SF 1551

1st Engrossment - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 02:22am

A bill for an act
relating to health; creating an Autism Spectrum Disorder Task Force; providing
appointments; requiring a report.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. new text begin AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER JOINT TASK FORCE.
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new text begin (a) The Autism Spectrum Disorder Joint Task Force is composed of 27 members,
appointed as follows:
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new text begin (1) two members of the senate, one appointed by the majority leader and one
appointed by the minority leader;
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new text begin (2) two members of the house of representatives, one from the majority party,
appointed by the speaker of the house, and one from the minority party, appointed by
the minority leader; and
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new text begin (3) ten public members appointed by the legislature, with regard to geographic
diversity in the state, with the senate Subcommittee on Committees of the Committee on
Rules and Administration making the appointments for the senate, and the speaker of the
house making the appointments for the house:
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new text begin (i) three members who are parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD),
two of whom shall be appointed by the senate, and one of whom shall be appointed by
the house;
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new text begin (ii) two members who have ASD, one of whom shall be appointed by the senate, and
one by the house;
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new text begin (iii) one member representing an agency that provides residential housing services to
individuals with ASD, appointed by the house;
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new text begin (iv) one member representing an agency that provides employment services to
individuals with ASD, appointed by the senate;
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new text begin (v) one member who is a behavior analyst, appointed by the house; and
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new text begin (vi) two members who are providers of ASD therapy, with one member appointed
by the senate and one member appointed by the house;
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new text begin (4) one member appointed by the Minnesota chapter of the American Academy of
Pediatrics who is a developmental behavioral pediatrician;
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new text begin (5) one member appointed by the Minnesota Academy of Family Medicine who is a
family practice physician;
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new text begin (6) one member appointed by the Minnesota Psychiatric Society who is a
neuropsychiatrist;
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new text begin (7) one member appointed by the Minnesota Academy of Family Practice;
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new text begin (8) one member appointed by the Association of Minnesota Counties;
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new text begin (9) one member appointed by the Minnesota Association of School Administrators;
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new text begin (10) one member appointed by the ASD school classroom specialists;
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new text begin (11) one member appointed by the directors of public school student support services;
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new text begin (12) one member appointed by the Somali American Autism Foundation;
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new text begin (13) one member appointed by the ARC of Minnesota;
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new text begin (14) one member appointed by the Autism Society of Minnesota;
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new text begin (15) one member appointed by the Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational
Rights; and
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new text begin (16) one member appointed by the Minnesota Council of Health Plans.
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new text begin Appointments must be made by September 1, 2009. The Legislative Coordinating
Commission shall provide meeting space for the task force. The senate member appointed
by the minority leader of the senate shall convene the first meeting of the task force no
later than October 1, 2009. The task force shall elect a chair from among the public
members at the first meeting.
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new text begin (b) The commissioners of education, employment and economic development,
health, and human services shall provide assistance to the task force, including providing
the task force with a count of children who have ASD with an individual education
program or an individual family service plan and children with ASD who have a 504 plan.
Additionally, the commissioner of human services shall submit a count of the adults with
ASD enrolled in social service programs and the number of individuals with ASD who are
enrolled in medical assistance and other waiver programs.
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new text begin (c) The task force shall examine the following topics:
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new text begin (1) ways to improve services provided by all state and political subdivisions;
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new text begin (2) sources of public funding available for treatment and ways to improve efficiency
in the use of these funds;
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new text begin (3) methods to improve coordination in the delivery of service between public and
private agencies, health providers, and schools;
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new text begin (4) increasing the availability of and the training for medical providers and educators
who identify and provide services to individuals with ASD;
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new text begin (5) increasing the availability of and the training for educators who identify and
educate individuals with ASD;
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new text begin (6) ways to enhance Minnesota's role in ASD research and delivery of service;
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new text begin (7) methods to educate parents, family members, and the public on ASD and the
required services; and
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new text begin (8) treatment options for individuals with ASD.
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new text begin (d) The task force shall:
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new text begin (1) coordinate with existing efforts at the Departments of Education, Health, Human
Services, and Employment and Economic Development related to ASD; and
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new text begin (2) apply peer-reviewed, established scientific research to their recommendations
concerning the most effective treatment methods.
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new text begin (e) By January 15 of each year, the task force shall provide a report regarding its
findings and consideration of the topics listed under paragraph (c), and the action taken
under paragraph (d), including draft legislation if necessary, to the chairs and ranking
minority members of the legislative committees with jurisdiction over health and human
services.
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new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective July 1, 2009, and expires June 30,
2011.
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