AN ACT ESTABLISHING A PILOT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2006) (a) The Commissioner of Mental Retardation, in consultation with the Commissioners of Social Services and Mental Health and Addiction Services and any other commissioner the Commissioner of Mental Retardation deems appropriate, shall establish a pilot autism spectrum disorders program, to provide a coordinated system of supports and services, including case management, for persons with autism spectrum disorders who do not have mental retardation, as defined in section 1-1g of the general statutes, and their families. The pilot program shall serve up to fifty adults with autism spectrum disorders who are not eligible for services from the Department of Mental Retardation under chapter 319b of the general statutes.

(b) The Commissioner of Mental Retardation shall establish eligibility requirements for participation in the program.

(c) The Commissioner of Mental Retardation, or the commissioner's designee, shall identify appropriate individualized services and supports for each person in the program and the family of each person in the program and shall coordinate the provision of such services and supports to such person and family.

(d) The pilot program shall commence on or before October 1, 2006, and shall terminate not later than October 1, 2008.

(e) The Commissioner of Mental Retardation shall report, in accordance with section 11-4a of the general statutes, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public health not later than January 1, 2009, concerning the results of such pilot program. The report shall include, recommendations concerning a system for addressing the needs of persons with autism spectrum disorder, including, but not limited to, recommendations (1) establishing an independent council to advise the Department of Mental Retardation with respect to system design, implementation and quality enhancement, (2) establishing procedural safeguards, (3) designing and implementing a quality enhancement and improvement process, and (4) designing and implementing an interagency data and information management system.