There has been a package of bills introduced in the Legislature dealing with autism spectrum disorders. The bills came as a result of the findings and recommendations of a report issued by the California Legislative Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism in September 2007.
Representing ACSA on the commission was Maureen O’Leary Burness, assistant superintendent with Folsom-Cordova USD and president of ACSA’s Student Services and Special Education Council. The report can be accessed at http://senweb03.senate.ca.gov/autism.
ASD is a growing phenomenon in California’s student population. It has been estimated that 1 in 150 children fall somewhere within the range of the spectrum. Boys are even more likely to be autistic, with 1 in 94 having ASD.
The bills cover a wide range of issues, including screening, pilot programs to identify best practices, data clearinghouses and law enforcement. Synopses of the bills from www.leginfo.ca.gov follow. For full bill information and status, please visit that Web site.
SB 527, as amended, Steinberg, D-Sacramento. Autism spectrum disorders: screening. This bill would require the state Department of Developmental Services to partner with at least one regional center to implement a two-year Autism Spectrum Disorders Early Screening, Intervention and Treatment Pilot Program in at least three counties. The pilot program would establish best practices for early screening, diagnosis, referral and treatment for children with ASD. The bill would also require the department to establish an advisory committee of stakeholders to assist in coordinating the pilot program. The bill would require the department and the advisory committee, no later than July 1, 2011, to report to the Legislature and the governor on the pilot program. The bill would establish a fund in the state treasury, to be used by the department, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for purposes of this pilot program. This bill would make its provisions inoperative on July 1, 2011, and repeal them on Jan. 1, 2012.
SB 1475, Torlakson, D-Antioch. Autism pilot program. This bill would require the Department of Developmental Services to establish a two-year pilot project to identify best practices in integrating the services and supports provided to children with ASD through regional centers and through school districts and local educational agencies. This bill would require the department to establish an Early Autism Intervention and Transition Advisory Counsel to assist the department in administering the program. The bill would also require the advisory council and the department, no later than June 1, 2012, to report to the Legislature and the governor on the pilot project containing specified information. The bill would create a fund in the treasury, to be used by the department, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for purposes of this pilot program. The bill would make its provisions inoperative on July 1, 2012, and repeal them on Jan. 1, 2013.
SB 1563, Perata, D-Oakland. Pervasive developmental disorders. This bill would require the Department of Managed Health Care and the Department of Insurance to work in conjunction to review the standards and best practice guidelines adopted by the Department of Developmental Services on the screening, diagnosis, assessment, intervention and treatment of autism and pervasive developmental disorders and to develop recommendations on ensuring that health care service plans and health insurers provide appropriate and equitable coverage for those illnesses. The bill would require the departments to submit those recommendations to the Legislature no later than Oct. 1, 2009.
AB 1872, Coto, D-San Jose. Special education: autism spectrum disorders: clearinghouse. This bill would establish the California Autism Spectrum Disorder Clearinghouse within the California Department of Education to provide evidence-based and recommended information and practices regarding the education of pupils with autism spectrum disorders. The department would be required to administer the clearinghouse in coordination with the Department of Developmental Services and the Department of Social Services.
The superintendent of public instruction would be required to convene an oversight committee to represent the major stakeholders responsible for the education of pupils with autism spectrum disorders and to perform other related duties. The bill would require that access to the clearinghouse be provided at schools, Lanterman Act Regional Centers specified regional centers, diagnostic centers, family empowerment centers and public libraries for the purpose of making resources available to families. The department would be required to utilize federal special education funding for the development and maintenance of the clearinghouse.
SB 1175, Steinberg. Developmental services: regional center housing. This bill would permit the Department of Developmental Services to approve proposals for housing under these requirements from any regional center. Under the California Health Facilities Financing Authority Act, the California Health Facilities Financing Authority administers various provisions relating to the financing of health facility projects, including construction and renovation projects. Existing law includes within the definition of a health facility, for purposes of the act, a residential facility which is defined to include nonprofit accredited work activity programs.
These programs provide specified services to persons with developmental disabilities.
The bill would, in addition, include within the definition of a residential facility, for purposes of the California Health Facilities Financing Authority Act, a residential facility for persons with developmental disabilities, as provided for under the provisions permitting proposals for housing for these persons to be approved by the department.
SB 1531, Correa, D-Santa Ana. Peace officer training: autistic persons. This bill would require the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training, by Jan. 1, 2010, to create and make available on DVD and electronically a course on how to recognize and interact with autistic persons. This course shall be designed for, and made available to, peace officers who are first responders. This bill would specify that the commission shall develop the course in consultation with designated entities, and distribute, as necessary, a training bulletin via the Internet to specified law enforcement agencies.
SB 1364, Cedillo, D-Los Angeles. Autism spectrum disorders: advisory council: centralized registry. This bill would require the Department of Public Health, by Jan. 1, 2010, to establish the Autism Spectrum Disorders Advisory Council composed of 18 members, with six members each to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules, the speaker of the Assembly and the governor.
The bill would require the council to provide recommendations to the department to enable it to deal more effectively with the public health crisis of autism spectrum disorders.
This bill would also permit the department, in partnership with the advisory council, the Department of Developmental Services, Department of Education and other appropriate state and local agencies to establish a pilot project in three or more counties that will provide a voluntary centralized registry for individuals with autism spectrum disorders.
This bill would require the department, on or before June 1, 2012, to submit a report to the governor and the Legislature with recommendations from the council, including findings and recommendations about implementing a voluntary centralized registry for individuals with autism spectrum disorders. The bill would establish a fund in the treasury, would require the department to deposit any moneys available for purposes of the bill into the fund, and would permit the department to use moneys in the fund, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to implement the bill. This bill would make its provisions inoperative on July 1, 2012, and repeal them on Jan. 1, 2013.
AB 2302, Bass, D-Los Angeles. Teacher credentialing: specialist credential: pupils with autism. This bill would authorize an LEA or school to assign a teacher who holds a level 1 education specialist credential and who is authorized to provide instruction to individuals with mild and moderate disabilities to provide instruction to pupils with autism, as defined if the teacher consents to the assignment and satisfies certain criteria, as determined by the LEA or school.
LEAs and schools that assign teachers to provide instruction to pupils with autism pursuant to the bill would be required to report teacher assignments as part of their annual assignment monitoring pursuant to a specified statutory provision. These provisions would become inoperative two years after the commission adopts regulations to implement the recommended modifications regarding specialist credentials, or on Aug. 31, 2011.