2. Person with mental retardation or autism. If the comprehensive evaluation concludes that the client is mentally retarded and is in need of services: applicant is a person with mental retardation or autism, the department, through the regional office, shall offer to that person a process to identify needs through personal planning or any other assessment of the person's needs.

A. The department, through the regional office, shall develop a prescriptive program plan or service plan, or both; and

B. If a prescriptive program plan is to be developed, the department, through the interdisciplinary team, shall develop and begin to implement a prescriptive program plan for the client within 60 days of the application made under section 5467.

3. Preschool child. If the report of the comprehensive evaluation concludes that a child, aged 0 from birth to 5 years of age, is developmentally delayed and is in need of infant development services or other early intervention services:

A. The department, through the regional office, shall develop a prescriptive program plan or service plan, or both; and

B. If a prescriptive program plan is to be developed, the department, through the interdisciplinary team, shall develop and begin to implement a prescriptive program plan for the client within 60 days of the application made under section 5467.

Sec. 48. 34-B MRSA §5469-A is enacted to read:

§5469-A.__Appeal

1.__Rights.__Any denial of an application or request for services may be administratively appealed through the department's appeal and grievance process established pursuant to section 1203, subsection 4.

2.__Notice.__The department shall provide regular notice of the availability of this process to persons served by the department.__This notice must be included in informational