| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to autism; requiring that a physician |
| 3 | refer a minor to an appropriate specialist for |
| 4 | screening for autism spectrum disorder under certain |
| 5 | circumstances; defining the term "appropriate |
| 6 | specialist"; defining the term "neuropsychologist"; |
| 7 | providing an effective date. |
| 8 |
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| 9 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 10 |
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| 11 | Section 1. If the parent or legal guardian of a minor who |
| 12 | is an eligible individual, as defined in s. 627.6686, Florida |
| 13 | Statutes, believes that the minor exhibits symptoms of autism |
| 14 | spectrum disorder, the parent or legal guardian may report his |
| 15 | or her observation to a physician licensed in this state. The |
| 16 | physician shall immediately refer the minor to an appropriate |
| 17 | specialist for screening for autism spectrum disorder. As used |
| 18 | in this section, the term "appropriate specialist" includes, but |
| 19 | is not limited to, a person who is licensed in this state as: |
| 20 | (1) A neuropsychologist and who is competent in the area |
| 21 | of neurological testing. As used in this subsection, the term |
| 22 | "neuropsychologist" means a psychologist who has additional |
| 23 | training and experience in understanding brain-behavior |
| 24 | relationships. A neuropsychologist has an advanced degree in |
| 25 | psychology, known as a Ph.D. or Psy.D., and usually works with |
| 26 | psychiatrists, neurologists, neurosurgeons, physiatrists, and |
| 27 | other medical specialists as a team to coordinate a patient's |
| 28 | care; |
| 29 | (2) A board-certified behavior analyst; |
| 30 | (3) A psychologist; |
| 31 | (4) A psychiatrist; |
| 32 | (5) A neurologist; or |
| 33 | (6) A developmental or behavioral pediatrician and who |
| 34 | specializes in child neurology. |
| 35 | Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2009. |