AN ACT ESTABLISHING A PILOT PROGRAM FOR PERSONS DIAGNOSED WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. (Effective from passage) (a) Not later than July 1, 2015, the Commissioner of Developmental Services, in consultation with the Commissioner of Children and Families, shall establish a pilot program for persons with developmental disability and persons who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder who (1) require a high level of clinical services, (2) have been difficult for the Department of Developmental Services to place due to such persons' behavioral needs, and (3) are on said department's emergency list or have been served primarily in a hospital setting or out-of-state facility. The pilot program shall provide a coordinated system of individualized services for such persons that includes integration into the community in a group setting.

(b) The pilot program shall provide participating persons with (1) behavior management services through the use of behavior analysis, (2) training in development of coping skills, (3) on-site clinical oversight, including the availability of direct care personnel to address behavioral needs on a twenty-four-hour basis, and (4) other individualized services.

(c) Service providers who participate in the pilot program shall have demonstrated experience serving persons with the behavior characteristics of those participating in the pilot program and managing challenging behaviors including aggression, self-injury and property destruction using methods of applied behavior analysis. All staff who provide direct care to persons participating in the pilot program shall receive training in applied behavior analysis, medication administration and crisis intervention. Service providers shall collaborate with school personnel and day program service providers to achieve consistency in behavior expectations for participants in the pilot program.

(d) The pilot program shall serve not more than twenty-four persons. The Commissioner of Developmental Services shall identify service providers meeting the requirements of subsection (c) of this section to provide direct care services for participants and identify appropriate placements for such participants. The commissioner may contract with any such service provider to provide such services for participants. The commissioner may place not more than six persons in any one group home. The commissioner shall establish a per diem fee for the services provided under the pilot program.

(e) On or before January 1, 2017, the Commissioner of Developmental Services shall report, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health, human services and children concerning the results of the pilot program established in accordance with this section.

Statement of Purpose:

To require the provision of certain services to persons diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and establish a pilot program for such persons.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]

H.B. 6490