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

                                  10029

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            February 25, 2010
                               ___________

Introduced  by M. of A. GUNTHER -- read once and referred to the Commit-
  tee on Mental Health

AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to establishing  the
  task force on adults with autism; and providing for the repeal of such
  provisions upon expiration thereof

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

  Section 1. Legislative findings. The legislature finds that autism  is
a  lifelong  disability, yet much of the focus on autism spectrum disor-
ders relates to education and development, and  neglects  concerns  that
may  arise  later  in  a  person's life. The legislature also finds that
adults with autism may face significant challenges in various aspects of
their lives, including such areas as job placement,  housing  and  long-
term  care.  Further, just as the autism spectrum covers a wide range of
functional abilities, so does the need for  services  and  supports  for
adults  with autism. Consequently, the legislature finds that there is a
pressing need for policymakers and advocates in the state  to  formulate
achievable  goals  for state government to meet in order to better serve
the community of adults with autism spectrum disorders. To this end,  it
is  in  the  public  interest  to  establish a task force on adults with
autism to develop a comprehensive plan for meeting the various needs  of
adults with autism spectrum disorders living in New York.
  S  2.  The mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new section 13.41
to read as follows:
S 13.41 TASK FORCE ON ADULTS WITH AUTISM.
  (A) THERE IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED THE TASK FORCE ON ADULTS  WITH  AUTISM
IN THE OFFICE. THE PURPOSE OF THE TASK FORCE SHALL BE TO STUDY, EVALUATE
AND  DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS RELATING TO SPECIFIC ACTIONABLE MEASURES TO
SUPPORT AND MEET THE NEEDS OF ADULTS WITH AUTISM WHO  ARE  RESIDENTS  OF
THE  STATE,  INCLUDING  SUCH NEEDS AS VOCATIONAL, RESIDENTIAL AND SOCIAL
NEEDS. THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE TASK FORCE SHALL  COMPRISE  THE  BASIS
FOR  A  COMPREHENSIVE  PLAN FOR MEETING THE NEEDS OF ADULTS WITH AUTISM,
AND SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE  PURSUANT  TO
SUBDIVISION (F) OF THIS SECTION.

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

                                                           LBD15267-01-0

A. 10029                            2

  (B) THE TASK FORCE SHALL CONSIST OF NINE MEMBERS AS FOLLOWS:
  (1)  THE COMMISSIONER, THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH, THE COMMISSIONER OF
EDUCATION,  THE  DEPUTY  COMMISSIONER  FOR  VOCATIONAL  AND  EDUCATIONAL
SERVICES  FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES WITHIN THE EDUCATION DEPART-
MENT AND THE COMMISSIONER OF LABOR; AND
  (2) FOUR MEMBERS WITH DEMONSTRATED EXPERTISE IN ISSUES RELATING TO THE
WORK OF THE TASK FORCE; WITH TWO SUCH MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR,
ONE SUCH MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE,  AND
ONE  SUCH MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, NO LATER THAN
THE THIRTIETH DAY AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION.
  VACANCIES IN THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE TASK FORCE SHALL BE FILLED  IN  THE
SAME MANNER PROVIDED FOR BY THE ORIGINAL APPOINTMENTS.
  (C)  THE  COMMISSIONER  OR  THE COMMISSIONER'S DESIGNEE SHALL SERVE AS
CHAIRPERSON OF THE TASK FORCE. THE TASK FORCE SHALL ORGANIZE AS SOON  AS
PRACTICABLE  FOLLOWING THE APPOINTMENT OF ITS MEMBERS AND SHALL SELECT A
VICE-CHAIRPERSON FROM AMONG THE MEMBERS. THE CHAIRPERSON SHALL APPOINT A
SECRETARY WHO NEED NOT BE A MEMBER OF THE TASK FORCE.
  (D) THE MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE SHALL RECEIVE  NO  COMPENSATION  FOR
THEIR SERVICES, BUT SHALL BE ALLOWED THEIR ACTUAL AND NECESSARY EXPENSES
INCURRED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES.
  (E)  TO  THE MAXIMUM EXTENT FEASIBLE, THE TASK FORCE SHALL BE ENTITLED
TO REQUEST AND RECEIVE, AND SHALL UTILIZE  AND  BE  PROVIDED  WITH  SUCH
FACILITIES,  RESOURCES  AND  DATA  OF  ANY  COURT, DEPARTMENT, DIVISION,
BOARD, BUREAU, COMMISSION OR AGENCY OF THE STATE OR ANY POLITICAL SUBDI-
VISION THEREOF AS IT MAY REASONABLY REQUEST TO PROPERLY  CARRY  OUT  ITS
POWERS AND DUTIES.
  (F)  THE  TASK  FORCE SHALL REPORT ITS FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO
THE GOVERNOR, THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE  SPEAKER  OF
THE ASSEMBLY ON OR BEFORE APRIL FIRST, TWO THOUSAND ELEVEN.
  S  3.  This  act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
deemed repealed 2 years after such effective date.