, including the quality and availability of that service. The advisory council may enter into contracts with telecommunications relay service providers for the purpose of providing telecommunications relay services.

[ 2005, c. 605, §6 (AMD) .]

SECTION HISTORY

1989, c. 851, §7 (NEW). 1993, c. 708, §J12 (AMD). 2001, c. 377, §3 (AMD). 2005, c. 279, §17 (AMD). 2005, c. 605, §§5,6 (AMD). 2009, c. 68, §13 (AMD). 2009, c. 174, §§26, 27 (AMD). 2009, c. 652, Pt. A, §48 (AMD).

Maine Revised Statutes

§8704. Advisory Council

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