Texas Interagency Council on Early Childhood Intervention:

An Inventory of Records at the Texas State Archives, 1987-1996

Agency History

The Texas Interagency Council on Early Childhood Intervention was created in 1981 (Senate Bill 630, 67th Legislature, Regular Session) to set policy and make rules for the Texas Department of Health's Early Childhood Intervention Program. The program became a separate state agency, taking the name of its governing board, effective September 1, 1993 after legislation was passed that reorganized health and human services agencies (House Bill 1510, 73rd Legislature, Regular Session). The council, operating under authority of the Human Resources Code (V.T.C.A., Chapter 73), provides services to Texas children under age three who are documented as having a developmental delay or have been diagnosed with a condition that has a high probability of resulting in developmental delay. The Health and Human Services Commission has budgetary oversight over the council and 10 other state agencies.

The 15-member board is composed of eight lay members who are family members of children with developmental delay appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate; one representative of the Texas Education Agency appointed by the Commissioner of Education; and six non-voting members representing the Texas Department of Health, the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, the Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, the Texas Department of Human Services, the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services, and the Texas Workforce Commission. Nine voting members serve staggered six-year terms; the six non-voting members serve at the will of the heads of the agencies that appointed them. The governor designates the presiding officer who serves at the governor's will; members elect an assisting presiding officer who serves a two-year term. The board must meet at least quarterly.

An advisory committee appointed by the governor assists the board in its duties. The board establishes the size and composition of the committee by rule. Currently, the committee has 24 members, including at a minimum: seven parents of developmentally disabled children; five service providers; a representative from the Texas Legislature; an individual involved in personnel preparation; representatives from the Texas Department of Health, the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, the Texas Department of Human Service, the Texas Education Agency, the Texas Department of Insurance, the Texas Workforce Commission, and Head Start; a physician; a public health professional; and a professional advocate for the rights of young children with developmental delays. The governor or board may appoint ex officio members to carry out time-limited tasks as needed. The committee elects its own presiding officer. In addition to advising the board, the advisory committee, with assistance from the board, prepares an annual report to the governor and to the secretary of the United States Department of Education on the status of early intervention programs operated within the state for eligible children and their families. (Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 621, Subchapter D)

The board with the advice of the advisory committee addresses issues affecting intervention services in the state including: (1) successful intervention strategies; (2) personnel preparation and continuing education; (3) screening services; (4) day or respite care services; (5) public awareness; and (6) contemporary research. The board with the advice of the advisory committee advises the legislature on legislation that is needed to maintain a statewide system of quality intervention services for children with developmental delay who are under three years of age and the families of those children. The board may develop and submit legislation to the legislature or comment on pending legislation that affects this population. In 1987, the council was designated by the governor as the lead agency under the Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments of 1986 (Public Law 99-457), now known as Subchapter VIII, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (20 U.S.C. Section 1471 et seq.), and its subsequent amendments, for the administration, supervision, and monitoring of a statewide comprehensive system of early intervention services. In this capacity, the council receives federal grant funds.

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Scope and Contents of the Records

Records are correspondence, agenda, drafts of minutes, reports, interagency contracts, grant applications, memorandums, notes, clippings, printed material, lists, tables, plans, policies, guidelines, position papers, articles, vitae, forms, rules, statutes, questionnaires, financial records, and visitor logs, 1987-1996, of the Texas Interagency Council on Early Childhood Intervention and its advisory committee. The council provides services to Texas children under age three who are documented as having a developmental delay or have been diagnosed with a condition that has a high probability of resulting in developmental delay. Meeting supporting documentation provides background materials concerning topics discussed at board and advisory committee meetings. Evidence of interaction with other state agencies, as well as the U.S. Department of Education and the National Early Childhood Technical Assistance System, is found in the administrative correspondence. Federal grant applications provide information about the state's system of early intervention services for developmentally delayed children.

To prepare this inventory, the described materials were cursorily reviewed to delineate series, to confirm the accuracy of contents lists, to provide an estimate of dates covered, and to determine record types.

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

Because of the possibility that portions of the meeting supporting documentation fall under the Public Information Act exceptions, these records must be reviewed by an archivist before they can be accessed for research.

Restrictions on Use

Where necessary, records will be redacted or restricted to comply with the Public Information Act and the Attorney General's decision.

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Related Material

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item and cite the series), Records, Texas Interagency Council on Early Childhood Intervention. Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.

Accession Information

Accession number: 2001/099

These records were transferred to the Archives and Information Services Division of the Texas State Library and Archives Commission by the Texas Interagency Council on Early Childhood Intervention on February 13, 2001.

Processing Information

Tonia J. Wood, February 2001

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Detailed Description of the Records

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