SB2217 Summary

• Amends the Early Intervention Services System Act to expand and clarify definitions, including changing "clinical judgment" to "clinical opinion" and adding new service types like nursing services, nutrition services, and sign language/cued language services.

• Revises terminology throughout the act from "psycho-social" to "social or emotional" and from "self-help skills" to "adaptive" development to align with current developmental assessment standards.

• Requires the lead agency to hold public hearings and provide 30-day notice and comment periods before adopting new policies or procedures to comply with Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

• Strengthens parental consent requirements for private insurance use, specifying that consent must be obtained when initially billing insurance and when increasing service frequency, duration, or intensity.

• Repeals Section 13.50 establishing a Legislative Advisory Committee and removes references to it, while maintaining the Council's responsibility to provide annual reports to the Governor and General Assembly.