LAWRENCE J. HOGAN, JR., Governor Ch. 627
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Chapter 627
(House Bill 662)
AN ACT concerning
Advisory Stakeholder Group on Autism –Related Needs, Interagency Disabilities
Board, and the State Coordinator for Autism Strategy – Membership, Staffing,
and Appointment
FOR the purpose of requiring the Governor to appoint the State Coordinator for Autism
Strategy; altering the membership and staffing of the Advisory Stakeholder Group
on Autism–Related Needs; adding the State Coordinator for Autism Strategy to the
Interagency Disabilities Board; and generally relating to the Advisory Stakeholder
Group on Autism–Related Needs, the Interagency Disabilities Board, and the State
Coordinator for Autism Strategy.
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article – Human Services
Section 7–111(a) and (e), and 7–112(b) and (d) 7–112, and 7–128
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement)
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments,
Article – Human Services
Section 7–112(a) and 7–127
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2019 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement)
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
Article – Human Services
7–111.
(a) (1) There is a State Coordinator for Autism Strategy in the Governor’s
Office of Community Initiatives.
(2) WITH THE ADVICE AND C ONSENT OF THE SENATE, THE THE
GOVERNOR SHALL APPOINT THE STATE COORDINATOR FOR AUTISM STRATEGY.
(e) (1) For fiscal year 2023 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Governor shall
include in the annual budget bill an appropriation to fund the position of State Coordinator
for Autism Strategy and the Advisory Stakeholder Group on Autism–Related Needs.
Ch. 627 2022 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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(2) FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024 AND EACH FISCAL YEAR THEREAFTER ,
THE GOVERNOR SHALL INCLUD E IN THE ANNUAL BUDG ET BILL AN APPROPRIA TION
IN AN AMOUNT SUFFICI ENT TO FUND ONE SUPP ORT STAFF POSITION F OR THE STATE
COORDINATOR FOR AUTISM STRATEGY.
7–112.
(a) There is an Advisory Stakeholder Group on Autism–Related Needs.
(b) The Advisory Stakeholder Group on Autism–Related Needs consists of the
following members:
(1) ONE MEMBER OF THE SENATE OF MARYLAND, APPOINTED BY THE
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE;
(2) TWO MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES, APPOINTED BY
THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE;
[(1)] (3) the State Superintendent of Schools, or the State
Superintendent’s designee;
[(2)] (4) the Secretary of Disabilities, or the Secretary’s designee;
[(3)] (5) the Secretary of Human Services, or the Secretary’s designee;
[(4)] (6) the Secretary of Health, or the Secretary’s designee;
[(5)] (7) the State Coordinator for Autism Strategy;
[(6)] (8) one representative of the Maryland Speech–Language–Hearing
Association;
[(7)] (9) one representative of the Maryland Developmental Disabilities
Council;
[(8)] (10) one representative of the Maryland Occupational Therapy
Association;
[(9)] (11) one representative of The ARC Maryland;
[(10)] (12) one representative of Pathfinders for Autism;
[(11)] (13) one representative of Itineris; and
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[(12)] (14) the following members, appointed by the Governor:
(i) a school psychologist;
(ii) a physical therapist;
(iii) a pediatrician;
(iv) two parents of children with autism;
(v) two self–advocates with autism;
(vi) one representative of public universities in the State;
(vii) one representative of local public school systems in the State;
AND
(viii) one representative from the business community; and
(ix) (15) any additional members with expertise or experience in
autism–related needs as considered necessary , APPOINTED BY THE STATE
COORDINATOR FOR AUTISM STRATEGY.
(c) The State Coordinator for Autism Strategy shall chair the Advisory
Stakeholder Group on Autism–Related Needs.
(d) The [Department of Disabilities] GOVERNOR’S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY
INITIATIVES shall provide staff for the Advisory Stakeholder Group on Autism–Related
Needs.
(e) IN APPOINTING MEMBERS UNDER SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION ,
THE APPOINTING AUTHO RITY SHALL CONSIDER THE GEOGRAPHICAL DIV ERSITY OF
THE STATE SO THAT THE COM POSITION OF TH E ADVISORY STAKEHOLDER GROUP
ON AUTISM–RELATED NEEDS REFLECTS THE VA RIOUS COMMUNITIES OF THE
STATE.
(F) A member of the Advisory Stakeholder Group on Autism–Related Needs:
(1) may not receive compensation as a member of the Advisory Stakeholder
Group on Autism–Related Needs; but
(2) is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State
Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget.
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[(f)] (G) The Advisory Stakeholder Group on Autism–Related Needs shall work
with the State Coordinator for Autism Strategy to:
(1) identify and evaluate existing services for individuals with autism and
their families;
(2) develop a strategic plan for addressing autism–related needs in the
State;
(3) promote, monitor, and evaluate implementation of the strategic plan;
and
(4) recommend and implement changes to the strategic plan.
[(g)] (H) (1) The Advisory Stakeholder Group on Autism–Related Needs shall
hold its initial meeting on or before December 31, 2020.
(2) Beginning in 2021, the Advisory Stakeholder Group on Autism–Related
Needs shall meet quarterly each calendar year.
7–127.
(a) There is an Interagency Disabilities Board convened by the Governor.
(b) The purpose of the Board is to develop the State Disabilities Plan.
7–128.
The Board consists of the following members:
(1) the Secretary of Disabilities;
(2) the Secretary of Aging, or the Secretary’s designee;
(3) the Secretary of Commerce, or the Secretary’s designee;
(4) the Secretary of Budget and Management, or the Secretary’s designee;
(5) the Secretary of Health, or the Secretary’s designee;
(6) the Secretary of Housing and Community Development, or the
Secretary’s designee;
(7) the Secretary of Human Services, or the Secretary’s designee;
(8) the Secretary of Labor, or the Secretary’s designee; LAWRENCE J. HOGAN, JR., Governor Ch. 627
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(9) the Secretary of Planning, or the Secretary’s designee;
(10) the State Superintendent of Schools, or the Superintendent’s designee;
(11) the Secretary of Transportation, or the Secretary’s designee;
(12) the Deputy Director of the Division of Children and Youth of the
Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services, or the Deputy Director’s
designee;
(13) the Director of the Governor’s Office of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing,
or the Director’s designee;
(14) the Secretary of Juvenile Services, or the Secretary’s designee;
(15) the Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Services, or the
Secretary’s designee;
(16) the Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention,
Youth, and Victim Services, or the Executive Director’s designee; [and]
(17) THE STATE COORDINATOR FOR AUTISM STRATEGY OF THE
GOVERNOR’S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY INITIATIVES, OR THE COORDINATOR ’S
DESIGNEE; AND
[(17)] (18) representatives from any other unit of State government that the
Governor designates.
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act is an emergency
measure, is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health or safety, has
been passed by a yea and nay vote supported by three–fifths of all the members elected to
each of the two Houses of the General Assembly, and shall take effect from the date it is
enacted October 1, 2022.
Enacted under Article II, § 17(c) of the Maryland Constitution, May 29, 2022.