Autism Council Bill & Amendment

SUMMARY OF ORIGINAL BILL:

Creates the Tennessee Council on Autism Spectrum Disorder (Council) to establish a long-term plan for a system of care for individuals with autism spectrum disorder and their families. The Council will be administratively attached to the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (DIDD) and will make recommendations and provide leadership in program development regarding matters concerning all levels of autism spectrum disorder services, including, but not limited to, health care, education, and other adult, adolescent, and children’s services. Deletes the Autism Spectrum Disorder Taskforce (ASDT). Adds the Council to the sunset cycle provisions under the Tennessee Governmental Entity Review Law, thereby creating a termination date for the Council of June 30, 2018.

SUMMARY OF AMENDMENTS (003081, 003489, 003852):

Amendment 003081 adds language to the original bill to designate the Executive Director of the Commission on Children and Youth, or the Executive Director’s designee, as an additional member on the Tennessee Council on Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Amendment 003489 deletes and replaces language that extends the termination date for the Council to June 30, 2019, rather than June 30, 2018.

Amendment 003852 adds language to the amended bill that: (1) changes, from six to nine, the number of adults who have a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, or who are either family members or primary caregivers of persons with autism spectrum disorder, to serve as members of the Council and (2) changes, from two to three, the number of adult members who are to represent each grand division of the state.