The bill amends RCW 43.216.580 to enhance the early support for infants and toddlers program, which provides early intervention services to eligible children with disabilities from birth to three years of age. It establishes that the Department of Children, Youth, and Families is the state lead agency for Part C of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and outlines that eligibility for services will be determined according to federal and state laws, as well as the Washington Administrative Code. The bill emphasizes that the services provided will not replace existing early intervention services or funding.

Additionally, the bill specifies the funding mechanism for the program, which will be based on the annual average head count of eligible children receiving services, multiplied by a specific allocation formula. It also clarifies that federal funds related to Part C of IDEA will adhere to payor of last resort requirements. Notably, the bill removes the previous multiplier used in the funding calculation, replacing it with a fixed multiplier of 1.20. The services provided under this program are explicitly stated to be separate from the state's basic education program as defined by the state Constitution.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 43.216.580