PREFILED JAN 05 2024
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REFERENCE TITLE: infants; toddlers; developmental delays |
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State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-sixth Legislature Second Regular Session 2024
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HB 2137 |
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Introduced by Representative Willoughby
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An Act
amending section 41-2022, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to early intervention programs.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Section 41-2022, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:
41-2022. Infants and toddlers with developmental delays; lead agency; interagency agreements; initial individualized service plans; service options
A. The department of economic security shall serve as the lead agency for the coordination of a system of early intervention programs and services to infants and toddlers with developmental delays.
B. The interagency coordinating council for infants and toddlers shall advise and assist the department of economic security in developing and implementing the statewide system and shall assist the department of economic security in achieving the full participation, coordination and cooperation of all appropriate public agencies in this state.
C. The department of economic security, the department of education, the department of health services, the Arizona health care cost containment system administration and the Arizona state school schools for the deaf and the blind shall enter into one or more intergovernmental agreements to develop and implement a comprehensive, coordinated system of early intervention programs and services for infants and toddlers with or at risk of developmental delays and their families in accordance with Public Law 99-457 (20 United States Code section 671). The interagency coordinating council for infants and toddlers may assist in the development of the interagency agreements.
D. The intergovernmental agreements developed and implemented by the department pursuant to this section shall require that the initial individualized family service plan provide information on the intervention service options available to a family based on the assessed needs and outcomes for the infant or toddler, including service options that may not qualify for early intervention programs and services. The family shall be informed if a service option is not covered by early intervention programs and services, in whole or in part. If the child's or toddler's assessment includes therapy services, the initial individualized family service plan shall identify all therapy services that the infant or toddler has been assessed for, including occupational therapy, physical therapy and speech-language pathology.
E. Any Information provided at the initial individualized family service plan meeting for an infant or toddler identified with any level of hearing impairment shall include the following:
1. Information for technology services, including hearing aids, cochlear or brainstem implants, bone-anchored hearing aids and other assistive devices.
2. Information for options for language acquisition resources, including American sign language, manually coded English, cued speech, speech reading and listening and spoken language.
F. Agencies that provide services and participate in the system of early intervention programs and services shall use public awareness materials that include resources and information on intervention service options available to a family based on the assessed needs and outcomes for the infant or toddler, including service options that may not qualify for early intervention programs and services.
G. The intergovernmental agreements developed and implemented by the department pursuant to this section shall have a process to allow parents to choose a natural environment for services in which infants and toddlers with disabilities participate.
H. The department shall create a process by which a family that has been referred to early intervention programs and services can request a different service coordinator, whether the coordinator is a contractor or a state employee.