1 New Hampshire Council on Autism Spectrum Disorders. RSA 171-A:32 is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:

171-A:32 New Hampshire Council on Autism Spectrum Disorders Established; Duties.

I. There is established a council on autism spectrum disorders (NHCASD) 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 designated representative specializing in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1974.

(c) The commissioner of the department of health and human services, or designee.

(d) The bureau chief of the bureau of developmental services, department of health and human services, or designee.

(e) The bureau chief of the bureau of behavioral health, department of health and human services, or designee.

(f) The director of the Institute on Disability, University of New Hampshire, or designee.

(g) A special education director, appointed by the New Hampshire Association of Special Education Administrators, Inc.

(h) The president of the New Hampshire Medical Society, or designee with a specialty in family medicine or pediatrics.

(i) A representative of the New Hampshire Developmental Disabilities Council, appointed by the council.

(j) Two individuals who are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, appointed by the NHCASD.

(k) Two family members of individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, appointed by the NHCASD.

(l) A representative of the Community Support Network, Inc., appointed by such organization.

(m) A representative of the New Hampshire Psychological Association, appointed by the association.

(n) The director of the office of Medicaid business and policy, department of health and human services, or designee.

(o) A member of a New Hampshire based self-advocacy organization, appointed by the NHCASD.

(p) Up to 5 additional members, appointed by the NHCASD.

(q) A clinical service provider, as appointed by the council.

(r) A representative of the New Hampshire School Nurses' Association, appointed by the association.

(s) A licensed speech-language pathologist, appointed by the New Hampshire Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Inc.

II. A quorum of the council shall be a half plus one member of the appointed members of the council.

III. Meetings shall be conducted in a hybrid in-person/electronic format. Members for whom it is not reasonably practical to attend in-person may participate remotely, and the reason for remote participation shall be stated in the minutes of the meeting. At least one-third of the total membership of the council shall be physically present at the meeting.

IV. The council shall:

(a) Provide advisory leadership on training, policy, data collection, and coordination of support and services for individuals with autism spectrum disorders and their families.

(b) Collaborate with groups and organizations that focus on providing quality services to individuals with autism spectrum disorder and their families.

(c) Make recommendations on best practices in New Hampshire for serving individuals with autism spectrum disorder.

(d) Provide an online listing of resources for individuals and families of people with autism spectrum disorder.

(e) Make an annual report 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.

V. The department of health and human services shall provide administrative support to the council.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

1 New Hampshire Council on Autism Spectrum Disorders. RSA 171-A:32 is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:

171-A:32 New Hampshire Council on Autism Spectrum Disorders Established; Duties.

I. There is established a council on autism spectrum disorders (NHCASD) 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 designated representative specializing in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1974.

(c) The commissioner of the department of health and human services, or designee.

(d) The bureau chief of the bureau of developmental services, department of health and human services, or designee.

(e) The bureau chief of the bureau of behavioral health, department of health and human services, or designee.

(f) The director of the Institute on Disability, University of New Hampshire, or designee.

(g) A special education director, appointed by the New Hampshire Association of Special Education Administrators, Inc.

(h) The president of the New Hampshire Medical Society, or designee with a specialty in family medicine or pediatrics.

(i) A representative of the New Hampshire Developmental Disabilities Council, appointed by the council.

(j) Two individuals who are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, appointed by the NHCASD.

(k) Two family members of individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, appointed by the NHCASD.

(l) A representative of the Community Support Network, Inc., appointed by such organization.

(m) A representative of the New Hampshire Psychological Association, appointed by the association.

(n) The director of the office of Medicaid business and policy, department of health and human services, or designee.

(o) A member of a New Hampshire based self-advocacy organization, appointed by the NHCASD.

(p) Up to 5 additional members, appointed by the NHCASD.

(q) A clinical service provider, as appointed by the council.

(r) A representative of the New Hampshire School Nurses' Association, appointed by the association.

(s) A licensed speech-language pathologist, appointed by the New Hampshire Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Inc.

II. A quorum of the council shall be a half plus one member of the appointed members of the council.

III. Meetings shall be conducted in a hybrid in-person/electronic format. Members for whom it is not reasonably practical to attend in-person may participate remotely, and the reason for remote participation shall be stated in the minutes of the meeting. At least one-third of the total membership of the council shall be physically present at the meeting.

IV. The council shall:

(a) Provide advisory leadership on training, policy, data collection, and coordination of support and services for individuals with autism spectrum disorders and their families.

(b) Collaborate with groups and organizations that focus on providing quality services to individuals with autism spectrum disorder and their families.

(c) Make recommendations on best practices in New Hampshire for serving individuals with autism spectrum disorder.

(d) Provide an online listing of resources for individuals and families of people with autism spectrum disorder.

(e) Make an annual report 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.

V. The department of health and human services shall provide administrative support to the council.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.