225C.48  Comprehensive family support council.
  1.  a.  An eleven-member comprehensive family support council is created in the department. The members of the council shall be appointed by the governor. At least five of the appointments shall be a family member of an individual with a disability as defined in section 225C.47. At least five of the appointments shall be current or former service consumers or family members of such service consumers. Members shall serve for three-year staggered terms. A vacancy on the council shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.
  b.  The members of the council are entitled to reimbursement of actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their official duties. In addition, the members who are current or former service consumers or family members of such service consumers are entitled to a stipend of fifty dollars for each council meeting attended, subject to a limit of one meeting per month. The expenses and stipend shall be paid from the appropriation made for purposes of the comprehensive family support program.
  c.  The council shall elect officers from among the council’s members.
  2.  The council shall provide ongoing guidance, advice, and direction to the department and other agencies working with the department in the development and implementation of the family support subsidy program created in section 225C.36 and the comprehensive family support program created in section 225C.47. The council shall perform an annual evaluation of each program, and annually make recommendations concerning each program to the governor and general assembly. The evaluation and recommendations shall be prepared and submitted in conjunction with the evaluation report submitted by the department pursuant to section 225C.42. The department shall provide sufficient staff support to the council to enable the council to carry out its responsibilities.
  3.  The council shall perform the following duties in consultation with the department and any department staff with duties associated with the family support subsidy and comprehensive family support programs:
  a.  Oversee the operations of the programs.
  b.  Coordinate with the department of education and programs administered by the department of education to individuals with a disability, in providing information to individuals and families eligible for the programs.
  c.  Work with the department and counties regarding managed care provisions utilized by the department and counties for services to individuals with a disability to advocate the inclusion of the family support subsidy and comprehensive family support programs as approved service provisions under managed care.
  d.  Develop and oversee implementation of evaluation processes for the programs.
  e.  Oversee statewide training of department and family support center staff regarding the programs.
  f.  Oversee efforts to promote public awareness of the programs.
  4.  The department shall consider recommendations from the council in developing and implementing each program, including the development of administrative rules. The department shall regularly report to the council on the status of each program and any actions planned or taken by the department related to each program.
94 Acts, ch 1041, §4; 96 Acts, ch 1084, §6; 98 Acts, ch 1218, §72, 83; 2006 Acts, ch 1159, §22; 2008 Acts, ch 1156, §31, 58