HB 2137
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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Fifty-sixth Legislature
Second Regular Session
House: HHS DPA 9-0-0-1
HB 2137: infants; toddlers; developmental delays
Sponsor: Representative Willoughby, LD 13
Caucus & COW
Overview
Requires intergovernmental agreements (IGAs) for early intervention programs and services
(AzEIP) for infants and toddlers with developmental delays to include in the Initial
Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) information to families on all intervention service
options based on the assessed needs and outcomes for the infant or toddler.
History
Laws 1990, Chapter 220 directs the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) to serve
as the lead agency for the coordination of a system of AzEIP services for infants and toddlers
with developmental delays.
Under current law, the Interagency Coordinating Council for Infants and Toddlers (Council)
must advise and assist DES in developing and implementing the statewide system and assist
in DES in achieving the full participation, coordination and cooperation of all appropriate
public agencies in Arizona. DES, the Arizona Department of Education, Arizona Department
of Health Services, Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System and Arizona State
Schools for the Deaf and the Blind must enter into one or more IGAs to develop and
implement a comprehensive, coordinated system of AzEIP services for infants and toddlers
with or at risk of developmental delays and their families in accordance with federal law. The
Council can assist in the development of the interagency agreements (A.R.S. § 41-2022).
Provisions
1. Instructs IGAs that are developed and implemented by DES must require that IFSPs
provide information on intervention service options available to a family based on the
assessed needs and outcomes for the infant or toddler, including service options that may
not qualify for AzEIP. (Sec. 1)
2. Requires the family to be informed if a service option is not covered by AzEIP, in whole
or in part. (Sec. 1)
3. Requires IFSPs, if the child or toddler's assessment includes therapy services, to identify
all therapy services that the infant or toddler has been assessed for including occupational
therapy, physical therapy and speech-language pathology. (Sec. 1)
4. Requires any information provided at the IFSP meeting for an infant or toddler identified
with any level of hearing impairment to include:
a) information for technology services including hearing aids, cochlear or brainstem
implants, bone-anchored hearing aids and other assistive devices; and HB 2137
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b) information for options for language acquisition resources, including American Sign
Language, manually coded English, cued speech, speech reading and listening and
spoken language. (Sec. 1)
5. Requires agencies that provide services and participate in AzEIP to use public awareness
materials that include resources and information on intervention service options
available to a family based on the assessed needs and outcomes for the infant or toddler,
including service options that may not qualify for early intervention programs and
services. (Sec. 1)
6. Directs IGAs to have a process that allows parents to choose a natural environment for
services in which infants and toddlers with disabilities participate. (Sec. 1)
7. Instructs DES to create a process where a family has been referred to AzEIP can request
a different service coordinator, whether the coordinator is a contractor or state employee.
(Sec. 1)
8. Makes a technical change. (Sec. 1)
Amendments
Committee on Health & Human Services
1. Adds applied behavioral analysis to the list of therapy service options to be provided to
families.
2. Specifies that any information provided at the IFSP plan meeting for an infant or toddler
with any level of hearing impairment must also be provided at every subsequent review
of the IFSP meeting.
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note