HB 2304 -- Autism Spectrum Disorder

Sponsor:  Lampe

This bill changes the laws regarding the identification,
assessment, and education of children with autism spectrum
disorder.  In its main provisions, the bill:

(1)  Requires the state to provide early intervention services to
children with autism under Part C of the federal Individuals with
Disabilities Act, sometimes known as the First Steps Program;

(2)  Requires course work in teacher training programs to include
recognition of the characteristics and special needs of students
with disabilities or autism and students who are gifted;

(3)  Adds autism spectrum disorder to the definition of "children
with disabilities";

(4)  Adds consideration of children with autism to the duties of
state and area advisory commissions on special education;

(5)  Raises the ending age for early childhood special education
from four to five years of age;

(6)  Allows schools to contract for services for children with
autism;

(7)  Requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary
Education to provide a comprehensive, easy-to-understand guide to
the individualized education plan process to help parents be
effective in admission, review, and dismissal committee meetings.
A notice about the availability of the guide must also be
included in student handbooks and on school web sites;

(8)  Requires the Missouri Advisory Council of Certification for
Educators to make recommendations on training and best practices
for teachers of children with autism;

(9)  Requires the department to appoint an autism ombudsman and
to develop best practice guidelines for the assessment and
evaluation of handicapped children from three to five years of
age.  Regional professional development centers must have an
autism specialist available.  Early childhood centers will be
created, upon appropriations, giving priority to regions where
there is significant need and limited resources.  Children who
are receiving early childhood services on or after August 1,
2010, will be monitored for educational outcomes until they
complete third grade;

(10)  Adds standards for the identification, assessment, and
interventions for children with autism to the Parents as Teachers
Program;

(11)  Creates categorical funding for special needs
identification and education and authorizes a tax credit for
unreimbursed training expenses that exceed the categorical
funding.  All instructional employees from kindergarten to second
grade and parent educators for the Parents as Teachers Program
must be trained in autism early detection by July 1, 2012.
Instructional personnel for the remaining grades, nurses, and
counselors must complete training by July 1, 2014; and

(12)  Establishes the Autism Spectrum Disorder Commission in the
Department of Mental Health which must prepare a 10-year plan by
December 1, 2009.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated October 15, 2008 at 3:12 pm