Md. Code Regs. 13A.13.02.07

Current through Register Vol. 51, No. 18, September 6, 2024

Section 13A.13.02.07 - State Interagency Coordinating Council (SICC)

A. Each system must include a State Interagency Coordinating Council that meets the requirements of 34 CFR §§ 303.600- 303.605.

B. Membership.

(1) The State Interagency Coordinating Council shall be composed as follows:

(a) At least 20 percent of the members shall be parents, including minority parents and including:

(i) One parent of a child with a disability, younger than 7 years old;

(ii) Parents of children with disabilities, younger than 13 years old, with knowledge of, or experience with, programs for infants and toddlers with disabilities;

(b) At least 20 percent of the members shall be public or private providers of early intervention services;

(c) At least one member shall be from the State legislature;

(d) At least one member shall be involved in personnel preparation;

(e) At least one member shall be from the Department's subdivision responsible for preschool services to children with disabilities, with sufficient authority to engage in policy planning and implementation on behalf of that agency;

(f) At least one member shall be from the Maryland Insurance Administration;

(g) At least one member shall be from a Head Start agency or program in the State;

(h) At least one member shall be from the State agency responsible for child care;

(i) At least one member shall be a representative from the State agency responsible for the coordination of education of homeless children and youth;

(j) At least one member shall be a representative from the State child welfare agency responsible for foster care;

(k) At least one member shall be from the State agency responsible for children's mental health;

(l) At least one member shall have a disability; and

(m) Other members shall be from each of the State agencies involved in the provision of, or payment for, early intervention services to infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families, with sufficient authority to engage in policy planning and implementation on behalf of these agencies.

(2) A maximum of ten individuals may be selected as ex officio/nonvoting members.

(3) Membership shall represent the population and geographic diversity of the State.

C. Appointments.

(1) Voting members shall be appointed by the Governor with consent of the State Senate.

(2) Voting members shall serve for a term of 3 years beginning July 1. Members may be reappointed for one term.

(3) If a voting member is unable to complete a term, the Governor shall appoint a replacement for the remainder of the term.

D. Functions of the Council.

(1) The Council shall advise and assist the Department in the performance of its responsibilities in accordance with 34 CFR § 303.604, including:

(a) The development and implementation of the policies that constitute the State's early childhood intervention and education system;

(b) The achievement of full participation, coordination, and cooperation of all appropriate public agencies in the State;

(c) The effective implementation of the State's early childhood intervention and education system by establishing a process that includes:

(i) Seeking information from service providers, service coordinators, parents, and others about any federal, State, or local policies that impede timely service delivery; and

(ii) Ensuring that policy problems identified under §D(1)(a) of this regulation are resolved; and

(d) Assistance to the Department in the resolution of disputes.

(2) The Council shall advise and assist the Department in the:

(a) Identification of sources of fiscal and other support for services for early childhood intervention and education programs under Part C and Part B, Section 619 of the Act;

(b) Assignment of financial responsibility to the appropriate agency;

(c) Promotion of methods which include:

(i)The use of intra-agency and interagency agreements for intra-agency and interagency collaboration regarding child find consistent with 34 CFR §§ 303.115 and 303.302;

(ii) Monitoring consistent with 34 CFR §§ 303.120 and 303.700 - 303.708;

(iii) Financial responsibility and provision of early intervention services consistent with 34 CFR §§ 303.202 and 303.511; and

(iv) Transition consistent with 34 CFR § 303.209;

(d) Transition of toddlers with disabilities to preschool and other appropriate services;

(e) Provision of appropriate services to children younger than 6 years old; and

(f) Preparation of applications under Part C of the Act.

(3) The Council may carry out the following authorized activities:

(a) Advise and assist the Department regarding the provision of appropriate services for children with disabilities from birth through age 5;

(b) Advise appropriate agencies in the State with respect to integration of services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and at-risk infants and toddlers and their families, regardless of whether at-risk infants and toddlers are eligible for early intervention services in the State; and

(c) Coordinate and collaborate with the State Advisory Council on Early Childhood Education and Care for children, as described in the Head Start Act, 42 U.S.C. 9837 b(b)(1)(A)(i), if applicable, and other State interagency early learning initiatives, as appropriate.

(4) The Council shall prepare and submit an annual report to the Governor and to the U.S. Department of Education on the status of early childhood intervention and education programs for infants, toddlers, and young children with disabilities and their families under Part C of the Act operated within the State.

(5) The Council shall submit the reports specified in §D(4) of this regulation at the time and in the manner specified by the Governor and the U.S. Department of Education.

(6) Each annual report must contain the information required by the U.S. Department of Education for the year in which the report is made.

E. Meetings.

(1) The Council must meet, at a minimum, on a quarterly basis, and in such places as it determines necessary.

(2) The meetings shall be:

(a) Publicly announced sufficiently in advance of the dates they are to be held to ensure that all interested parties have an opportunity to attend; and

(b) Open and accessible to the general public.

F. Use of Funds by the Council.

(1) Subject to the approval by the Governor, the Council may use funds under IDEA Part C to:

(a) Conduct hearings and forums;

(b) Reimburse members of the Council for reasonable and necessary expenses for attending Council meetings and performing Council duties, including child care for parent representatives;

(c) Pay compensation to a member of the Council if the member is not employed or must forfeit wages from other employment when performing official Council business;

(d) Hire staff;

(e) Obtain the services of professional, technical, and clerical personnel as may be necessary to carry out the performance of its functions under Part C of the Act; and

(f) Provide for interpreters for persons who are deaf and other necessary services for Council members and participants.

(2) Except as provided in §F(1) of this regulation, Council members must serve without compensation from funds available under Part C of the Act.

Md. Code Regs. 13A.13.02.07

Effective date: 40:15 Md. R. 1232, eff.8/5/2013