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2000 SESSION

003628888
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 215
Offered January 24, 2000
Establishing a joint subcommitee to study early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities.
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Patrons-- Plum, Christian, Crittenden and Darner; Senators: Howell, Miller, Y.B. and Whipple
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is a federal grant program to provide early intervention services to infants and toddlers with disabilities and to their families; and

WHEREAS, in September 1993, Virginia fully implemented a program for early intervention services for the Commonwealth's families with infants and toddlers with disabilities; and

WHEREAS, since 1993, it is well documented that early intervention services save the Commonwealth money in the long run because children's developmental disabilities are lessened or cured through services in the infant and toddler years; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services (DMHMRSAS) was designated by the Governor as the lead agency for the development and implementation of Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which is required by federal regulations to be a statewide, comprehensive, coordinated, and interagency system; and

WHEREAS, the success of the program requires substantial cooperation among the state agencies involved in services for infants and toddlers with disabilities, particularly agencies under the Secretary of Health and Human Resources and the Secretary of Education; and

WHEREAS, DMHMRSAS has proposed in its draft Comprehensive State Plan 2000-2006 to reconsider whether it is the appropriate agency to be designated as the lead agency for Part C early intervention services and to make a recommendation to the Office of the Governor during FY 2002; and

WHEREAS, such a change in lead agency could affect the interagency coordination of early intervention service delivery; and

WHEREAS, programmatic and fiscal evaluation of the Commonwealth's early intervention program ensures that infants and toddlers with disabilities receive necessary services; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That a joint subcommittee be established to study early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities. The joint subcommittee shall be composed of nine members, which shall include seven legislative members and two nonlegislative citizen members as follows: four members of the House of Delegates, to be appointed by the Speaker; three members of the Senate, to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections; one citizen member who is a parent of a child who is currently receiving early intervention services, to be appointed by the Speaker; and one citizen member who is a provider of early intervention services, to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections.

In conducting its study, the joint subcommittee shall consider the appropriate lead agency for the Commonwealth's early intervention program. In addition, the joint subcommittee will monitor the programmatic and fiscal impact of the program, as well as state and local interagency collaboration.

The indirect and direct costs of this study shall be assumed by federal grant funds to the Commonwealth under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

The Division of Legislative Services shall provide staff support for the study. The State Department of Health; the Departments of Education, Medical Assistance Services, Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services, Planning and Budget, and Social Services; the Departments for the Visually Handicapped, for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing, and for the Rights of Virginians with Disabilities; and the Bureau of Insurance of the State Corporation Commission shall assist the joint subcommittee, upon request.

The joint subcommittee shall complete its work in time to submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 2001 Session of the General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents.

Implementation of this resolution is subject to subsequent approval and certification by the Joint Rules Committee. The Committee may withhold expenditures or delay the period for the conduct of the study.