Bill Text: FL S0516 | 2011 | Regular Session | Comm Sub

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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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Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-05-07 - Indefinitely postponed and withdrawn from consideration [S0516 Detail]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

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       Florida Senate - 2011                              CS for SB 516
       
       
       
       By the Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs; and
       Senator Garcia
       
       
       
       586-02445-11                                           2011516c1
    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 nine members, of
   25  whom three 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 psychologist licensed
   32  under chapter 490, Florida Statutes.
   33         (c) At least one member must be a behavior analyst
   34  certified under s. 393.17, Florida Statutes, who specializes in
   35  the treatment of autism spectrum disorder through speech
   36  therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, or applied
   37  behavior analysis, or a provider licensed under chapter 491,
   38  Florida Statutes.
   39         (d) At least one member must be the State Surgeon General
   40  or an employee of the Department of Health appointed by the
   41  State Surgeon General.
   42         (e) At least one member must be the parent of a child with
   43  autism spectrum disorder.
   44         (f) At least one member must be an educator certified in
   45  special education.
   46         (4) Initial appointments shall be made by July 1, 2011. A
   47  vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the original
   48  appointing authority for the unexpired portion of the term.
   49         (5) The committee shall elect a chair at the first meeting
   50  by a majority vote of the members present. A majority of the
   51  membership constitutes a quorum.
   52         (6) The committee shall meet at least six times bimonthly,
   53  or more frequently upon call of the chair, beginning in August
   54  2011. The final meeting shall be held no later than August 30,
   55  2012.
   56         (7) Committee members are not entitled to compensation for
   57  their services, and state funds may not be expended for the
   58  management and operation of the committee except, at the
   59  discretion of the State Surgeon General, funds may be expended
   60  for the cost of publishing recommendations and any public
   61  announcements.
   62         (8) The committee shall issue a report containing its
   63  findings and recommendations for community awareness campaigns
   64  relating to autism spectrum disorder in families in which
   65  English is the second language to the Governor, the President of
   66  the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by
   67  September 1, 2012.
   68         (9) The committee shall expire September 1, 2012.
   69         Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.