STATE OF NEW JERSEY
215th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2012 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman GARY S. SCHAER
District 36 (Bergen and Passaic)
Assemblyman JOHN F. MCKEON
District 27 (Essex and Morris)
Assemblywoman L. GRACE SPENCER
District 29 (Essex)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman Prieto, Assemblywoman Wagner, Assemblymen Johnson, Coutinho, Assemblywoman Vainieri Huttle, Assemblymen Diegnan, O'Scanlon and Moriarty
SYNOPSIS
Requires DHSS to establish "New Jersey Autism Website."
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act establishing the "New Jersey Autism Website" and supplementing P.L.1993, c.309 (C.26:1A-36.6 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The Commissioner of Health and Senior Services shall establish the "New Jersey Autism Website" in consultation with the various autism advocacy and service organizations in the State.
b. The website shall include:
(1) a check list that may be used by parents or guardians of infants and toddlers to look for possible indications that a child may have autism or may be suspected to be on the autism spectrum;
(2) specific instructions on how to contact the Early Intervention Program established pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1993, c.309 (C.26:1A-36.7), and public and private agencies and organizations in New Jersey that provide programs and services to children with autism, as well as support groups for families in the various geographic regions of the State, if the parent or guardian believes that a child may have autism or may be suspected to be on the autism spectrum; and
(3) such other information as the commissioner determines appropriate to promote autism awareness and facilitate early detection and treatment of children with autism spectrum disorders.
c. The commissioner shall include a link to the "New Jersey Autism Website" on the Internet website of the Department of Health and Senior Services.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill is designed to make certain information available to the public that will promote autism awareness and enhance efforts at early detection and treatment of children with autism spectrum disorders.
Specifically, the bill requires the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services to establish the "New Jersey Autism Website" in consultation with the various autism advocacy and service organizations in the State.
The website is to include:
· a check list that may be used by parents or guardians of infants and toddlers to look for possible indications that a child may have autism or may be suspected to be on the autism spectrum;
· specific instructions on how to contact the Early Intervention Program established pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1993, c.309 (C.26:1A-36.7), and public and private agencies and organizations in New Jersey that provide programs and services to children with autism, as well as support groups for families in the various geographic regions of the State, if the parent or guardian believes that a child may have autism or may be suspected to be on the autism spectrum; and
· such other information as the commissioner determines appropriate to promote autism awareness and facilitate early detection and treatment of children with autism spectrum disorders.
The bill further requires the commissioner to include a link to the "New Jersey Autism Website" on the Internet website of the Department of Health and Senior Services.