Sec. 01.01.2007.13. Governor's Interagency Transition Council for Youth with Disabilities [Rescinds Executive Order 01.01.2000.26]

A. Established. There is an Interagency Transition Council for Youth with Disabilities.

B. Composition. The Council consists of up to 27 members, including:

(1) The Secretary of the Department of Disabilities or designee;

(2) The State Superintendent of Education or designee, and the following additional representatives from the Maryland State Department of Education:

(a) The Assistant State Superintendent of the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS);

(b) A Regional Director of the Division of Rehabilitation Services;

(c) The Assistant State Superintendent of the Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services;

(d) A local transition coordinator from the Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services;

(e) A member of the Family Support Services Office of the Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services;

(f) The Assistant State Superintendent of the Division of Career Technology and Adult Learning; and

(g) The Assistant State Superintendent of the Division of Student and School Services;

(3) A representative of the Department of Juvenile Services;

(4) A representative of the Department of Human Resources;

(5) Two representatives of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, including:

(a) The Director of the Developmental Disabilities Administration or designee; and

(b) The Director of the Mental Hygiene Administration or designee;

(6) Two representatives of the Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation, including:

(a) A representative of the Division of Workforce Development of the Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation;

(b) A representative of the Governor's Workforce Investment Board Youth Council, or a local Workforce Investment Board youth representative;

(7) The Executive Director of the Governor's Office for Children or designee;

(8) A representative of the Maryland Technology Assistance Program;

(9) Two representatives of the Maryland Higher Education Commission, one of whom shall be selected from the membership of the Maryland Disability Higher Education Network;

(10) A representative of the Maryland Commission on Disabilities;

(11) Up to six members with relevant interest or expertise appointed by the Governor. These individuals shall represent parents, advocacy organizations serving the disability community, service agencies in the public or private sector, and the general public. No more than one member shall represent the same agency. Every effort will be made to provide geographic and cultural diversity of the State. Members appointed under this provision shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor for up to two consecutive three-year terms; and

(12) A student representative who has participated in the Maryland Youth Leadership Forum who is recommended by the Maryland State Department of Education and appointed by the Governor. The representative shall be a student between the ages of 14 and 21 years of age who meets the eligibility criteria of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act or Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. A student appointed under this provision shall serve a one-year term.

C. Leadership. The Secretary of the Department of Disabilities shall serve as the Chair of the Council. There shall also be a position of Co-Chair, which shall rotate every two years, in the following order:

(1) The Assistant State Superintendent of the Division of Rehabilitation Services;

(2) The representative from the Developmental Disabilities Administration;

(3) The representative of the Mental Hygiene Administration; and

(4) The Assistant State Superintendent of the Division of Special Education/Early Intervention Services.

D. Procedures. The following procedures apply to the Council:

(1) Staffing. Staff support shall be provided by the Division of Rehabilitation Services of the Maryland State Department of Education.

(2) Other Support. The Council may name additional consulting members or establish such committees as may be necessary or helpful in discharging its duties.

(3) Meetings. The Council shall meet at least four times a year.

(4) Compensation. Appointed members of the Council may not receive any compensation for their services, but they may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, in accordance with the Standard State Travel Regulations, and as provided in the State budget.

E. Duties. The Council shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

(1) Primary Responsibility. The primary responsibility of the Council shall be to annually review, revise, and update the Interagency State Plan for Transitioning Youth with Disabilities to ensure effective interagency planning and delivery of services for secondary students with disabilities. The Interagency State Plan for Transitioning Youth with Disabilities shall serve as the unifying link between child-serving systems and adult systems, and appropriate elements shall be incorporated into both the Department of Disabilities State Plan and the Governor's Office for Children's three-year plan. The Interagency State Plan will address:

(a) The coordination of State and federal workforce reform efforts, and secondary and postsecondary education system reform efforts;

(b) Employment and postsecondary education performance outcomes that measure benefit of services and numbers of students;

(c) Strategies to identify and replicate promising transition practices; and

(d) Cross-agency training and technical assistance for all stakeholders, including professionals, parents, students, and advocates.

(2) Additional Responsibilities. Additional responsibilities of the Council include:

(a) Identifying and reporting activities of each partner that impact the delivery, quality, and availability of transition services;

(b) Serving in an advisory capacity to all transition-related federal grants; and

(c) Disseminating information concerning the goals and activities of the Interagency State Plan for Transitioning Youth with Disabilities for public comment concurrent with forum events held by DORS.

F. Reports. The Interagency Transition Council shall annually report to the Governor about the goals and progress of the Interagency State Plan for Transitioning Youth with Disabilities on or before September 30 of each year.

Effective date: August 2, 2007 (34:17 Md. R. 1492)