| 1 | 1 | | By: Shapiro, Uresti S.B. No. 1217 |
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| 2 | 2 | | |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 5 | 5 | | AN ACT |
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| 6 | 6 | | relating to the creation of an autism program to provide services to |
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| 7 | 7 | | children with autism spectrum disorder. |
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| 8 | 8 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 9 | 9 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 117, Human Resources Code, |
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| 10 | 10 | | is amended by adding Section 117.075 to read as follows: |
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| 11 | 11 | | Sec. 117.075. AUTISM PROGRAM. (a) To the extent |
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| 12 | 12 | | appropriated money is available for the purpose, the department |
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| 13 | 13 | | shall provide services to children not younger than three or older |
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| 14 | 14 | | than eight years of age who are diagnosed with autism spectrum |
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| 15 | 15 | | disorder, to enhance communication, social, and independent living |
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| 16 | 16 | | skills so that the children may fully participate in society. |
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| 17 | 17 | | (b) The services must include applied behavioral analysis |
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| 18 | 18 | | and must complement and not duplicate services outlined in a |
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| 19 | 19 | | child's individualized education plan developed by an independent |
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| 20 | 20 | | school district. |
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| 21 | 21 | | SECTION 2. The executive commissioner of the Health and |
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| 22 | 22 | | Human Services Commission shall develop the autism program required |
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| 23 | 23 | | under Section 117.075, Human Resources Code, as added by this Act, |
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| 24 | 24 | | not later than January 1, 2010. |
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| 25 | 25 | | SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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| 26 | 26 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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| 27 | 27 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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| 28 | 28 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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| 29 | 29 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |
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