State Codes and Statutes
Statutes > Connecticut > Title17a > Chap319b > Sec17a-248Sec. 17a-248. Birth-to-three program. Definitions. As used in this section and sections 17a-248b to 17a-248g, inclusive, 38a-490a and 38a-516a, unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Developmental Services.
(2) "Council" means the State Interagency Birth-to-Three Coordinating Council established pursuant to section 17a-248b.
(3) "Early intervention services" means early intervention services, as defined in 34 CFR Part 303.12, as from time to time amended.
(4) "Eligible children" means children from birth to thirty-six months of age, who are not eligible for special education and related services pursuant to sections 10-76a to 10-76h, inclusive, and who need early intervention services because such children are:
(A) Experiencing a significant developmental delay as measured by standardized diagnostic instruments and procedures, including informed clinical opinion, in one or more of the following areas: (i) Cognitive development; (ii) physical development, including vision or hearing; (iii) communication development; (iv) social or emotional development; or (v) adaptive skills; or
(B) Diagnosed as having a physical or mental condition that has a high probability of resulting in developmental delay.
(5) "Evaluation" means a multidisciplinary professional, objective assessment conducted by appropriately qualified personnel in order to determine a child's eligibility for early intervention services.
(6) "Individualized family service plan" means a written plan for providing early intervention services to an eligible child and the child's family.
(7) "Lead agency" means the Department of Developmental Services, the public agency responsible for the administration of the birth-to-three system in collaboration with the participating agencies.
(8) "Parent" means the child's parent or a person in a parental relationship to the child. With respect to a child who has no parent or person in a parental relationship, "parent" means the person designated to serve in a parental relationship for the purposes of this section and sections 17a-248b to 17a-248g, inclusive, 38a-490a and 38a-516a, pursuant to regulations of the Department of Developmental Services, adopted in accordance with chapter 54 in consultation with the Department of Children and Families, for children in foster care.
(9) "Participating agencies" includes, but is not limited to, the Departments of Education, Social Services, Public Health, Children and Families and Developmental Services, the Insurance Department, the Board of Education and Services for the Blind, the Commission on the Deaf and Hearing Impaired and the Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities.
(10) "Qualified personnel" means persons who meet the standards specified in 34 CFR Part 303.12(e), as from time to time amended, and who are licensed physicians or psychologists or persons holding a state-approved or recognized license, certificate or registration in one or more of the following fields: (A) Special education, including teaching of the blind and the deaf; (B) speech and language pathology and audiology; (C) occupational therapy; (D) physical therapy; (E) social work; (F) nursing; (G) dietary or nutritional counseling; and (H) other fields designated by the commissioner that meet requirements that apply to the area in which the person is providing early intervention services, provided there is no conflict with existing professional licensing, certification and registration requirements.
(11) "Region" means a region within the Department of Developmental Services.
(12) "Service coordinator" means a person carrying out service coordination, as defined in 34 CFR Part 303.22, as from time to time amended.
(13) "Primary care provider" means physicians and advanced practice registered nurses, licensed by the Department of Public Health, who are responsible for performing or directly supervising the primary care services for children enrolled in the birth-to-three program.
(P.A. 96-185, S. 1, 16; P.A. 00-27, S. 1, 24; P.A. 04-54, S. 1; P.A. 07-73, S. 2(a), (b).)
History: P.A. 96-185 effective July 1, 1996; P.A. 00-27 made technical changes, effective May 1, 2000; P.A. 04-54 added Subdiv. (13) defining "primary care provider", effective May 4, 2004; pursuant to P.A. 07-73 "Commissioner of Mental Retardation" and "Department of Mental Retardation" were changed editorially by the Revisors to "Commissioner of Developmental Services" and "Department of Developmental Services", effective October 1, 2007.
