(a) The Governor's Early Intervention Interagency Coordinating Council is continued. The council is composed of at least fifteen members appointed by the Governor with additional ex officio members representing specific agencies serving infants and toddlers with developmental delays.

(b) The membership of the council shall consist of the following:

(1) At least three parents of children, ages birth through six years of age, who have developmental delays;

(2) At least three persons representative of the public or private service providers;

(3) At least one member of the House of Delegates recommended by the Speaker of the House of Delegates and one member of the Senate recommended by the Senate President;

(4) At least one person from higher education involved in training individuals to provide services under this article; and

(5) A representative of each of the agencies involved in the provision of or payment for early intervention services to infants and toddlers with developmental delays and their families.

(c) The council shall meet at least quarterly and in such place as it considers necessary.

(d) The council is responsible for the following functions:

(1) To advise and assist the Department of Health and Human Resources in the development and implementation of early intervention policies;

(2) To assist the department in achieving the full participation of all relevant state agencies and programs;

(3) To collaborate with the Bureau for Children and Families in the coordination of early intervention services with other programs and services for children and families;

(4) To assist the department in the effective implementation of a statewide system of early intervention services;

(5) To assist the department in the resolution of disputes;

(6) To advise and assist the department in the preparation of grant applications; and

(7) To prepare and submit an annual report to the Governor, the Legislature and the United States Secretary of Education on the status of early intervention programs within the state.