(1) (a) On or before October 1, 2018, the department shall enter into an interagency agreement, referred to in this section as the "agreement", with the department of education to study the administration of early intervention evaluations.

(b) The agreement must include a process for studying the following, in relation to conducting early intervention evaluations:

(I) Establishing clear lines of responsibility and accountability using contracts and interagency agreements;

(II) Necessary reporting requirements and report-sharing requirements, including deadlines for report-sharing;

(III) A description of how funding should be allocated between the parties to the agreement;

(IV) Monitoring of program compliance and agreement compliance;

(V) Evaluation timeline requirements;

(VI) Evaluation tools;

(VII) The location of evaluations, including a pilot program for in-home evaluations;

(VIII) A pilot program for integrated services that allows for wrap-around services;

(IX) Practices to ensure minimal disruption to families;

(X) Data collection from local education agencies and entities that conduct early intervention evaluations regarding actual costs associated with part C evaluations and early intervention evaluations; and

(XI) Transition for part C services in the department to part B services in the department of education, including timelines for this transition.

(c) The executive director, in consultation with the commissioner of education, shall hire an independent third party to facilitate and assist the departments entering into the agreement.

(d)

(I) Except as provided in subsection (1)(d)(II) of this section, on or before November 1, 2018, the department and the department of education shall report to the joint budget committee on the agreement.

(II) In the event that the department and the department of education do not enter into the agreement by October 1, 2018, the department and the department of education shall each submit alternative interagency agreements to the joint budget committee by November 1, 2018, from which the joint budget committee shall select an interagency agreement before the beginning of the succeeding calendar year.

(2) On or before June 30, 2019, the department and the department of education shall report to the joint budget committee concerning the agreement, including recommendations for the administration of early intervention evaluations.