122nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
		LD 1613		LR 0870(03)
	An Act To Promote the Use of Public Safety Telecommunications Equipment by the Deaf and Hard-of-hearing Community
	Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "   "
	Committee: Utilities and Energy
	Fiscal Note Required: Yes
			Majority Report
Fiscal Note
					Projections	Projections
			2005-06	2006-07	2007-08	2008-09
Appropriations/Allocations
	Other Special Revenue Funds		$60,000	$90,000	$120,000	$120,000
Transfers
	Other Special Revenue Funds		$0	$0	$0	$0
Fiscal Detail and Notes
	This bill includes Other Special Revenue Funds allocations of $60,000 in fiscal year 2005-06 and $90,000 in fiscal year 2006-07 to the Communications Equipment Fund within the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, Department of Labor, for the cost of providing a discount of up to $10 per month for deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals with incomes below 135% of federal poverty levels to help offset the service charge for any wireless communications device or 2-way pager that is used to receive emergency alerts.  This legislation provides that the Public Utilities Commission may transfer up to $60,000 in fiscal year 2005-06 and $90,000 in fiscal year 2006-07 from the state universal service fund to the Communications Equipment Fund to support the discount program established in this legislation.
	Allowing the Public Utilities Commission to require additional contributions of $37,500 to the State Universal Service Fund to fund amounts transferred to the Communications Equipment Fund upon request of the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services within the Department of Labor may increase dedicated revenue to the state universal fund.
	The additional costs associated with this legislation can be absorbed by the Public Utilities Commission utilizing existing budgeted resources.