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 Early Childhood.

(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 303.13, 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 Office of Early Childhood, the public agency responsible for the administration of the birth-to-three system in collaboration with the participating agencies.

(8) “Parent” means (A) a biological, adoptive or foster parent of a child; (B) a guardian, except for the Commissioner of Children and Families; (C) an individual acting in the place of a biological or adoptive parent, including, but not limited to, a grandparent, stepparent, or other relative with whom the child lives; (D) an individual who is legally responsible for the child’s welfare; or (E) an individual appointed to be a surrogate parent.

(9) “Participating agencies” includes, but is not limited to, the Departments of Education, Social Services, Public Health, Children and Families and Developmental Services, the Office of Early Childhood, the Insurance Department and the Department of Rehabilitation Services.

(10) “Qualified personnel” means persons who meet the standards specified in 34 CFR Part 303.31, 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) “Service coordinator” means a person carrying out service coordination services, as defined in 34 CFR Part 303.34, as from time to time amended.

(12) “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); P.A. 10-93, S. 1; P.A. 11-44, S. 28; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-1, S. 65; P.A. 13-20, S. 4; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5, S. 259; P.A. 17-96, S. 14.)

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; P.A. 10-93 redefined “parent” in Subdiv. (8), deleted definition of “region” in former Subdiv. (11) and redesignated existing Subdivs. (12) and (13) as Subdivs. (11) and (12); P.A. 11-44 replaced “Board of Education and Services for the Blind” and “Commission on the Deaf and Hearing Impaired” with “Bureau of Rehabilitative Services”, effective July 1, 2011; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-1 amended Subdiv. (9) by replacing “Bureau of Rehabilitative Services” with “Department of Rehabilitation Services”, effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 13-20 amended Subdiv. (3) to redefine “early intervention services” by substituting 34 CFR Part 303.13 for 34 CFR Part 303.12, amended Subdiv. (10) to redefine “qualified personnel” by substituting 34 CFR Part 303.31 for 34 CFR Part 303.12(e), and amended Subdiv. (11) to redefine “service coordinator” by substituting 34 CFR Part 303.34 for 34 CFR Part 303.22 and making a technical change; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 15-5 replaced “Developmental Services” with “Early Childhood” in Subdiv. (1), replaced “Department of Developmental Services” with “Office of Early Childhood” in Subdiv. (7), and added “the Office of Early Childhood” in Subdiv. (9), effective July 1, 2015; P.A. 17-96 amended Subdiv. (9) by deleting reference to Office of Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Disabilities and making technical changes, effective July 1, 2017.