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A statewide comprehensive, coordinated, multidisciplinary, interagency system to provide early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families shall include, at a minimum, the following components:

(1)  A definition of the term “developmental delay” that will be used by the department in carrying out the provisions of this Chapter in order to appropriately identify infants and toddlers with disabilities who are in need of services provided for in this Chapter.

(2)  A state policy that is in effect and which ensures that appropriate early intervention services based on scientific research, to the extent practicable, are available to all infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families, including Indian infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families residing on a reservation geographically located in Louisiana, infants and toddlers with disabilities who are homeless and their families, and infants and toddlers with disabilities who are wards of the state.

(3)  A timely, comprehensive, multidisciplinary evaluation of the functioning of each infant and toddler with a disability in Louisiana and a family-directed identification of the needs of each family of such an infant or toddler to assist appropriately in the development of the infant or toddler.

(4)  For each infant and toddler with a disability in Louisiana, an individualized family service plan developed in accordance with applicable federal regulations, including family service coordination in accordance with such service plan.

(5)  A comprehensive child-find system, consistent with the federal requirements of IDEA-Part B, including a system for making referrals to service providers that includes timelines and provides for participation by primary referral sources and that ensures rigorous standards for appropriately identifying infants and toddlers with disabilities for services pursuant to this Chapter that will reduce the need for future services.

(6)  A public awareness program focusing on early identification of infants and toddlers with disabilities, including the preparation and dissemination by the department to all primary referral sources, especially hospitals and physicians, of information for parents, especially for parents with premature infants, or infants with other physical risk factors associated with learning or developmental complications, on the availability of early intervention services, and procedures for assisting such sources in disseminating such information to parents of infants and toddlers with disabilities.

(7)  A central directory that includes information on early intervention services, resources, and experts available in Louisiana and research and demonstration projects being conducted in Louisiana.

(8)(a)  A comprehensive system of personnel development, including the training of paraprofessionals and the training of primary referral sources with respect to the basic components of early intervention services available in Louisiana, that shall include:

(i)  Implementing innovative strategies and activities for the recruitment and retention of early education service providers.

(ii)  Promoting the preparation of early intervention providers who are fully and appropriately qualified to provide early intervention services.

(iii) Training personnel to coordinate transition services for infants and toddlers with disabilities from an early intervention program provided for in this Chapter to preschool or other appropriate services.

(b)  The comprehensive system of personnel development may include:

(i)  Training personnel to work in rural and inner-city areas.

(ii)  Training personnel in the emotional and social development of young children.

(9)  Policies and procedures relating to the establishment and maintenance of qualifications to ensure that personnel necessary to carry out the provisions of this Chapter are appropriately and adequately prepared and trained, including the establishment and maintenance of qualifications that are consistent with any state-approved or recognized certification, licensing, registration, or other comparable requirements that apply to the area in which such personnel are providing early intervention services.  Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to prohibit the use of paraprofessionals and assistants who are appropriately trained and supervised in accordance with Louisiana law, regulations, or written policy to assist in the provision of early intervention services to infants and toddlers with disabilities pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter.

(10)  A single line of responsibility in the department for carrying out the following functions:

(a)  General administration and supervision of programs and activities receiving assistance pursuant to this Chapter, and the monitoring of programs and activities used by Louisiana to carry out the provisions of this Chapter, whether or not such programs or activities are receiving assistance made available by this Chapter, to ensure compliance with this Chapter.

(b)  Identification, coordination, and collection of all available resources within Louisiana from federal, state, local, and private sources, including those of the system of payments established pursuant to the provisions of La. Rev. Stat. 28:469.

(c)  Assignment of financial responsibility to the appropriate agencies.

(d)  Development of procedures to ensure that services are provided to infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families in a timely manner pending the resolution of any disputes among public agencies or service providers.

(e)  Resolution of intra-agency and interagency disputes.

(f)  Entry into formal interagency agreements which conform with all applicable provisions of Louisiana law that provide the following:

(i)  Definitions of the financial responsibility of each agency for paying for early intervention services.

(ii)  Procedures for resolving disputes.

(iii)  Any additional component necessary to ensure meaningful cooperation and coordination.

(11)  A policy pertaining to the contracting or making of other arrangements with service providers to provide early intervention services in Louisiana, consistent with the provisions of this Chapter, including the contents of the application used and the conditions of the contract or other arrangements.

(12)  A procedure for securing timely reimbursement of funds.

(13)  Procedural safeguards with respect to programs.

(14)  A system for compiling data in accordance with information and reporting requirements of the United States Secretary of Education.

(15)  A state interagency coordinating council that meets the requirements of La. Rev. Stat. 28:470.

(16)  Policies and procedures to ensure all of the following:

(a)  To the maximum extent appropriate, early intervention services are provided in natural environments.

(b)  The provision of early intervention services for any infant or toddler with a disability occurs in a setting other than a natural environment that is most appropriate, as determined by the parent and the individualized family service plan team, only when early intervention cannot be achieved satisfactorily for the infant or toddler in a natural environment.

Acts 2013, No. 417, §1, eff. June 21, 2013.