CHAPTER 190
HB 1634 – FINAL VERSION
05Mar2008… 0428h
2008 SESSION
01/09
HOUSE BILL 1634
AN ACT establishing the New Hampshire council on autism spectrum disorders.
SPONSORS: Rep. Butcher, Ches 3; Sen. Kelly, Dist 10
COMMITTEE: Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs
This bill establishes the New Hampshire council on autism spectrum disorders to coordinate supports and services for individuals and their families.
This bill resulted from the commission to study autism spectrum disorders in New Hampshire, established under 2007, 171.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
05Mar2008… 0428h
08-2890
01/09
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eight
AN ACT establishing the New Hampshire council on autism spectrum disorders.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
190:1 New Subdivision; New Hampshire Council on Autism Spectrum Disorders. Amend RSA 171-A by inserting after section 31 the following new subdivision:
New Hampshire Council on Autism Spectrum Disorders
171-A:32 New Hampshire Council on Autism Spectrum Disorders Established; Duties.
I. There is established a council on autism spectrum disorders to provide leadership in promoting comprehensive and quality education, health care, and services for individuals with autism spectrum disorders and their families. The members of the council shall be as follows:
(a) The governor, or designee.
(b) The commissioner of the department of education, or designee.
(c) The commissioner of the department of health and human services, or designee.
(d) The director of the division of public health services, department of health and human services.
(e) The bureau chief of the bureau of developmental services, department of health and human services.
(f) The bureau chief of the bureau of behavioral health, department of health and human services.
(g) The director of the division of instruction, department of education.
(h) The director of the division of career technology and adult learning, department of education.
(i) The director of the Institute on Disability, University of New Hampshire, or designee.
(j) A special education director, appointed by the New Hampshire Association of Special Education Administrators, Inc.
(k) The president of the New Hampshire Medical Society, or designee.
(l) A representative of the New Hampshire Developmental Disabilities Council, appointed by the council.
(m) A representative of the Autism Society of New Hampshire, appointed by the society.
(n) An individual who has an autism spectrum disorder, appointed by the governor.
(o) A family member of a person who has an autism spectrum disorder, appointed by the governor.
(p) A representative of the Community Support Network, Inc., appointed by such organization.
(q) A representative of the New Hampshire Psychological Association, appointed by the association.
II. The council shall:
(a) Provide leadership on training, policy, research, and coordination of supports and services for individuals and their families.
(b) Provide information to families and individuals with autism spectrum disorder about evidenced-based and promising practices for community-based education, support, and treatment.
(c) Collaborate with schools and other service systems to identify exemplary supports and services and promote successful practices throughout New Hampshire.
(d) Provide mediation, when needed, to ensure that individuals with autism spectrum disorders receive appropriate supports and services.
(e) Increase resources for individuals with autism spectrum disorders and their families by accessing federal and state grants and pursuing development opportunities through foundations, corporations, and planned giving.
(f) Serve as an information clearinghouse for individuals, families, and providers seeking diagnosticians, behavioral specialists, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, psychologists, and others who have expertise in working with individuals with autism spectrum disorders.
(g) Encourage the establishment of regional collaboratives with representation from educational, health care, and community service providers to ensure that individuals with autism spectrum disorders and their families receive necessary services.
(h) Make an annual report beginning on April 1, 2009 to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the commissioners of the department of health and human services and department of education, the members of the house committees on education, health, human services and elderly affairs, and finance, and the members of the senate committees on education, health and human services, and finance.
III. The department of health and human services shall provide administrative support to the council.
190:2 Applicability. The first meeting of the New Hampshire council on autism spectrum disorders, established in RSA 171-A:32, shall be called by the commissioner of the department of health and human services within 45 days of the effective date of this act.
190:3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
Approved: June 11, 2008
Effective Date: August 10, 2008