(a)

(1) There shall be an Advisory Council for the Education of Children with Disabilities, which shall advise and consult with the Commissioner of Education and the Associate Director of the Special Education Section of the Department of Education and which shall engage in such other activities as are set forth in this section.

(2) The advisory council shall be advisory only and shall have no administrative responsibility or authority.

(b) (1) The advisory council shall be composed of individuals involved in, or concerned with, the education of children with disabilities, including:

(A) Parents of persons from birth to twenty-six (26) years of age with disabilities;

(B) Individuals with disabilities;

(C) Teachers;

(D) Representatives of institutions of higher education that prepare special education and related services personnel;

(E) State and local education officials, including officials who carry out activities under subtitle B of Title VII of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. § 11431 et seq.;

(F) Administrators of programs for children with disabilities;

(G) Representatives of other state agencies involved in the financing or delivery of related services to children with disabilities;

(H) Representatives of private schools and public charter schools;

(I) Not fewer than one (1) representative of a vocational, community, or business organization concerned with the provision of transitional services to children with disabilities;

(J) Representatives from the state juvenile and adult corrections agencies; and

(K) A representative from the Arkansas child welfare agency responsible for foster care.

(2) A majority of the members of the panel shall be individuals with disabilities or parents of persons from birth to twenty-six (26) years of age with disabilities.

(c)

(1) The commissioner shall appoint the members of the advisory council for three-year terms.

(2) Appointees may be eligible for reappointment for one (1) term.

(d) Vacancies which leave unexpired terms shall be filled in the regular manner for the unexpired period of time, and vacancies as a result of expiration of terms shall be filled in the regular manner for three-year periods.

(e) The advisory council shall elect annually its own chair and vice chair.

(f) The associate director shall meet with and act as secretary to the advisory council and, subject to the availability of personnel, facilities, and appropriations, shall furnish meeting facilities and staff services for the advisory council.

(g) The advisory council shall:

(1) Advise the Department of Education of unmet needs within the state in the education of children with disabilities;

(2) Comment publicly on any rules or regulations proposed by the state regarding the education of children with disabilities;

(3) Advise the department in developing evaluations and reporting on data to the Secretary of Education under 20 U.S.C. § 1418;

(4) Advise the department in developing corrective action plans to address findings identified in federal monitoring reports under Title 20, Chapter 33, Subchapter II of the United States Code; and

(5) Advise the department in developing and implementing policies relating to the coordination of services for children with disabilities.