ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-sixth Legislature Second Regular Session
	House: HHS DPA 9-0-0-1 | 3^rd Read 57-0-2-0-1 Senate: HHS DPA/SE 5-0-2-0 | 3^rd Read 30-0-0-0 Final Pass: 59-0-1-0

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HB 2137: infants; toddlers; developmental delays

NOW: developmental delays; infants; toddlers

Sponsor: Representative Willoughby, LD 13

Transmitted to the Governor

Overview

Requires IGAs that are developed and implemented by the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) for AzEIP services to provide families with information on the identified priorities, needs and outcomes for the infant or toddler and related services available, including additional community resources that do not qualify for services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education (IDEA) Act.

History

Laws 1990, Chapter 220 directs DES to serve as the lead agency for the coordination of a system of AzEIP services for infants and toddlers with developmental delays.

Under current law, the Interagency Coordinating Council for Infants and Toddlers (Council) must advise and assist DES in developing and implementing the statewide system and assist in DES in achieving the full participation, coordination and cooperation of all appropriate public agencies in Arizona. DES, the Arizona Department of Education, Arizona Department of Health Services, Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System and Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind must enter into one or more IGAs to develop and implement a comprehensive, coordinated system of AzEIP services for infants and toddlers with or at risk of developmental delays and their families in accordance with federal law. The Council can assist in the development of the interagency agreements (A.R.S. § 41-2022).

Provisions

1. Requires IGAs that are developed and implemented by DES to require that at the initial IFSP meeting and every subsequent review of the IFSP, DES provide families information on the identified priorities, needs, and outcomes for the infant or toddler including additional community resources that do not qualify for services under the IDEA Act.  (Sec. 1)

2. Requires DES to develop a community resource guide that is available to families electronically. (Sec. 1)

3. Requires DES, at the IFSP meeting, to show families how to access the electronic guide and have print copies available by request to families who cannot access the electronic guide. (Sec. 1)

4. Requires DES to develop a process for incorporating community resources in the community resource guide that ensures that the listed resources are offered in Arizona and to the targeted early intervention population. (Sec. 1)

5. Requires DES to keep the electronic guide updated, as necessary, with new resources.      (Sec. 1)

6. Requires the resource guide to include information on intervention service options that may not be covered by the IDEA Act. (Sec. 1)

7. Requires the family to be informed if a service option is not covered, in whole or in part. (Sec. 1)

8. Requires the resource guide to include:

a) information on therapy services including occupational therapy, physical therapy, applied behavioral analysis and speech-language pathology; and

b) information for technology services and language acquisition resources including hearing aids, cochlear or brainstem implants, bone-anchored hearing aids, other assistive devices, American Sign Language, listening and spoken language, manually coded English, cued speech and speech reading. (Sec. 1)

9. Enables a family, for an infant or toddler identified with hearing impairment, to choose to engage an audiologist in the initial or subsequent IFSP meeting where the IFSP is established or discussed to provide professional and clinical information. (Sec. 1)

10. Requires agencies that provide services and participate in the AzEIP system to have an updated electronic copy of the early intervention program community resource guide available to families. (Sec. 1)

11. Directs IGAs to have a process that allows, to the maximum extent appropriate, parents to choose a natural environment for services in which infants and toddlers with disabilities participate, including the home and community-based settings in which children without disabilities participate. (Sec. 1)

12. Instructs DES to create a process where a family that has been referred to AzEIP can request a different service coordinator for their early intervention services. (Sec. 1)

13. Makes a technical change. (Sec. 1)

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                        HB 2137

Initials AG/MT          Page 0 Transmitted

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