(a) When considering an application for approval under this subchapter for expansion of early intervention day treatment services, including child health management services, developmental day treatment clinic services for children, or any successor program services, the Division of Developmental Disabilities Services of the Department of Human Services shall give approval in the following order of preference:
(1) A certified child health management services, a licensed developmental day treatment clinic services for children, or a successor program with existing operations in the county identified by the division as underserved;
(2) A certified child health management services program, a licensed developmental day treatment clinic services for children, or a successor program from another county in the state;
(3) An accredited entity in the underserved county;
(4) An accredited entity from another county in the state; and
(5) An accredited entity from outside the state.
(b) The division shall not require accreditation of the following entities in order to approve the entity's application for expansion of early intervention day treatment services under this subchapter:
(1) A certified child health management services program with existing operations on July 1, 2013;
(2) A licensed nonprofit community program providing developmental day treatment services for children with existing operations on July 1, 2013;
(3) A successor program that was a certified child health management services program with existing operations on July 1, 2013; or
(4) A successor program that was a licensed nonprofit community program providing developmental day treatment services for children with existing operations on July 1, 2013.