Bill Text: NY S00957 | 2009-2010 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Relates to identifying the incidence and needs of those affected by autism spectrum disorder in this state and requiring training of education personnel.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-06 - REFERRED TO EDUCATION [S00957 Detail]

Download: New_York-2009-S00957-Introduced.html

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                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                          957
                              2009-2010 Regular Sessions
                                   I N  S E N A T E
                                   January 22, 2009
                                      ___________
       Introduced  by  Sens.  C. JOHNSON,  DIAZ, DUANE, ONORATO, PARKER -- read
         twice and ordered printed, and when printed to  be  committed  to  the
         Committee on Education
       AN ACT to amend the education law and the state finance law, in relation
         to  identifying  the  incidence  and needs of those affected by autism
         spectrum disorder in this state and requiring  training  of  education
         personnel
         THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
    1    Section 1. 1. The department of health, in conjunction with the office
    2  of mental health, the office of  mental  retardation  and  developmental
    3  disabilities,  the  commission  on quality care and advocacy for persons
    4  with disabilities and the state education  department  shall  collabora-
    5  tively with local entities engage in a study of the incidences of autism
    6  spectrum  disorders  in  New York state. Such study shall include recent
    7  clinical observations in children diagnosed with autism spectrum  disor-
    8  ders,  environmental  factors associated with autism spectrum disorders,
    9  the number of children currently receiving services, educational records
   10  of affected students and any other  topic  related  to  autism  spectrum
   11  disorders which are deemed relevant.
   12    2.  Not  later than one year after the effective date of this act, the
   13  department of health shall prepare a report setting forth and evaluating
   14  the findings of the study. Such report shall include, but  need  not  be
   15  limited to:
   16    (a)  an  assessment  of  the  extent of the rising incidence of autism
   17  spectrum disorders;
   18    (b) an assessment and suggestion for improving available  options  for
   19  persons diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders; and
   20    (c)  an  assessment  of the success of any local or statewide programs
   21  which are engaged in the  study  and/or  treatment  of  autism  spectrum
   22  disorders.
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD05970-01-9
       S. 957                              2
    1    S  2.  Section  4402  of  the education law is amended by adding a new
    2  subdivision 8 to read as follows:
    3    8.  THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OR TRUSTEES OF EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT AND THE
    4  CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK SHALL PROVIDE AND REQUIRE A
    5  PROGRAM OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOR SCHOOL DISTRICT PERSONNEL  INCLUD-
    6  ING  TEACHERS,  PARA-PROFESSIONALS,  CUSTODIANS  AND  BUS DRIVERS ON THE
    7  SPECIFIC NEEDS OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS. SUCH PROGRAMS
    8  SHALL INCLUDE INSTRUCTION IN THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF CHILDREN WITH  AUTISM
    9  SPECTRUM  DISORDERS  AND  METHODS  OF  PROPERLY  INTERACTING  WITH  SUCH
   10  STUDENTS. SUCH TRAINING MAY BE PROVIDED THROUGH A BOARD  OF  COOPERATIVE
   11  EDUCATION  SERVICES,  THROUGH  PROGRAMS  PROVIDED  BY OTHER DISTRICTS OR
   12  OTHER APPROVED PROGRAMS.
   13    S 3. Subdivision 3 of section 95-e of the state finance law, as  added
   14  by chapter 301 of the laws of 2004, is amended to read as follows:
   15    3.  (a) Monies of the fund shall be expended only for autism awareness
   16  projects [or], autism research projects OR OUTREACH PROGRAMS FOR  SCHOOL
   17  DISTRICTS   AND   COMMUNITY  ORGANIZATIONS  WHICH  PROVIDE  AFTER-SCHOOL
   18  PROGRAMS, SOCIAL EVENT AND SUMMER CAMP PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN  AND  FAMI-
   19  LIES  OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS approved by the depart-
   20  ment of health in New York state provided, however, that  no  more  than
   21  ten  percent of monies from such fund shall be expended on the aggregate
   22  number of autism research projects approved in a fiscal year.
   23    (b) As used in this section, the term "autism research project"  means
   24  scientific research approved by the department of health into the causes
   25  and/or  treatment  of  autism,  and  the term "autism awareness project"
   26  means a project approved  by  the  department  of  health  aimed  toward
   27  educating  the general public about the causes, symptoms, and treatments
   28  of autism. THE TERM "AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER" MEANS  A  NEUROBIOLOGICAL
   29  CONDITION  THAT  INCLUDES AUTISM, ASPERGER SYNDROME, RETT'S SYNDROME, OR
   30  PERVASIVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDER.
   31    S 4. This act shall take effect on the first of January next  succeed-
   32  ing the date on which it shall have become a law.