The general assembly finds that state and local agencies provide a variety of services and supports to persons with developmental disabilities including institutional care, residential, social, and income maintenance services, diagnostic and health-related services, and educational and other programs. Because these services and supports are supported by many diverse agencies and organizations and because congress, through the federal "Developmental Disabilities Services and Facilities Construction Act", and amendments thereto, has called for the establishment of state councils to provide coordination and planning in the field of developmental disabilities, the general assembly declares that there is need to establish a state council on developmental disabilities to be responsible for the coordination of services and supports to the persons with developmental disabilities and to serve as an advocate for such persons. The general assembly further finds that there is need to carefully define the duties and responsibilities of a state council on developmental disabilities.
Source: L. 79: Entire part added, p. 1117, § 1, effective July 1. L. 85: Entire section amended, p. 1010, § 33, effective July 1. L. 92: Entire section amended, p. 1386, § 31, effective July 1. L. 2002: Entire section amended, p. 1024, § 48, effective June 1.