[§302A-436]  Departmental duty towardexceptional children.  (a)  It is hereby declared to be of vital concern tothe State that all exceptional children residing in the State be provided withinstruction, special facilities, and special services for education, therapy,and training to enable them to live normal competitive lives.  In order toeffectively accomplish this purpose, the department shall establish andadminister instruction, special facilities, and special services for theeducation, therapy, and training of exceptional children, and provide inconnection therewith corrective therapy, together with academic, occupational,and related training.  The department shall cooperate with other agencies ofthe State charged with the administration of laws providing any type of serviceor aid to the exceptional child, and with the United States government throughany appropriate agency or instrumentality in developing, extending, andimproving the foregoing instruction, special facilities, and special services.

(b)  This program shall include boardingfacilities, when necessary, special classes in schools or homes, and such otherfacilities as shall be required to render appropriate services to theexceptional child.  Existing facilities, buildings, and equipment belonging to,or operated by, the State shall be made available for these purposes when usethereof does not conflict with the primary use of the facilities. [L 1996, c89, pt of §2]