S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                    223
 
                        2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                                (PREFILED)
 
                              January 4, 2017
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of  A. SANTABARBARA -- read once and referred to the
   Committee on Governmental Operations
 
 AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, the executive law and the public
   health law, in relation to a training program for firefighters, police
   officers and emergency medical services personnel on handling emergen-
   cy situations involving individuals with autism spectrum disorder
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  The mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new section
 16.39 to read as follows:
 § 16.39 AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER TRAINING; FIRST RESPONDERS.
   THE COMMISSIONER, IN CONSULTATION WITH OTHER APPROPRIATE AGENCY REPRE-
 SENTATIVES, SHALL DEVELOP A TRAINING PROGRAM TO PROVIDE INSTRUCTION  AND
 INFORMATION  TO  FIREFIGHTERS,  POLICE  OFFICERS  AND  EMERGENCY MEDICAL
 SERVICES PERSONNEL ON APPROPRIATE RECOGNITION  AND  RESPONSE  TECHNIQUES
 FOR  HANDLING  EMERGENCY  SITUATIONS  INVOLVING  INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM
 SPECTRUM DISORDER AND ON RECOGNIZING THE BEHAVIORAL SYMPTOMS AND CHARAC-
 TERISTICS OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH AUTISM  SPECTRUM  DISORDERS.  SUCH
 TRAINING  SHALL  ALSO INCLUDE ANY OTHER INFORMATION DEEMED NECESSARY AND
 APPROPRIATE BY THE COMMISSIONER.
   § 2. Section 156 of the executive law  is  amended  by  adding  a  new
 subdivision 22 to read as follows:
   22.  COORDINATE  AND PROVIDE THE TRAINING PROGRAM RELATING TO HANDLING
 EMERGENCY SITUATIONS INVOLVING INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER
 DEVELOPED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES PURSUANT  TO
 SECTION  16.39  OF THE MENTAL HYGIENE LAW TO ALL FIREFIGHTERS, BOTH PAID
 AND VOLUNTEER.
   § 3. Section 837-a of the executive law is amended  by  adding  a  new
 subdivision 10 to read as follows:
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD05252-01-7

 A. 223                              2
 
   10.  COORDINATE  AND PROVIDE THE TRAINING PROGRAM RELATING TO HANDLING
 EMERGENCY SITUATIONS INVOLVING INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER
 DEVELOPED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES PURSUANT  TO
 SECTION 16.39 OF THE MENTAL HYGIENE LAW TO ALL POLICE OFFICERS.
   §  4. Section 3011 of the public health law is amended by adding a new
 subdivision 12 to read as follows:
   12. THE DEPARTMENT SHALL COORDINATE AND PROVIDE THE  TRAINING  PROGRAM
 RELATING  TO  HANDLING  EMERGENCY  SITUATIONS INVOLVING INDIVIDUALS WITH
 AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER DEVELOPED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF  DEVELOPMENTAL
 DISABILITIES  PURSUANT TO SECTION 16.39 OF THE MENTAL HYGIENE LAW TO ALL
 EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PERSONNEL  INCLUDING,  BUT  NOT  LIMITED  TO,
 FIRST  RESPONDERS,  EMERGENCY  MEDICAL  TECHNICIANS,  ADVANCED EMERGENCY
 MEDICAL TECHNICIANS AND EMERGENCY VEHICLE OPERATORS.
   § 5. This act shall take effect immediately.