HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 94382        FILED ON: 12/3/2009

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4382

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Nine

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An Act RESOLVE PROVIDING FOR AN INVESTIGATION AND STUDY BY A SPECIAL COMMISSION RELATIVE TO AUTISM.

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

Resolved, that a special commission, to consist of 2 members of the senate, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the president and 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader,  2 members of the house of representatives, l of whom shall be appointed by the speaker and 1 of whom shall be appointed by the minority leader, the secretary of the executive office of health and human services or his designee, the commissioner of the department of developmental services or his designee,  the commissioner of the department of mental health or his designee, the commissioner of the department of education or his designee, the director of the department of housing and community development or his designee, the secretary of labor and workforce development or his designee, the commissioner of the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission or his designee, the commissioner of the department of early education and care or his designee, the commissioner of the department of elementary and secondary education or his designee, the commissioner of the department of higher education or his designee and the secretary of elder affairs or his designee,  and 12 persons to be appointed by the governor, 8 of whom shall be representatives of the statewide autism group, 2 of whom shall be representatives of the Asperger’s Association of New England,  and 2 of whom shall be named by the Autism Society of America, Massachusetts chapter, is hereby established to make an investigation and study relative to individuals with autistic spectrum disorders, which shall include, but not be limited to, Asperger’s syndrome, high functioning autism and pervasive development disorder. Said commission shall investigate and study the range of services and supports necessary for individuals to achieve their full potential across their lifespan, including, but not limited to, investigating issues related to public education, job attainment and employment, including supported employment, provision of adult human services, post-secondary education, independent living, community participation, housing, social and recreational opportunities, behavioral services based on best practices to ensure emotional well-being, mental health services and issues related to access for families of children with autism spectrum disorder and adults who are from linguistically and culturally diverse communities.  Said commission shall address mechanisms to ensure maximization of federal reimbursement and coordination of state human service agencies.

Said commission shall report to the general court the results of its investigation and study and its recommendations, if any, by filing the same with the clerk of the senate and the clerk of the house of representatives on or before the last Wednesday of January 2010.