HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1109        FILED ON: 1/13/2009

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 155

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act establishing an autism commission..

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1.  There shall be a special commission to investigate and study services and supports for individuals with autistic spectrum disorders, which shall include, but not be limited to, Asperger's syndrome, high functioning autism, and pervasive development disorder not otherwise specified and who do not therefore have a condition that meets the definition of mental retardation as defined in 1992 by the American association of mental retardation. The commission shall consist of: a member of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives and a member of the senate appointed by the president of the senate, a member of the house of representatives appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives and a member of the senate appointed by the minority leader of the senate, a representative of the governor; the secretary of the executive office of health and human services or the secretary's designee; the commissioner of the department of mental retardation, or the commissioner's designee; the commissioner of the department of mental health, or the commissioner's designee; the commissioner of the department of education, or the commissioner's designee; 8 of whom shall be named by the Statewide Autism group; 2 of whom shall be named by the Asperger's Association of New England; and 2 of whom shall be named by the Autism Society of America, Massachusetts Chapter.