2547 - Respite services.

§  2547.  Respite services.  1. Subject to the availability of federal  funds, the commissioner shall allocate  a  portion  of  such  funds  for  respite  services  for  families  of eligible children. The commissioner  shall establish criteria for selecting families for such services, which  may include the severity of the child's disability, the availability  of  respite   services  to  the  family  through  other  programs,  and  the  availability of informal supports to the family.    2. In addition to respite services provided  pursuant  to  subdivision  one  of  this  section and subject to the amounts appropriated therefor,  the state shall reimburse the municipality  for  fifty  percent  of  the  costs  of  respite  services  provided  to  eligible  children and their  families with the approval of the early intervention official.    3. The commissioner shall contact the appropriate federal governmental  agencies and personnel to facilitate the availability of  federal  funds  for respite services.