HB 339

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to autism; creating the Autism
3Spectrum Disorder Study Committee to study autism
4spectrum disorder in families in which English is the
5second language; providing for membership, meetings,
6and duties; prohibiting committee members from
7receiving compensation for their services; authorizing
8certain funding for publications, subject to approval
9of the State Surgeon General; requiring a report to
10the Governor and Legislature; providing for expiration
11of the committee; providing an effective date.
12
13Be 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
17Committee to study the effects of autism spectrum disorder on
18families in which English is the second language.
19     (2)  The committee shall advise the Agency for Persons with
20Disabilities regarding legislative, programmatic, and
21administrative matters that relate to occurrences of autism
22spectrum disorder in families in which English is the second
23language.
24     (3)  The committee shall be composed of nine members, which
25shall include the State Surgeon General or an employee of the
26Department of Health designated by the State Surgeon General,
27the Executive Director of the Family Network on Disabilities,
28Inc., or his or her designee, and seven additional members, of
29whom three shall be appointed by the Governor, two shall be
30appointed by the President of the Senate, and two shall be
31appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Of the
32members appointed to the committee:
33     (a)  At least one member must be a physician licensed under
34chapter 458, Florida Statutes.
35     (b)  At least one member must be a behavior analyst
36certified under s. 393.17, Florida Statutes, who specializes in
37the treatment of autism spectrum disorder through speech
38therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, or applied
39behavior analysis; a psychologist licensed under chapter 490,
40Florida Statutes; or a psychotherapist licensed under chapter
41491, Florida Statutes.
42     (c)  At least one member must be the parent of a child with
43autism spectrum disorder.
44     (d)  At least one member must be an educator certified in
45special education.
46     (4)  Initial appointments shall be made by July 1, 2012. A
47vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the original
48appointing authority for the unexpired portion of the term.
49     (5)  The committee shall elect a chair at the first meeting
50by a majority vote of the members present. A majority of the
51membership constitutes a quorum.
52     (6)  The committee shall meet at least six times bimonthly,
53or more frequently upon the call of the chair, beginning in
54August 2012. The final meeting shall be held no later than
55August 30, 2013.
56     (7)  Committee members are not entitled to compensation for
57their services and state funds may not be expended for the
58management and operation of the committee except, at the
59discretion of the State Surgeon General, funds expended for the
60cost of publishing recommendations and any public announcements.
61     (8)  The committee shall issue a report containing its
62findings and recommendations for community awareness campaigns
63relating to autism spectrum disorder in families in which
64English is the second language to the Governor, the President of
65the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by
66September 1, 2013.
67     (9)  The committee shall expire September 1, 2013.
68     Section 2.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.


CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.