EXECUTIVE ORDERS

families;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, GOVERNOR OF THE STATE
OF MARYLAND, BY VIRTUE OF THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME BY THE
CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF MARYLAND, HEREBY PROCLAIM THE
FOLLOWING ORDER:

A.  The Maryland Infants and Toddlers Program is established
within the Executive Department. Its purpose is to plan,
develop, and implement a comprehensive and statewide,
interagency system of early intervention services in
Maryland which will incorporate the policies and procedures
for the required components.

B.  The Subcabinet for Children and Youth shall monitor the
Infants and Toddlers Program and insure interagency
coordination and delivery of early intervention services;

C.  The Maryland State Department     of Education shall be
designated the lead agency in accordance with the
requirement for a single line of responsibility for the
following purposes:

(1)  The general administration, supervision, and
monitoring of programs and activities receiving assistance;

(2)  The identification and coordination of all
available resources within the State from federal, state,
local and private sources;

(3)  The assignment of financial responsibility to the
appropriate agency;

(4)  The development of procedures to ensure that
services are provided to handicapped infants and toddlers
and their families in a timely manner pending the resolution
of any disputes among public agencies or service providers;

(5)  The resolution of intra and interagency disputes;
and

(6)  The entry into formal interagency agreements that
define the financial responsibility of each agency for
paying for early intervention services and procedures for
resolving disputes and that include all additional
components necessary to ensure meaningful cooperation and
coordination.

D.  The Maryland State Interagency Coordinating Council
shall be established to advise and assist the Maryland State
Department of Education in the development of the State Plan
and in the performance of their lead agency
responsibilities, preparation of applications, and shall
submit an annual report to the Governor.

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