S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  8828

                       2009-2010 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                              June 10, 2009
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  KOLB,  BACALLES,  BARCLAY, BURLING, CALHOUN,
  CORWIN, CROUCH, DUPREY,  HAWLEY,  HAYES,  JORDAN,  McDONOUGH,  MILLER,
  MOLINARO,  OAKS, RABBITT, RAIA, SALADINO, SCOZZAFAVA, TITONE, TOBACCO,
  TOWNSEND -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M.  of  A.  BUTLER,  GIGLIO,  QUINN,
  TEDISCO, THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Health

AN  ACT  to  amend  the public health law, in relation to establishing a
  state autism advisory board

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section  1.  The  public health law is amended by adding a new section
2500-k to read as follows:
  S 2500-K. STATE AUTISM ADVISORY BOARD. 1. THERE IS HEREBY  ESTABLISHED
WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT THE STATE AUTISM ADVISORY BOARD.  SUCH BOARD SHALL
CONDUCT  PUBLIC HEARINGS AND HOLD MEETINGS REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR PERSONS WITH  AUTISM.  THE  BOARD  SHALL  MAKE
RECOMMENDATIONS  FOR THE CREATION OF COMPREHENSIVE AND CONSISTENT CRITE-
RIA AND REGULATIONS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY  OF  LIFE  FOR  PERSONS  WITH
AUTISM AND TO MAKE THE PUBLIC AND PERSONS WITH AUTISM AND THEIR FAMILIES
MORE  AWARE  OF AVAILABLE PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR PERSONS WITH AUTISM.
THE AREAS OF STUDY THAT SHALL BE ADDRESSED BY THE BOARD  SHALL  INCLUDE,
BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
  (A) EARLY DIAGNOSIS;
  (B) HOME AND HEALTH SERVICES;
  (C) EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES;
  (D) VOCATIONAL PLACEMENT; AND
  (E) IMPROVING RESEARCH AND TRAINING FOR PROFESSIONALS.
  2.  THE  BOARD  WILL CONSIST OF NINETEEN MEMBERS, TEN OF WHOM SHALL BE
APPOINTED AND NINE OF WHOM SHALL SERVE EX OFFICIO. OF THE TEN  APPOINTED
MEMBERS,  TWO SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, TWO SHALL BE APPOINTED
BY THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, TWO SHALL BE APPOINTED BY  THE
SPEAKER  OF  THE ASSEMBLY, TWO SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE MINORITY LEADER

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD10615-01-9
              

A. 8828                             2

OF THE SENATE AND TWO SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE MINORITY LEADER  OF  THE
ASSEMBLY. OF THE TWO MEMBERS APPOINTED BY EACH APPOINTING AUTHORITY, ONE
MEMBER  SHALL  HAVE  EXPERTISE OF WORK AS A PROFESSIONAL IN THE FIELD OF
AUTISM AND ONE MEMBER SHALL BE A FAMILY ADVOCATE OR SELF-ADVOCATE IN THE
COMMUNITY  THAT SUCH ADVOCATE RESIDES. A REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH OF THE
FOLLOWING STATE AGENCIES SHALL SERVE EX OFFICIO: THE  OFFICE  OF  MENTAL
RETARDATION AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES; THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION;
THE OFFICE OF MENTAL HEALTH; THE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES;
THE  DEPARTMENT;  THE  COMMISSION  ON  QUALITY  OF CARE AND ADVOCACY FOR
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES; THE DEVELOPMENTAL PLANNING COUNCIL; THE COUN-
CIL ON CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES; AND THE OFFICE  OF  VOCATIONAL  AND
EDUCATIONAL  SERVICES  FOR  INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES.  THE CHAIR OF
THE BOARD SHALL BE SELECTED BY THE GOVERNOR.
  3. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD SHALL SERVE AT THE PLEASURE OF THE  APPOINTING
AUTHORITY.  VACANCIES ON THE BOARD SHALL BE FILLED IN THE SAME MANNER AS
THE ORIGINAL APPOINTMENT. MEMBERS OF THE BOARD SHALL RECEIVE NO  COMPEN-
SATION,  BUT  SHALL  BE  REIMBURSED  FOR  ACTUAL  AND NECESSARY EXPENSES
INCURRED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES WITHIN AMOUNTS  APPROPRIATED
THEREFORE.
  4.  SUCH  BOARD SHALL MEET AT LEAST QUARTERLY. SPECIAL MEETINGS MAY BE
CALLED BY THE CHAIR. THE AGENDA AND MEETING  PLACE  OF  ALL  REGULAR  OR
SPECIAL  MEETINGS  SHALL  BE  MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC IN ADVANCE OF
SUCH MEETINGS.
  S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.