Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 111 Part 1.djvu/130

 Ill STAT. 106 PUBLIC LAW 105-17-JUNE 4, 1997 " PART C—INFANTS AND TODDLERS WITH DISABILITIES 20 USC 1431. "SEC. 631. FINDINGS AND POLICY. "(a) FINDINGS.— The Congress finds that there is an urgent and substantial need— "(1) to enhance the development of infants and toddlers with disabilities and to minimize their potential for developmental delay; "(2) to reduce the educational costs to our society, including our Nation's schools, by minimizing the need for special education and related services after infants and toddlers with disabilities reach school age; "(3) to minimize the likelihood of institutionalization of individuals with disabilities and maximize the potential for their independently living in society; "(4) to enhance the capacity of families to meet the special needs of their infants and toddlers with disabilities; and "(5) to enhance the capacity of State and local agencies and service providers to identify, evaluate, and meet the needs of historically underrepresented populations, particularly minority, low-income, inner-city, and rural populations. "(b) POLICY.—It is therefore the policy of the United States to provide financial assistance to States— "(1) to develop and implement a statewide, comprehensive, coordinated, multidisciplinary, interagency system that provides early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families; "(2) to facilitate the coordination of payment for early intervention services from Federal, State, local, and private sources (including public and private insurance coverage); "(3) to enhance their capacity to provide quality early intervention services and expand and improve existing early intervention services being provided to infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families; and "(4) to encourage States to expand opportunities for children under 3 years of age who would be at risk of having substantial developmental delay if they did not receive early intervention services. 20 USC 1432. »SEC. 632. DEFINITIONS. "As used in this part: "(1) AT-RISK INFANT OR TODDLER. — The term 'at-risk infant or toddler' means an individual under 3 years of age who would be at risk of experiencing a substantial developmental delay if early intervention services were not provided to the individual. "(2) COUNCIL.— The term 'council' means a State interagency coordinating council established under section 641. "(3) DEVELOPMENTAL DELAY.— The term 'developmental delay', when used with respect to an individual residing in a State, has the meaning given such term by the State under section 635(a)(1). "(4) EARLY INTERVENTION SERVICES.— The term 'early intervention services' means developmental services that— "(A) are provided under public supervision;

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