Current through Pa Acts 2024-53, 2024-56 through 2024-111
Section 875-106 - Council(a) Establishment.--The Interagency Coordinating Council is established. The council shall consist of 15 voting members appointed by the Governor. The council shall serve as the council required by the Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments of 1986 ( Public Law 99-457, 100 Stat. 1145). The term of office of the voting members shall be three years, except for the cabinet officers or their designees who shall serve as long as they are in office.(b) Membership.--The membership of the council shall consist of the following:(1) Three parents of handicapped infants, toddlers or eligible young children.(2) One provider of a child development program, such as Head Start.(3) One parent of a child who has received early intervention services and is now beyond six years of age.(4) Three providers of early intervention services, including one school district provider, one intermediate unit provider and one private provider.(5) One member from the General Assembly.(6) One representative of the American Academy of Pediatrics.(7) One county mental health/mental retardation administrator or designee.(8) One individual involved in personnel preparation.(9) The Secretary of Education or a designee.(10) The Secretary of Public Welfare or a designee.(11) The Secretary of Health or a designee.(12) As ex officio members, who shall not have voting privileges: a representative of the Developmental Disabilities Planning Council and members appointed by the chair of the council.(c) Designees.--The designees of the cabinet officers under subsection (b) must be deputy secretaries, commissioners or bureau directors.(d) Officers.--The chair of the council shall be appointed by the Governor and must be selected from those members who are neither employees of the Commonwealth nor elected officials.(e) Committees.--The chair of the council may appoint special committees, which may include nonmembers of the council, to make recommendations to the council concerning key issues related to this act.(f) Powers and duties.--The council has the following powers and duties: (1) To review and comment to the Department of Health, the Department of Public Welfare, the Department of Education and the State Board of Education on draft regulations and standards for the implementation and maintenance of a Statewide system of early intervention services which are in accordance with the provisions of this act and Parts B and H.(2) To review and comment to the appropriate legislative committees and the Independent Regulatory Review Commission on regulations and standards proposed under this act.(3) To assist and advise Commonwealth agencies in their effort to carry out the provisions of this act. This paragraph includes, but is not limited to:(i) recommendations for the implementation and maintenance of a Statewide comprehensive, coordinated, multidisciplinary, interagency program, as described in Chapter 3;(ii) suggestions regarding sources of fiscal and other support from Federal, State, local and private sources, including insurance coverage; and(iii) recommendations regarding in-service training and personnel competencies.(4) To prepare and submit, with the cooperation of the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Health and the Secretary of Public Welfare, an annual report during the month of September to the Governor and the Majority and Minority Chairmen of the Education Committee of the Senate and the Education Committee of the House of Representatives. This report shall include the number of programs being provided by intermediate units, school districts and public and private providers, including Head Start; the number of children being served; the status of compliance with State regulations and standards; descriptive information on the programs; information on personnel needs; any suggested changes in State statutes and regulations governing these programs; any information the United States Secretary of Education may require; and any other information the council deems appropriate.(5) To meet at least six times a year.(6) To perform other functions required of a state's interagency coordinating council under Part H.(g) Compensation of members.--The members shall serve without compensation but shall be reimbursed for reasonable costs incurred, including costs related to child care.(h) Staff.--Staff services for the council shall be provided by the Department of Health, the Department of Public Welfare and the Department of Education and shall include the preparation and distribution of the annual report required under subsection (f)(4).1990, Dec. 19, P.L. 1372, No. 212, § 106.