160.910. Lead agency to maintain Part C early intervention system--compilation of data--monitoring of expenditures--bidding process to be established--centralized system of enrollment.
Lead agency to maintain Part C early intervention system--compilationof data--monitoring of expenditures--bidding process to beestablished--centralized system of enrollment.
160.910. 1. The lead agency shall maintain a state Part C earlyintervention system under Part C of the Individuals with DisabilitiesEducation Act, 20 U.S.C. Section 1431, et seq., for eligible children andfamilies of such children which shall be administered through the regionalPart C early intervention system.
2. The lead agency shall compile data in the system on the number ofeligible children in the state in need of early intervention services, thenumber of eligible children and their families served, the types ofservices provided, and other information as deemed necessary by the agency.
3. The state Part C early intervention system shall include acomprehensive child-find system and public awareness program to ensure thateligible children are identified, located, referred to the system, andevaluated for eligibility.
4. The lead agency shall monitor system expenditures foradministrative services and regional offices to ensure maximum utilizationof state funds for all children determined to be eligible for earlyintervention services. The lead agency or its designee shall provideregional offices with the necessary financial data to assist regionaloffices in monitoring their expenditures and the cost of direct services.Such data shall include the number of children eligible from the mostrecent child count from that region and monthly data reports on the costsspent by providers in their network.
5. The lead agency shall establish a bidding process for determiningregional offices across the state. The bidding process shall establishcriteria for allowing regions to implement models that will serve theunique needs of their community. Such process shall encourageorganizations bidding for a center to demonstrate agreements:
(1) With other state and local government entities that provideservices to infants and toddlers with developmental disabilities includingregional centers as defined in section 633.005, RSMo, and boardsestablished under sections 205.968 to 205.973, RSMo; and
(2) To collaborate with established, quality early interventionproviders in the region to establish a network for early interventionservices.
6. The lead agency shall establish a centralized system of providerenrollment to assure that all Part C early intervention system providersmeet requirements of Part C regulations and the Missouri state plan.
7. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 23.253, RSMo, to thecontrary, the provisions of this section shall not sunset.
(L. 2005 S.B. 500, A.L. 2007 S.B. 112)