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

                                   522

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                               (PREFILED)

                             January 7, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M.  of A. KOLB, BARCLAY, CORWIN, CROUCH, DUPREY, HAWLEY,
  McDONOUGH, OAKS, RAIA, SALADINO, TITONE, MONTESANO --  Multi-Sponsored
  by  -- M. of A. BUTLER, GIGLIO, LOPEZ, TEDISCO, TENNEY, 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-l to read as follows:
  S  2500-L. 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.
              

                                                           LBD02647-01-5

A. 522                              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  FOR  PEOPLE
WITH 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 COUNCIL ON
CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES; AND THE OFFICE OF  VOCATIONAL  AND  EDUCA-
TIONAL  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
THEREFOR.
  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.