143B-179.5. Interagency Coordinating Council for Children from Birth to Five with Disabilities and Their Families; establishment, composition, organization; duties, compensation, reporting.

(a) There is established an Interagency Coordinating Council for Children from Birth to Five with Disabilities and Their Families in the Department of Health and Human Services.

(b) The Interagency Coordinating Council shall have 26 members, appointed by the Governor. Effective July 1, 1994, the Governor shall designate 13 appointees to serve for two years and 13 appointees to serve for one year. Thereafter, the terms of all Council members shall be two years. The Governor shall have the power to remove any member of the Council from office in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 143B-16. Any appointment to fill a vacancy on the Council created by the resignation, dismissal, death, or disability of a member shall be for the balance of the unexpired term. Members may be appointed to succeed themselves for one term and may be appointed again, after being off the Council for one term.

The composition of the Council and the designation of the Council's chair shall be as specified in the "Individuals with Disabilities Education Act" (IDEA), P.L. 102-119, the federal early intervention legislation, except that two members shall be members of the Senate, appointed from recommendations of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and two members shall be members of the House of Representatives, appointed from recommendations of the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

(c) The chair may establish those standing and ad hoc committees and task forces as may be necessary to carry out the functions of the Council and appoint Council members or other individuals to serve on these committees and task forces. The Council shall meet at least quarterly. A majority of the Council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

(d) The Council shall advise the Department of Health and Human Services and other appropriate agencies in carrying out their early intervention services, and the Department of Public Instruction, and other appropriate agencies, in their activities related to the provision of special education services for preschoolers. The Council shall specifically address in its studies and evaluations that it considers necessary to its advising:

(1) The identification of sources of fiscal and other support for the early intervention system;

(2) The development of policies related to the early intervention services;

(3) The preparation of applications for available federal funds;

(4) The resolution of interagency disputes; and

(5) The promotion of interagency agreements.

(e) Members of the Council and parents on ad hoc committees and task forces of the Council shall receive travel and subsistence expenses in accordance with the provisions of G.S. 138-5.

(f) The Council shall prepare and submit an annual report to the Governor and to the General Assembly on the status of the early intervention system for eligible infants and toddlers and on the status of special education services for preschoolers.

All clerical and other services required by the Council shall be supplied by the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Superintendent of Public Instruction, as specified by the interagency agreement authorized by G.S. 122C-112(a)(13).