Section 2551. Coordinated standards and procedures

1. The state early
  intervention  service  agencies  shall  jointly  establish   coordinated
  standards and procedures for:
    (a) early intervention services and evaluations;
    (b) child find system and public awareness program; and
    (c)  programs  and services, operating under the approval authority of
  any state early intervention service agency,  which  include  any  early
  intervention services or evaluations.
    2. Such coordinated standards and procedures shall be designed to:
    (a)  enhance  the objectives of this title, including the provision of
  services in natural environments to the maximum extent possible;
    (b) minimize duplicative and inconsistent  regulations  and  practices
  among the state early intervention service agencies;
    (c)  conform,  to  the  extent  appropriate, to existing standards and
  procedures of state early intervention service agencies; and
    (d) ensure that persons who provide early  intervention  services  are
  trained, or can demonstrate proficiency in principles of early childhood
  development.
    3.   Coordinated  standards  and  procedures  may  include  guidelines
  suggesting  appropriate  early  intervention  services  for   enumerated
  disabilities that are most frequently found in eligible children.
    4.  Coordinated  standards  and  procedures may encompass or allow for
  agreements among two or more such agencies.
    5. Any standards promulgated by regulation or otherwise by  any  state
  early  intervention service agency governing early intervention services
  or evaluations shall be consistent with the  coordinated  standards  and
  procedures.
    6. In the event of an inability to agree upon any coordinated standard
  or  procedure, any state early intervention service agency may refer the
  issue to the early intervention coordinating council for its advice with
  respect to the standard or procedure which the council shall provide  to
  the  early  intervention  service  agencies  affected  by the issue. The
  commissioner, after obtaining such advice, shall  adopt  an  appropriate
  standard or procedure, provided however, that the commissioner may adopt
  an interim standard or procedure while awaiting such advice.
    7.  Coordinated standards and procedures shall provide that any agency
  which  is  an  approved  program  or  service  provider  under   section
  forty-four  hundred  ten  of  the education law, and which also plans to
  provide early intervention services may apply  to  the  commissioner  of
  education  for approval to provide such services. Such approval shall be
  granted based on the agency's compliance with the coordinated  standards
  and  procedures  for  early intervention services and, where applicable,
  education certifications.
    8. The early intervention service agencies, in consultation  with  the
  director of the budget, shall, where appropriate, require as a condition
  of approval that evaluators and providers of early intervention services
  participate in the medical assistance program.
    9.   The  coordinated  standards  and  procedures  shall  permit  such
  evaluators and providers of services to rely on  subcontracts  or  other
  written  agreements  with qualified professionals, or agencies employing
  such professionals,  provided  that  such  professionals  perform  their
  responsibilities in conformance with regulations of the commissioner and
  that  providers  and  evaluators  fully  disclose any such arrangements,
  including any financial or personal interests, on all  applications  for
  approval.
    10.  Coordinated  standards  and procedures may identify circumstances
  and procedures under which an  evaluator  or  service  provider  may  be

  disqualified   under   this   title,   including  procedures  whereby  a
  municipality may request such disqualification.