Ch. 385 1997 LAWS OF MARYLAND

(d) An interagency coordinating council shall be appointed by the Governor, with
the advice and consent of the Senate, and shall:

(1) Advise and assist the [Office for Children, Youth, and Families]
DEPARTMENT in the supervision and monitoring of the interagency system of early
intervention services; and

(2) Submit an annual report to the Governor and the federal government.

(e) Local lead agencies shall be established or designated in each county and
Baltimore City to administer the interagency system of early intervention services in their
subdivision, under the direction of the [Office for Children, Youth, and Families]
DEPARTMENT.

(f) (1) In each county, the county executive or county commissioners, as
appropriate, or in Baltimore City, the Mayor shall establish a local interagency
coordinating council to advise and assist the local lead agency in the development and
implementation of policies that constitute the local early intervention system.

(2) (I) In each county, the county executive or county commissioners, as
appropriate, or in Baltimore City, the Mayor may designate the local management board
to serve as the local interagency coordinating council or establish the local interagency
coordinating council as a part of that board.

(II) Where a local management board and a local interagency
coordinating council coexist, they shall work cooperatively.

(g) The [Office for Children, Youth, and Families] DEPARTMENT shall adopt
[rules and] regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED. That on July 1, 1997 the
functions, powers, duties, equipment, assets, liabilities consistent with the requirements
of the federal Education of the Handicapped Act, Public Law 99-457, as amended, and
twelve permanent positions and the employees of the Maryland Infants and Toddlers
Program, which administers the interagency system of comprehensive early intervention
services to infants and toddlers, in the Office for Children, Youth, and Families shall be
transferred to the State Department of Education.

SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That employees of the
Maryland Infants and Toddlers Program in the Office for Children, Youth, and Families
who are transferred to the State Department of Education subject to the implementation
of this Act shall be- so transferred without diminution of their rights, benefits, or
employment and retirement status.

SECTION 5. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That nothing in this Act affects
the term of office of a member of any board, commission, committee, or other unit in the
Maryland Infants and Toddlers Program in the Office for Children, Youth, and Families.
A person who is a member of any board, commission, committee, or other unit in the
Maryland Infants and Toddlers Program on the effective date of this Act shall remain a
member for the balance of the term to which appointed, unless the member sooner dies,
resigns, or is removed under provisions of law.

- 2592 -