1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to human services; establishing a task force 
  1.3             to study treatment options for autism. 
  1.4   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.5      Section 1.  [AUTISM ADVISORY TASK FORCE.] 
  1.6      Subdivision 1.  [ESTABLISHMENT.] The commissioner of human 
  1.7   services and the commissioner of children, families, and 
  1.8   learning shall establish a task force to study the treatment of 
  1.9   autism.  The task force shall consist of providers, advocates, 
  1.10  and consumers of services to children affected by autism.  The 
  1.11  terms and compensation of the members shall be as described 
  1.12  under Minnesota Statutes, section 15.059, subdivision 6.  
  1.13     Subd. 2.  [DUTIES.] The advisory task force shall meet on a 
  1.14  regular basis to study the following: 
  1.15     (1) the spectrum of autistic disorders; 
  1.16     (2) treatment options for autism, including behavioral 
  1.17  therapy, and outcome data on these treatment options; 
  1.18     (3) the role of the schools, appropriate state agencies, 
  1.19  and counties in providing services to children with autism; 
  1.20     (4) funding flexibility options for services to children 
  1.21  with autism, including the use of state funds to provide 
  1.22  behavioral therapy; and 
  1.23     (5) the use of behavioral therapy day treatment programs 
  1.24  and the use of school and medical assistance funds for these 
  2.1   programs. 
  2.2      Subd. 3.  [REPORT.] The task force shall provide the 
  2.3   commissioner of human services with the findings of the study by 
  2.4   December 15, 1998.  The commissioner of human services shall 
  2.5   submit a preliminary report to the legislature by January 15, 
  2.6   1998, on the progress of the task force study.  The commissioner 
  2.7   shall submit a final report to the legislature by January 15, 
  2.8   1999, on recommendations to improve the treatment options 
  2.9   available to children with autism within the current available 
  2.10  funding.  The final report must include recommendations on how 
  2.11  to inform and educate families with autistic children on 
  2.12  available expertise and resources on the treatment of autism.  
  2.13  The task force shall expire June 30, 1999.