Sec. 17a-215b. Pilot autism spectrum disorders program. Eligibility. Report. - Connecticut Statutes

      Sec. 17a-215b. Pilot autism spectrum disorders program. Eligibility. Report. (a) The Commissioner of Developmental Services, in consultation with the Commissioners of Social Services and Mental Health and Addiction Services and any other commissioner the Commissioner of Developmental Services 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, and their families. The pilot program shall serve up to seventy-five adults with autism spectrum disorders who are not eligible for services from the Department of Developmental Services under this chapter.

      (b) The Commissioner of Developmental Services shall establish eligibility requirements for participation in the program. The commissioner shall expand the pilot program to ensure that, on and after May 12, 2008, access to the pilot program is available to persons in a geographic area not served by the program prior to said date.

      (c) The Commissioner of Developmental Services, 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 June 30, 2009.

      (e) The Commissioner of Developmental Services shall report, in accordance with section 11-4a, 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 Developmental Services 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.

      (P.A. 06-188, S. 37; P.A. 07-73, S. 2(a), (b); P.A. 08-63, S. 1.)

      History: P.A. 06-188 effective July 1, 2006; pursuant to P.A. 07-73 "Commissioner of Mental Retardation" and "Department of Mental Retardation" were changed editorially by the Revisors to "Commissioner of Developmental Services" and "Department of Developmental Services", effective October 1, 2007; P.A. 08-63 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing "fifty" with "seventy-five" re number of persons served by pilot program, amended Subsec. (b) by requiring access to pilot program to be expanded to geographic area not previously served by program and amended Subsec. (d) by extending termination date of program from October 1, 2008, to June 30, 2009, effective May 12, 2008.