Bill Text: NJ A475 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Provides for Autism Advocate in Division of Advocacy for the Developmentally Disabled.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-2)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-12 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee [A475 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-A475-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
214th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2010 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman JOAN M. VOSS
District 38 (Bergen)
Assemblyman VINCENT PRIETO
District 32 (Bergen and Hudson)
Assemblyman GARY S. SCHAER
District 36 (Bergen, Essex and Passaic)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblymen Coutinho, Scalera, Holzapfel, Wolfe, Gusciora, Moriarty, Giblin and Chivukula
SYNOPSIS
Provides for Autism Advocate in Division of Advocacy for the Developmentally Disabled.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act concerning advocacy for persons with autism and amending P.L.2005, c.155.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 38 of P.L.2005, c.155 (C.52:27EE-38) is amended to read as follows:
38. a. There is hereby established in the Department of the Public Advocate the Division of Advocacy for the Developmentally Disabled to be under the supervision of the Director of the Division of Advocacy for the Developmentally Disabled, appointed by the Public Advocate.
b. The division is hereby designated as the State's protection and advocacy agency for persons with developmental disabilities. The intent of this article is that the division shall have all the powers necessary to carry out its responsibilities as required to qualify for federal funding as the State protection and advocacy agency. Until such designation is effectuated, the division may take such action as it deems appropriate for the purpose of coordinating with the private entity designated the State's protection and advocacy agency for persons with developmental disabilities on the date of enactment of this act.
c. (1) The Public Advocate shall designate one person within the staff of the division as the Autism Advocate. This person shall have expertise in issues relating to the needs and concerns of persons with autism and their families, and shall:
(a) serve as the primary advocate within the division for persons with autism and their families who are seeking to obtain services or otherwise contact the division in order to request information or assistance;
(b) provide leadership within the autism community in New Jersey to achieve objectives that serve the interests of persons with autism; and
(c) communicate with, and provide guidance to, departments of State government that provide services which impact persons with autism in furtherance of objectives that serve the interests of persons with autism.
(2) Although the Autism Advocate shall be primarily responsible for the duties enumerated in paragraph (1) of this subsection, nothing in that paragraph shall be construed to prohibit the director from assigning the Autism Advocate responsibilities in serving persons with developmental disabilities other than autism.
(cf: P.L.2005, c.155, s.38)
2. This act shall take effect on the 60th day after enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill amends P.L.2005, c.155 (C.52:27EE-1 et seq.) to require that the Public Advocate designate one person within the staff of the Division of Advocacy for the Developmentally Disabled in the Department of the Public Advocate as the Autism Advocate.
The Autism Advocate is to have expertise in issues relating to the needs and concerns of persons with autism and their families, and will:
· serve as the primary advocate within the Division of Advocacy for the Developmentally Disabled for persons with autism and their families who are seeking to obtain services or otherwise contact the division in order to request information or assistance;
· provide leadership within the autism community in New Jersey to achieve objectives that serve the interests of persons with autism; and
· communicate with, and provide guidance to, departments of State government that provide services which impact persons with autism in furtherance of objectives that serve the interests of persons with autism.
Although the Autism Advocate is to be primarily responsible for the duties specified in this bill, nothing in its provisions is to be construed to prohibit the director of the division from assigning the Autism Advocate responsibilities in serving persons with developmental disabilities other than autism.
