The State Department of Developmental Services shall serve as the lead agency responsible for administration and coordination of the statewide system. The specific duties and responsibilities of the State Department of Developmental Services shall include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
(a)
Establishing a single point of contact with the federal Office of Special Education Programs for the administration of Part C of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
(b)
Administering the state early intervention system in accordance with Part C of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1431 et seq.), applicable regulations, and
an approved state application.
(c)
Administering mandatory and discretionary components as specified in Sections 95022 and 95024.
(d)
Administering fiscal arrangements and interagency agreements with participating agencies and community-based organizations to implement this title.
(e)
(1)
Establishing interagency procedures, including the designation of local coordinating structures, as are necessary to share agency information and to coordinate policymaking activities. In developing these procedures, efforts shall be made to schedule meetings with, and engage parents and legal guardians in, transition-related activities.
(2)
Require each regional center to designate a main point of contact for coordinating and completing, with
other agencies and persons, the transition of a child and family from Part C to Part B of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, including establishing practices to educate and support families during transition.
(f)
Adopting written procedures for receiving and resolving complaints regarding violations of Part C of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act by public agencies covered under this title, as specified in Section 1435(a)(10) of Title 20 of the United States Code and appropriate federal regulations.
(g)
Establishing, adopting, and implementing procedural safeguards that comply with the requirements of Part C of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, as specified in Section 1439 of Title 20 of the United States Code and appropriate federal regulations.
(h)
(1)
Monitoring of agencies, institutions, and organizations receiving assistance under this title.
(2)
Monitoring shall be conducted by interagency teams that are sufficiently trained to ensure compliance. Interagency teams shall consist of, but not be limited to, representatives from the State Department of Developmental Services, the State Department of Education, the interagency coordinating council, or a local family resource center or network, parent, direct service provider, or any other agency responsible for providing early intervention services.
(3)
All members of an interagency team shall have access to all information that is subject to review. Members of each interagency team shall maintain the confidentiality of the information, and each member of the interagency team shall sign a written agreement of confidentiality.
(4)
A summary of monitoring issues and findings shall be forwarded biannually to the interagency coordinating council for review.
(i)
Establishing innovative approaches to information distribution, family support services, and interagency coordination at the local level. This shall include the posting of information for parents specific to transition requirements along with other parent training opportunities on the lead agency’s internet website, the regional centers’ websites, and other appropriate internet websites.
(j)
Ensuring the provision of appropriate early intervention services to all infants eligible under Part C of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1431 et seq.) and under Section 95014, except for those infants who have solely a low incidence disability as defined in
Section 56026.5 of the Education Code and who are not eligible for services under the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act (Division 4.5 (commencing with Section 4500) of the Welfare and Institutions Code).
The development and implementation of subdivisions (e) to (h), inclusive, shall be a collaborative effort between the State Department of Developmental Services and the State Department of Education. In establishing the written procedures for receiving and resolving complaints as specified in subdivision (f) and in establishing and implementing procedural safeguards as specified in subdivision (g), it is the intent of the Legislature that these procedures be identical for all infants served under this act and shall be in accordance with Sections 303.400 and 303.420(b) of Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The procedural safeguards and due process requirements established under this title shall replace and be used in lieu of due process
procedures contained in Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 4500) of Division 4.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code and Part 30 (commencing with Section 56500) of the Education Code for infants and their families eligible under this title.
