HB 951 -- Early Intervention Services for Children

Sponsor:  Faith

Currently, when children who receive early intervention services
reach three years of age, they move from Part C to Part B of the
federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, administered
by the local school district.  This bill requires school
districts to continue the services of a child's Part C provider
upon the parent's request and if the cost is no more than what
the district would charge for the services.  The reporting
requirements and deadlines for the requests are specified.  The
parent may furnish and the initial individualized education
program team may consider any outside evaluation information
during the team meeting.  The bill also exempts the state's early
intervention services for children, known as First Steps, from
the sunset provisions.

The bill creates pilot programs in the southwest and greater St.
Louis points of entry.  The southwest area program requires the
system to hire, by January 1, 2008, one or more providers of
early intervention services, either directly or through contract
with sheltered workshop boards.  The greater St. Louis program
allows the regional interagency coordinating council to hire, by
January 1, 2008, a child-find coordinator.  A study of the
programs must be completed by September 1, 2009, and the programs
will expire September 1, 2010.  The Part C Early Intervention
Pilot Program Fund is created in the state treasury for
implementing the pilot programs.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated July 25, 2007 at 11:20 am