Bill Text: FL S0516 | 2011 | Regular Session | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Autism
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (? 2-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-05-07 - Indefinitely postponed and withdrawn from consideration [S0516 Detail]
Download: Florida-2011-S0516-Comm_Sub.html
Florida Senate - 2011 CS for CS for SB 516 By the Committees on Governmental Oversight and Accountability; and Children, Families, and Elder Affairs; and Senator Garcia 585-03463-11 2011516c2 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to autism; creating the Autism 3 Spectrum Disorder Study Committee to study autism 4 spectrum disorder in families in which English is the 5 second language; providing for membership, meetings, 6 and duties; prohibiting committee members from 7 receiving compensation for their services; authorizing 8 certain funding for publications, subject to approval 9 of the State Surgeon General; requiring a report to 10 the Governor and Legislature; providing for expiration 11 of the committee; providing an effective date. 12 13 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 14 15 Section 1. Autism Spectrum Disorder Study Committee.— 16 (1) There is created an Autism Spectrum Disorder Study 17 Committee to study the effects of autism spectrum disorder on 18 families in which English is the second language. 19 (2) The committee shall advise the Agency for Persons with 20 Disabilities regarding legislative, programmatic, and 21 administrative matters that relate to occurrences of autism 22 spectrum disorder in families in which English is the second 23 language. 24 (3) The committee shall be composed of 10 members, of whom 25 four shall be appointed by the Governor, three shall be 26 appointed by the President of the Senate, and three shall be 27 appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Of the 28 members appointed to the committee: 29 (a) At least one member must be a physician licensed under 30 chapter 458 or chapter 459, Florida Statutes. 31 (b) At least one member must be a psychiatrist licensed 32 under chapter 458 or chapter 459, Florida Statutes. 33 (c) At least one member must be a psychologist licensed 34 under chapter 490, Florida Statutes. 35 (d) At least one member must be a behavior analyst 36 certified under s. 393.17, Florida Statutes, who specializes in 37 the treatment of autism spectrum disorder through speech 38 therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, or applied 39 behavior analysis, or a provider licensed under chapter 491, 40 Florida Statutes. 41 (e) At least one member must be the State Surgeon General 42 or an employee of the Department of Health appointed by the 43 State Surgeon General. 44 (f) At least one member must be the parent of a child with 45 autism spectrum disorder. 46 (g) At least one member must be an educator certified in 47 special education. 48 (h) At least one member must be a medical doctor from UM 49 NSU CARD, Center for Autism & Related Disabilities. 50 (j) At least one member must have autism spectrum disorder. 51 (4) Initial appointments shall be made by July 1, 2011. A 52 vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the original 53 appointing authority for the unexpired portion of the term. 54 (5) The committee shall elect a chair at the first meeting 55 by a majority vote of the members present. A majority of the 56 membership constitutes a quorum. 57 (6) The committee shall meet at least six times bimonthly, 58 or more frequently upon call of the chair, beginning in August 59 2011. The final meeting shall be held no later than August 30, 60 2012. 61 (7) Committee members are not entitled to compensation for 62 their services, and state funds may not be expended for the 63 management and operation of the committee except, at the 64 discretion of the State Surgeon General, funds may be expended 65 for the cost of publishing recommendations and any public 66 announcements. 67 (8) The committee shall issue a report containing its 68 findings and recommendations for community awareness campaigns 69 relating to autism spectrum disorder in families in which 70 English is the second language to the Governor, the President of 71 the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by 72 September 1, 2012. 73 (9) The committee shall expire September 1, 2012. 74 Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.