Sec. 1. 5 MRSA §12004-G, sub-§15-B is enacted to read:

15-B. Interde- Expenses 22 MRSA

Human Services partmental Only §8429

Coordina-

ting Coun-

cil for

Early Inter-

vention

Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA c. 307-A, as amended, is repealed.

Sec. 3. 22 MRSA c. 1676 is enacted to read:

CHAPTER 1676

SERVICES FOR INFANTS AND CHILDREN

WITH DISABILITIES

§8421.__System

1.__Establishment.__The Child Development Services System is established for the purpose of maintaining a coordinated service delivery system for the provision of childfind activities for children, from birth to under 6 years of age, early intervention services for eligible children, from birth to under 3 years of age, and free, appropriate public education services for eligible children, from 3 years of age to under 6 years of age, who have a disability.__The Child Development Services System consists of regional sites organized as intermediate educational units or as private nonprofit corporations, one state-level intermediate educational unit within the Department of Human Services and an Interdepartmental Coordinating Council for Early Intervention advisory board.__The Child Development Services System shall ensure application of the provisions of this chapter statewide through a contractual or grant relationship between the Department of Human Services and each regional site.

2.__Governmental purpose.__The Child Development Services System is established as a body corporate and politic and as a public instrumentality of the State, and the exercise of the powers conferred by this section is deemed to be the performance of essential governmental functions.

§8422.__Definitions

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the following meanings.