The department shall ensure that procedures are established and implemented to allow parties to disputes involving any matter under this article, including matters arising before the filing of a due process complaint, to resolve disputes through a mediation process at any time. Procedures for mediation are as follows:
(1) The state director of the Part C program shall ensure that mediation is viewed as voluntary and freely agreed to by both parties and is in no way used to deny or delay a parent's right to a hearing on a parent's due process complaint, or to deny any other rights afforded under this article; and(2) The mediation conference is an intervening, informal process conducted in a nonadversarial atmosphere, scheduled in a timely manner, and held in a location that is convenient to the parties in dispute. The state shall bear the cost of the mediation process, including the costs of meetings described in § 24:14:14:16.02.
S.D. Admin. R. 24:14:14:15
20 SDR 223, effective 7/7/1994; 26 SDR 153, effective 5/22/2000; 28 SDR 105, effective 1/31/2002; 35 SDR 82, effective 10/22/2008; 39 SDR 109, effective 12/17/2012.General Authority: SDCL 13-37-1.1.
Law Implemented: SDCL 13-1-23, 13-14-1, 13-37-1.1.