Adopted

AMENDMENT NO 1 PROPOSED TO

Cmte Sub for House Bill No. 1447

BY: Representatives Owen, Roberson

     Amend after line 67, by inserting the following:

     "SECTION 2.  (1)  To complete the work it commenced in 2023, the Early Intervention Task Force created by Chapter 487, Laws of 2023, and dissolved December 1, 2023, is hereby reconstituted to serve in an advisory capacity to assist the state agency coordinating Part C of IDEA in implementing a new service delivery model.  The goal of the task force shall be to collaborate with the state agency coordinating Part C of IDEA to design a new service delivery model and make changes to the Early Intervention Program.

     (2)  The members of the task force shall be as follows:

          (a)  The Chairmen of the Education Committees of the Mississippi Senate and the Mississippi House of Representatives, or his or her designee from their respective committee membership;

          (b)  The Chairmen of the Appropriations Committees of the Mississippi Senate and the Mississippi House of Representatives, or his or her designee from their respective committee membership;

          (c)  The Chairmen of the Public Health Committees of the Mississippi Senate and the Mississippi House of Representatives, or his or her designee from their respective committee membership;           (d)  One (1) member of the Mississippi State Senate, to be named by the Lieutenant Governor; and one (1) member of the Mississippi House of Representatives, to be named by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who are interested in early intervention issues;

          (e)  The State Health Officer of the Mississippi Department of Health or a designated deputy;

          (f)  One (1) designee who is a direct service provider in the First Steps Early Intervention Program, to be named by the State Health Officer;

          (g)  One (1) faculty member from the Social Science Research Center (SSRC) at Mississippi State University, to be named by the Director of the SSRC;

          (h)  One (1) developmental-behavioral pediatrician with expertise in early childhood systems building, to be named by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Mississippi Medical Center;           (i)  One (1) general pediatrician, to be named by the Mississippi Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics;

          (j)  One (1) clinical psychologist with expertise in social-emotional health of infants and toddlers, to be named by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Mississippi Medical Center;

          (k)  One (1) school psychologist employed by a school district, to be named by the Mississippi Association of Psychologists in the Schools;

          (l)  One (1) early interventionist/development therapist, to be named by the State Health Officer;

          (m)  The Executive Director of the Mississippi Early Learning Alliance;

          (n)  One (1) family advocacy representative to be appointed by the Executive Director of the Mississippi Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities;

          (o)  One (1) parent representative with current experience with early intervention to be appointed by the Executive Director of the Mississippi Coalition for Citizens with Disabilities;

          (p)  One (1) faculty member from the College of Health Sciences at Jackson State University, to be named by the president of such university;

          (q)  One (1) pediatrician, to be named by the Mississippi Region of the National Medical Association;

          (r)  The Executive Director of the Division of Medicaid, Office of the Governor, or the executive director's designee; and       (s)  The Director of the State Department of Education's Early Childhood Education Office, or such director's designee.

     (3)  A faculty member from each of the universities within the institutions of higher learning with an early childhood development program or early intervention program may be named by the president of each university to assist the task force.  In addition, the Executive Director of the Center for Mississippi Health Policy shall aid the task force.

     (4)  The task force shall meet within forty-five (45) days of the effective date of this act and shall commence its responsibilities set out in subsection (5) of this section.

     (5)  Specifically, in collaboration with the state agency coordinating Part C of IDEA, the task force shall:

          (a)  Review billing and reimbursement processes and rates for early intervention services in Mississippi and in other states, to ensure a timely receipt of payment to providers.  In performing this function, a recommendation shall be made to the  Legislature by January 1, 2025, on a more efficient system for providing compensation to providers and for billing and collecting from third-party payors;

          (b)  Evaluate early intervention service delivery models, including a hub or hybrid model involving university participation and determine how this model may impact the training of students and delivery of services to members of the eligible population.  In performing this function, a recommendation shall be made to the Legislature that will offer a service delivery structure to enhance the efficient and effective delivery of quality services to the eligible population; and

          (c)  Review any other matters related to the above issues or related to early intervention services.

     (6)  The state agency coordinating Part C of IDEA and the task force may request the assistance of the Social Science Research Center at Mississippi State University, the Mississippi Early Learning Alliance or any other related entity or organization with expertise in early intervention services.

     (7)  The members of the task force shall elect a chair from among the members.  The task force shall develop and report its findings and recommendations for proposed legislation to the Legislature in response to the proposal of the state agency coordinating Part C of IDEA to make changes to the service delivery structure for the program and changes to the way the state pays service providers and recoups payments from third-party payors, which shall be due to the task force and Legislature by December 1, 2024.  A quorum of the membership shall be required to approve any final report and recommendation.  Members of the task force shall be reimbursed for necessary travel expense in the same manner as public employees are reimbursed for official duties from any available funds and members of the Legislature shall be reimbursed in the same manner as for attending out-of-session committee meetings.

     (8)  The Joint Legislative Committee on Performance Evaluation and Expenditure Review shall provide necessary clerical support for the meetings of the task force and research support as needed for the preparation of the report.  Proposed legislation shall be prepared by the Legislative Services Offices of the Senate and House as requested.

     (9)  The task force shall be dissolved upon presentation of its report."

Further, amend on line 68 by striking "2" and inserting in lieu thereof: "3".

     Further, amend the title to conform on line 9, by inserting the following after the semicolon:

"TO RECONSTITUTE THE EARLY INTERVENTION TASK FORCE WITH A GOAL TO COLLABORATE WITH THE STATE AGENCY COORDINATING PART C OF IDEA TO DESIGN A NEW SERVICE DELIVERY MODEL AND MAKE CHANGES TO THE EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAM; TO SET THE TASK FORCE'S DUTIES; TO REQUIRE THE TASK FORCE TO PREPARE A FINAL REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE; TO REQUIRE THE STATE AGENCY COORDINATING PART C OF IDEA TO PREPARE AND DELIVER A REPORT THAT PROVIDES FOR POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS; TO DISSOLVE THE TASK FORCE UPON PRESENTATION OF THE REPORT;".