FIRST REGULAR SESSION
95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES GRISAMORE (Sponsor), RUESTMAN, DIXON, ROORDA, GRILL AND KIRKTON (Co-sponsors).
1398L.01I D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To amend chapter 633, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to autism as addressed by the division of developmental disabilities.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 633, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 633.220, to read as follows:
633.220. 1. For purposes of this section, the following terms shall mean:
(1) "Autism", a lifelong developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life resulting from a neurological disorder that affects brain functioning which interferes with communication, learning, behavior and social development;
(2) "Division", the division of developmental disabilities;
(3) "Family support", services and helping relationships for the purpose of maintaining and enhancing family caregiving. Family support may be any combination of services that enable individuals with autism to reside within their family homes and remain integrated within their communities. Family support services shall be:
(a) Based on individual and family needs;
(b) Easily accessible to the family;
(c) Family-centered and culturally sensitive;
(d) Flexible and varied to meet the changing needs of the family members;
(e) Identified by the family; and
(f) Provided in a timely manner contingent upon the availability of resources;
(4) "Regional council", as such term is described in section 633.050;
(5) "Service provider", an entity which provides and receives reimbursement for autism programs and services as specified in this section.
2. The division of developmental disabilities shall establish programs and services for persons with autism. These programs and services shall be established in conjunction with persons with autism and with families of persons with autism. The division shall establish such programs and services in conjunction with the regional parent advisory councils and with the Missouri parent advisory committee on autism. The programs and services shall be designed to enhance families' abilities to meet needs they identify and shall:
(1) Develop skills for persons with autism through training;
(2) Train families to manage behaviors of members with autism;
(3) Provide needed family support; and
(4) Cooperate with other federal, state, and local agencies.
3. The division shall establish autism programs and services as follows:
(1) "Central Missouri Autism Project", to serve clients of the Kirksville, Hannibal, Rolla, and central Missouri regional centers;
(2) "East Missouri Autism Project", to serve clients of the St. Louis regional center;
(3) "Northwest Missouri Autism Project", to serve clients of the Albany and Kansas City regional centers;
(4) "Southeast Missouri Autism Project", to serve clients of the Poplar Bluff and Sikeston regional centers; and
(5) "Southwest Missouri Autism Project", to serve clients of the Joplin and Springfield regional centers.
4. The Central, East, Northwest, Southeast, and Southwest Missouri autism projects may provide, but shall not be limited to the following services:
(1) Assessment;
(2) Advocacy training;
(3) Behavior management training and supports;
(4) Communication and language therapy;
(5) Consultation on individualized education and habilitation plans;
(6) Crisis intervention;
(7) Information and referral assistance;
(8) Life skills;
(9) Music therapy;
(10) Occupational therapy, sensory integration therapy, and consultation;
(11) Parent or caregiver therapy;
(12) Public education and information dissemination;
(13) Respite care; and
(14) Staff training.
5. The Central, East, Northwest, Southeast, and Southwest Missouri autism projects shall each have a regional parent advisory council composed of seven to nine persons that have family members with autism, including family members that are young children, school-age children, and adults, and who have met the division's eligibility requirements to be a client as defined under section 630.005, RSMo. Members of a regional parent advisory council shall be Missouri residents. Members of a council shall serve a term of three years and shall not serve more than two terms. No member shall be a service provider, a member of a service provider's board of directors, or an employee of a service provider. The central, northwest, southeast, and southwest Missouri autism project councils shall be encouraged to maintain membership from each region within their project boundaries. The east Missouri advisory council shall be encouraged to maintain membership from each county within the region and from the city of St. Louis. The councils shall make every effort to elect members to represent the cultural diversity of the project areas and to represent persons with autism of all ages and capabilities. Each council shall elect a chairperson, vice-chairperson, and secretary. Each council shall meet bimonthly or more often at the call of the chairperson. A simple majority of the membership shall constitute a quorum. Each council shall submit an annual report to the Missouri parent advisory committee on autism and to the director of the department of mental health. Each committee shall establish bylaws specific to its project area.
6. The responsibilities of each regional parent advisory council shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(1) Advocacy;
(2) Contract monitoring;
(3) Review of annual audits of projects by the department of mental health;
(4) Recommendation of services to be provided based on input from families;
(5) Recommendation of policy, budget, and service priorities;
(6) Monthly review of service delivery;
(7) Planning;
(8) Public education and awareness;
(9) Recommendation of service providers to the division for administration of the project; and
(10) Recommendation of contract cancellation.
7. In the event a regional parent advisory council disagrees with the decision of the division deputy director related to the operation of the project, the issue may be referred to the Missouri parent advisory committee on autism for its recommendation to the division's director.
8. The division shall establish the Missouri parent advisory committee on autism. It shall be composed of:
(1) Two representatives and one alternate from each of the five parent advisory committees established in subsection 3 of this section;
(2) One person with autism and his or her alternate. The alternate shall also be a person with autism and neither shall be a member of a regional parent advisory council.
The committee shall be appointed by the division director. The committee shall elect a chairperson, a vice-chairperson, and a secretary annually. The committee shall meet quarterly or at the call of the chairperson. A simple majority of the membership shall constitute a quorum.
9. The division director shall make every effort to appoint members nominated by the regional parent advisory councils. The membership should represent the cultural diversity of the state and represent persons with autism of all ages and capabilities.
10. The responsibilities of the Missouri parent advisory committee on autism shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
(1) Serve as a liaison with the regional parent advisory councils and provide current information to them and the persons and families they serve;
(2) Determine project outcomes for autism services;
(3) Determine roles and responsibilities of the regional parent advisory committees;
(4) Develop positive relationships with the department of elementary and secondary education and local school districts;
(5) Plan and sponsor statewide activities;
(6) Recommend service providers to the division director in the event a regional parent advisory committee and division deputy director cannot reach consensus; and
(7) Provide an annual report to the Missouri commission on autism spectrum disorders, the governor, and the director of the department of mental health.
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