Virginia Law

As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning:

"Council" means the Virginia Interagency Coordinating Council created pursuant to § 2.2-2664.

"Early intervention services" means services provided through Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. § 1431 et seq.), as amended, designed to meet the developmental needs of each child and the needs of the family related to enhancing the child's development and provided to children from birth to age three who have (i) a 25 percent developmental delay in one or more areas of development, (ii) atypical development, or (iii) a diagnosed physical or mental condition that has a high probability of resulting in a developmental delay. Early intervention services provided in the child's home and in accordance with this chapter shall not be construed to be home health services as referenced in § 32.1-162.7.

"Participating agencies" means the Departments of Health, of Education, of Medical Assistance Services, of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, and of Social Services; the Departments for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing and for the Blind and Vision Impaired; and the Bureau of Insurance within the State Corporation Commission.

1992, c. 771, § 2.1-760; 1999, cc. 640, 684; 2001, c. 844; 2005, c. 695; 2009, cc. 813, 840; 2013, c. 571.

The Secretaries of Health and Human Resources and Education shall work together in:

1. Promoting interagency consensus and facilitating complementary agency positions on issues relating to early intervention services;

2. Examining and evaluating the effectiveness of state agency programs, services, and plans for early intervention services and identifying duplications, inefficiencies, and unmet needs;

3. Analyzing state agency budget requests and any other budget items affecting early intervention services;

4. Proposing ways of realigning funding to promote interagency initiatives and programs for early intervention services;

5. Formulating recommendations on planning, priorities, and expenditures for early intervention services and communicating the recommendations to the Governor and state agency heads;

6. Formulating joint policy positions and statements on legislative issues regarding early intervention services and communicating those positions and statements to the General Assembly; and

7. Resolving interagency disputes and assigning financial responsibility in accordance with Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. § 1431 et seq.).

1992, c. 771, § 2.1-761; 2001, c. 844.

Repealed by Acts 2004, c. 38.

The duties of the participating agencies shall include:

1. Establishing a statewide system of early intervention services in accordance with state and federal statutes and regulations;

2. Identifying and maximizing coordination of all available public and private resources for early intervention services;

3. Developing and implementing formal state interagency agreements that define the financial responsibility and service obligations of each participating agency for early intervention services, establish procedures for resolving disputes, and address any additional matters necessary to ensure collaboration;

4. Consulting with the lead agency in the promulgation of regulations to implement the early intervention services system, including developing definitions of eligibility and services;

5. Carrying out decisions resulting from the dispute resolution process;

6. Providing assistance to localities in the implementation of a comprehensive early intervention services system in accordance with state and federal statutes and regulations; and

7. Requesting and reviewing data and reports on the implementation of early intervention services from counterpart local agencies.

1992, c. 771, § 2.1-763; 2001, c. 844.

To facilitate the implementation of an early intervention services system and to ensure compliance with federal requirements, the Governor shall appoint a lead agency. The duties of the lead agency shall include:

1. Promulgating regulations and adopting the policies and procedures as necessary to implement an early intervention services system and assure consistent and equitable access to such services, including, but not limited to, uniform statewide procedures on or before January 1, 2002, for public and private providers to determine parental liability and to charge fees for early intervention services in accordance with federal law and regulations, in consultation with other participating agencies; the regulations shall be adopted in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Process Act (§ 2.2-4000 et seq.);

2. Contracting with local lead agencies for implementation of local early intervention systems statewide;

3. Providing technical assistance to local early intervention systems, including local lead agencies, local interagency coordinating councils, and early intervention service providers; and

4. Establishing an interagency system of monitoring and supervising the early intervention services system.

1992, c. 771, § 2.1-764; 2001, cc. 562, 844; 2005, c. 695.

A. To facilitate implementation of local early intervention systems statewide, the state lead agency shall contract with local lead agencies selected by the local interagency coordinating council. If the local interagency coordinating council is unable to select a local lead agency, the state lead agency shall assist in making the determination.

B. The local lead agency shall have the power and duty to:

1. Establish and administer a local system of early intervention services in compliance with Part C of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. § 1431 et seq.) and all relevant state policies and procedures;

2. Implement consistent and uniform policies and procedures for public and private providers to determine parental liability and to charge fees for early intervention services pursuant to regulations, policies, and procedures adopted by the state lead agency in § 2.2-5304; and

3. Manage relevant state and federal early intervention funds allocated from the state lead agency for the local early intervention system, including contracting or otherwise arranging for services with local early intervention services providers.

C. Localities shall not be mandated to provide funding for any costs under this chapter, either directly or through participating local public agencies.

2005, c. 695.

A. The lead agency, in consultation with the Virginia Interagency Coordinating Council, shall establish local interagency coordinating councils on a statewide basis to advise and assist the local lead agencies and to enable early intervention service providers to establish working relationships that will increase the efficiency and effectiveness of early intervention services. The membership of local interagency coordinating councils shall include designees from the following agencies: community services boards, departments of health, departments of social services, and local school divisions. These designees shall designate additional council members as follows: at least one parent representative who is not an employee of any public or private program that serves infants and toddlers with disabilities; representatives from community providers of early intervention services; and representatives from other service providers as deemed appropriate. Every county and city may appoint a representative to the respective local interagency coordinating council.

B. The duties of local interagency coordinating councils shall include assisting and advising the local lead agency in the following:

1. Identifying existing early intervention services and resources;

2. Identifying gaps in the service delivery system and developing strategies to address these gaps;

3. Identifying alternative funding sources;

4. Facilitating the development of interagency agreements and supporting the development of service coalitions;

5. Implementing policies and procedures that will promote interagency collaboration; and

6. Developing local procedures and determining mechanisms for implementing policies and procedures in accordance with state and federal statutes and regulations.

1992, c. 771, § 2.1-766; 2001, cc. 562, 844; 2005, c. 695.

Local public agencies represented on local interagency coordinating councils are responsible for:

1. Providing services as appropriate and agreed upon by members of the local interagency coordinating council;

2. Maintaining data and providing information as requested to their respective state agencies;

3. Developing and implementing interagency agreements;

4. Complying with applicable state and federal regulations and local policies and procedures; and

5. Following procedural safeguards and dispute resolution procedures as adopted by the Commonwealth.

1992, c. 771, § 2.1-767; 2001, c. 844.

Any federal funds made available through Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. § 1431 et seq.) and any state funds appropriated specifically for Part H services shall supplement overall funding for services currently provided under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. § 1431 et seq.).

1992, c. 771, § 2.1-768; 2001, c. 844.

Notwithstanding the provisions of § 32.1-162.9, no person who provides early intervention services in accordance with this chapter shall be required to be licensed as a home care organization in order to provide these services in a child's home.

1999, cc. 640, 684, § 2.1-768.1; 2001, c. 844.