Public Health Committee
AN ACT CONCERNING ADVISORY AND PLANNING COUNCILS FOR STATE DEVELOPMENTAL SERVICES REGIONS, A CHANGE IN TERMINOLOGY AND THE AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER ADVISORY COUNCIL
SUMMARY: This act makes several changes to the Council on Developmental Services, Autism Spectrum Disorder Advisory Council, and advisory and planning councils for state developmental services regions.
It increases, from 13 to 15, the membership of the Council on Developmental Services. The first new member, appointed by the House majority leader, is a person with autism spectrum disorder who is a current or past recipient of services from the Department of Developmental Services' (DDS) Division of Autism Spectrum Disorder Services. The second new member is appointed by the Senate majority leader. Prior law required four council members to be parents or guardians of individuals with an intellectual disability. The act allows other relatives, not just parents or guardians, to serve as members. The act also changes the schedule of council meetings from every other month to six times per year.
The act increases, from 23 to 24, the membership of the Autism Spectrum Disorder Advisory Council to include a physician who treats or diagnoses individuals with autism spectrum disorder. This member is appointed by the governor.
By law, the DDS commissioner must appoint an advisory and planning council for each state developmental services region. The council must consult and advise the regional director on the needs of people with intellectual disability in the region, the annual plan and regional budget, and other matters deemed appropriate. The act allows a council member to serve beyond the statutory limit of two consecutive three-year terms if waiting for the appointment of a successor.
Finally, the act makes minor changes to update terminology used in statutes regarding the provision of developmental disability services.
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2014
OLR Tracking: ND: MK: VR: am