52-2-203. Cooperative agreement regarding children's services. (1) State agencies shall enter into a cooperative agreement for the purpose of coordinating services to children with multiagency service needs. However, the existing state and community interagency service delivery and planning process for developmental disabilities may not be affected by this section.

(2) The cooperative agreement may:

(a) include a functional definition of "children with multiagency service needs";

(b) identify the responsibilities of each state agency in relation to children with multiagency service needs;

(c) describe agreements to recognize duplicated services and to fill gaps in services to children with multiagency service needs;

(d) define a process for the resolution of disputes between state agencies that relate to specific areas of an agency's service responsibilities;

(e) establish local interagency staffing groups that consist of the following members:

(i) a local representative from each state agency who is authorized to commit resources and make decisions on behalf of the agency represented;

(ii) representatives of local school districts, youth probation offices, and other public agencies serving youth; and

(iii) representatives of local private youth service agencies;

(f) provide that if a state agency is not able to provide all the services that a child requires, the agency may submit the child's case history to the local staffing group for the provision of multiagency services to the child;

(g) provide that a local interagency staffing group shall meet at the request of any one of its members to consider the provision of services to a child with multiagency service needs;

(h) provide for confidentiality of a child's case records in the same manner as provided in 41-3-205; and

(i) provide for review and necessary revision of the cooperative agreement at least once annually.

(3) For purposes of this part, the department of public health and human services is designated as the lead agency in coordinating and planning services to children with multiagency service needs. Other state agencies shall cooperate with the department of public health and human services to ensure minimum duplication and maximum coordination of services for children in Montana.