Sec. 47.80.090. - Responsibilities. - Alaska Statutes

The council shall

(1) serve as a forum by which issues and benefits regarding current and potential services to disabled and gifted persons may be discussed by consumer, public, private, professional, and lay interests;

(2) advocate the needs of disabled and gifted persons before the executive and legislative branches of the state government and before the public;

(3) advise the executive and legislative branches of the state government and the private sector on programs and policies pertaining to current and potential services to disabled or gifted persons and their families;

(4) submit periodic reports to the commissioner of health and social services, the commissioner of education and early development, and to other appropriate departments, on the effects of current federal and state programs regarding services to disabled or gifted persons; these reports must include program performance reports to the governor, the federal government, and to state agencies as required under 20 U.S.C. 1482 and 42 U.S.C. 6024;

(5) in conjunction with the Departments of Health and Social Services and Education and Early Development, develop, prepare, adopt, periodically review, and revise as necessary an annual state plan prescribing programs that meet the needs of persons with developmental disabilities as required under 42 U.S.C. 6022;

(6) review and comment to commissioners of state departments on all state plans and proposed regulations relating to programs for persons who are experiencing disabilities before the adoption of a plan or regulation; for this purpose, the appropriate departments shall submit the plans and proposed regulations to the council;

(7) recommend the priorities and specifications for the use of funds received by the state under 20 U.S.C. 1471 - 1485 and 42 U.S.C. 6000 - 6083;

(8) submit annually to the commissioner of health and social services, the commissioner of education and early development, and the commissioner of commerce, community, and economic development a proposed interdepartmental program budget for services to disabled or gifted persons that includes, insofar as possible, projected revenues and expenditures for programs implemented by state agencies, local governmental agencies, and private organizations; the interdepartmental program budget is an informational supplement to the regular annual budgetary submissions of the departments to the Office of the Governor;

(9) provide information and guidance for the development of appropriate special educational programs and services for a child with a disability as defined in AS 14.30.350 ;

(10) monitor and evaluate budgets or other implementation plans and programs for disabled and gifted persons to assure nonduplication of services and encourage efficient and coordinated use of federal, state, and private resources in the provision of services; members of the council, with the approval of the council, have access to information in the possession of state agencies subject to disclosure restrictions imposed by state or federal confidentiality or privacy laws;

(11) perform other duties required under applicable federal laws or AS 14.30.231 and as the governor may assign;

(12) govern the special education service agency and may hire personnel necessary to operate the agency; and

(13) provide to the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority for its review and consideration recommendations concerning the integrated comprehensive mental health program for the people of the state who are described in AS 47.30.056 (b)(2) and the use of the money in the mental health trust settlement income account in a manner consistent with regulations adopted under AS 47.30.031 .