FROM STAFF REPORTS

Published Tuesday, April 7, 2009

House Bill 615, sponsored is State Rep. Cam Ward (R-Alabaster) establishing regional autism centers, passed the Alabama House of Representatives April 2.

The bill was created to autism-related issues to the forefront.

HB 615 creates autism service centers in each of the State Board of Education districts to be located, where possible, on the campuses of state universities and colleges, which provide a proposal for a center to the Alabama Interagency Autism Coordinating Council. The centers will provide a trained staff with expertise in autism and autistic-like behaviors to work with clients and their families and with school districts whose duties include providing an appropriate education program for school-age children. The centers will also implement public awareness programs to inform the public about autism.

“Passing this bill is a giant step in providing much-needed services to those dealing with autism. This measure will bring Alabama into the mainstream in getting help to those who have languished in the darkness for so many years, and I applaud my colleagues for recognizing the need to address this issue,” Ward said.

For the complete text of HB 615, go to http://alisondb.legislature.state.al.us/acas/searchableinstruments/2009RS/PrintFiles//HB615-int.pdf