Bill Text: NY A00411 | 2011-2012 | General Assembly | Amended
Bill Title: Establishes the task force on adults with autism within the office for people with developmental disabilities to study, evaluate and develop recommendations relating to specific actionable measures to support and meet the needs of adults with autism.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-01-18 - print number 411b [A00411 Detail]
Download: New_York-2011-A00411-Amended.html
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 411--A 2011-2012 Regular Sessions I N A S S E M B L Y (PREFILED) January 5, 2011 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. GUNTHER -- read once and referred to the Commit- tee on Mental Health -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee AN ACT to amend the mental hygiene law, in relation to establishing the task force on adults with autism; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM- BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: 1 Section 1. Legislative findings. The legislature finds that autism is 2 a lifelong disability, yet much of the focus on autism spectrum disor- 3 ders relates to education and development, and neglects concerns that 4 may arise later in a person's life. The legislature also finds that 5 adults with autism may face significant challenges in various aspects of 6 their lives, including such areas as job placement, housing and long- 7 term care. Further, just as the autism spectrum covers a wide range of 8 functional abilities, so does the need for services and supports for 9 adults with autism. Consequently, the legislature finds that there is a 10 pressing need for policymakers and advocates in the state to formulate 11 achievable goals for state government to meet in order to better serve 12 the community of adults with autism spectrum disorders. To this end, it 13 is in the public interest to establish a task force on adults with 14 autism to develop a comprehensive plan for meeting the various needs of 15 adults with autism spectrum disorders living in New York. 16 S 2. The mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new section 13.41 17 to read as follows: 18 S 13.41 TASK FORCE ON ADULTS WITH AUTISM. 19 (A) THERE IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED THE TASK FORCE ON ADULTS WITH AUTISM 20 IN THE OFFICE. THE PURPOSE OF THE TASK FORCE SHALL BE TO STUDY, EVALUATE 21 AND DEVELOP RECOMMENDATIONS RELATING TO SPECIFIC ACTIONABLE MEASURES TO 22 SUPPORT AND MEET THE NEEDS OF ADULTS WITH AUTISM WHO ARE RESIDENTS OF EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD01908-02-1 A. 411--A 2 1 THE STATE, INCLUDING SUCH NEEDS AS VOCATIONAL, RESIDENTIAL AND SOCIAL 2 NEEDS. THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE TASK FORCE SHALL COMPRISE THE BASIS 3 FOR A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR MEETING THE NEEDS OF ADULTS WITH AUTISM, 4 AND SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE PURSUANT TO 5 SUBDIVISION (F) OF THIS SECTION. 6 (B) THE TASK FORCE SHALL CONSIST OF NINE MEMBERS AS FOLLOWS: 7 (1) THE COMMISSIONER, THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH, THE COMMISSIONER OF 8 EDUCATION, THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR ADULT CAREER AND CONTINUING 9 EDUCATION SERVICES WITHIN THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMISSIONER 10 OF LABOR; AND 11 (2) FOUR MEMBERS WITH DEMONSTRATED EXPERTISE IN ISSUES RELATING TO THE 12 WORK OF THE TASK FORCE; WITH TWO SUCH MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, 13 ONE SUCH MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, AND 14 ONE SUCH MEMBER APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, NO LATER THAN 15 THE THIRTIETH DAY AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION. 16 VACANCIES IN THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE TASK FORCE SHALL BE FILLED IN THE 17 SAME MANNER PROVIDED FOR BY THE ORIGINAL APPOINTMENTS. 18 (C) THE COMMISSIONER OR THE COMMISSIONER'S DESIGNEE SHALL SERVE AS 19 CHAIRPERSON OF THE TASK FORCE. THE TASK FORCE SHALL ORGANIZE AS SOON AS 20 PRACTICABLE FOLLOWING THE APPOINTMENT OF ITS MEMBERS AND SHALL SELECT A 21 VICE-CHAIRPERSON FROM AMONG THE MEMBERS. THE CHAIRPERSON SHALL APPOINT A 22 SECRETARY WHO NEED NOT BE A MEMBER OF THE TASK FORCE. 23 (D) THE MEMBERS OF THE TASK FORCE SHALL RECEIVE NO COMPENSATION FOR 24 THEIR SERVICES, BUT SHALL BE ALLOWED THEIR ACTUAL AND NECESSARY EXPENSES 25 INCURRED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES. 26 (E) TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT FEASIBLE, THE TASK FORCE SHALL BE ENTITLED 27 TO REQUEST AND RECEIVE, AND SHALL UTILIZE AND BE PROVIDED WITH SUCH 28 FACILITIES, RESOURCES AND DATA OF ANY COURT, DEPARTMENT, DIVISION, 29 BOARD, BUREAU, COMMISSION OR AGENCY OF THE STATE OR ANY POLITICAL SUBDI- 30 VISION THEREOF AS IT MAY REASONABLY REQUEST TO PROPERLY CARRY OUT ITS 31 POWERS AND DUTIES. 32 (F) THE TASK FORCE SHALL REPORT ITS FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO 33 THE GOVERNOR, THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF 34 THE ASSEMBLY ON OR BEFORE APRIL FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWELVE. 35 S 3. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be 36 deemed repealed 2 years after such effective date.