§ 2551 — Coordinated standards and procedures

§ 2551. Coordinated standards and procedures. 1. The state early\nintervention service agencies shall jointly establish coordinated\nstandards and procedures for:\n (a) early intervention services and evaluations;\n (b) child find system and public awareness program; and\n (c) programs and services, operating under the approval authority of\nany state early intervention service agency, which include any early\nintervention services or evaluations.\n 2. Such coordinated standards and procedures shall be designed to:\n (a) enhance the objectives of this title, including the provision of\nservices in natural environments to the maximum extent possible;\n (b) minimize duplicative and inconsistent regulations and practices\namong the state early intervention service agencies;\n (c) conform, to the extent appropriate, to existing standards and\nprocedures of state early intervention service agencies; and\n (d) ensure that persons who provide early intervention services are\ntrained, or can demonstrate proficiency in principles of early childhood\ndevelopment.\n 3. Coordinated standards and procedures may include guidelines\nsuggesting appropriate early intervention services for enumerated\ndisabilities that are most frequently found in eligible children.\n 4. Coordinated standards and procedures may encompass or allow for\nagreements among two or more such agencies.\n 5. Any standards promulgated by regulation or otherwise by any state\nearly intervention service agency governing early intervention services\nor evaluations shall be consistent with the coordinated standards and\nprocedures.\n 6. In the event of an inability to agree upon any coordinated standard\nor procedure, any state early intervention service agency may refer the\nissue to the early intervention coordinating council for its advice with\nrespect to the standard or procedure which the council shall provide to\nthe early intervention service agencies affected by the issue. The\ncommissioner, after obtaining such advice, shall adopt an appropriate\nstandard or procedure, provided however, that the commissioner may adopt\nan interim standard or procedure while awaiting such advice.\n 7. The early intervention service agencies, in consultation with the\ndirector of the budget, shall, where appropriate, require as a condition\nof approval that evaluators and providers of early intervention services\nparticipate in the medical assistance program.\n 8. The coordinated standards and procedures shall permit such\nevaluators and providers of services to rely on subcontracts or other\nwritten agreements with qualified professionals, or agencies employing\nsuch professionals, provided that such professionals perform their\nresponsibilities in conformance with regulations of the commissioner and\nthat providers and evaluators fully disclose any such arrangements,\nincluding any financial or personal interests, on all applications for\napproval.\n 9. Coordinated standards and procedures may identify circumstances and\nprocedures under which an evaluator or service provider may be\ndisqualified under this title, including procedures whereby a\nmunicipality may request such disqualification.\n