Directs the commissioner of the office for people with developmental disabilities, the commissioner of education, the commissioner of health, the commissioner of the office of children and family services and the commissioner of mental health to study and report the costs to the state for the early diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and the long-term treatment for individuals with autism spectrum disorder.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A261
SPONSOR: Abinanti (MS) TITLE OF BILL:
An act to direct the commissioner of the office for people with develop-
mental disabilities to study and report upon the cost to the state for
the early diagnosis and long-term treatment of autism spectrum disorder
PURPOSE OF BILL:
To study the costs to the state for the early diagnosis of autism spec-
trum disorder and the long-term treatment of individuals with autism
spectrum disorder.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill requires the commissioners of the office for
people with developmental disabilities, education, health, the office
for children and family services and mental health to cause a study to
be performed on the costs to the state for the early diagnosis of autism
spectrum disorder and the long-term treatment of individuals with autism
spectrum disorder. The study shall include a projected estimate of
future state costs associated with state services that will be needed to
accommodate the growth in the number of individuals being diagnosed with
autism spectrum disorder.
Section 2 requires the commissioners to deliver a copy of the findings
of the study and any necessary legislative recommendations to the gover-
nor, the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly,
the chair of the mental health and developmental disabilities committee
of the senate, and the chair of the mental health committee of the
assembly on or before April 1, 2020.
Section 3 is the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
On March 27, 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
released new data on the prevalence of autism in the United States. This
surveillance study identified 1 in 68 children (1 in 42 boys and 1 in
189 girls) as having autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This number has
increased significantly over the last decade. While thousands of state
residents currently receive services for the treatment and care of
autism spectrum disorders from the Office for People with Developmental
Disabilities including long-term residential care; this number will
increase steadily as more children are being diagnosed annually.
The State already has custody or will take custody of many individuals
diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder as they grow older. The longterm
fiscal impact to the State must be assessed in order to plan for the
funding necessary to provide proper service levels and improve programs
for this vulnerable and increasing population.
Most states do not require private insurance companies to cover even
essential autism treatments and services. In the absence of coverage,
families often pay for out-of-pocket services that can cost upwards of
$50,000 per year. In the process, many risk their homes and the
educations of their unaffected children - essentially mortgaging their
entire futures.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2016: A171A passed assembly;
2014: A538A passed assembly;
2012: A9014A referred to mental health;
2011: A6403 referred to mental health;
2010: A86253 referred to mental health.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
261
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 5, 2017
___________
Introduced by M. of A. ABINANTI, BENEDETTO, LUPARDO, TITONE, CUSICK,
COOK, COLTON, ENGLEBRIGHT, WEPRIN, BARRETT, LIFTON, BICHOTTE --
Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. CROUCH, GRAF, McDONOUGH, MOYA, RAIA,
SALADINO, THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Mental
Health
AN ACT to direct the commissioner of the office for people with develop-
mental disabilities to study and report upon the cost to the state for
the early diagnosis and long-term treatment of autism spectrum disor-
der
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The commissioner of the office for people with develop-
2 mental disabilities, the commissioner of education, the commissioner of
3 health, the commissioner of the office of children and family services
4 and the commissioner of mental health shall cause a study to be
5 performed on the costs to the state for the early diagnosis of autism
6 spectrum disorder and the long-term treatment of individuals with autism
7 spectrum disorder. Such study shall include, but not be limited to, a
8 projected estimate of future cost to the state associated with state
9 services that will be needed to accommodate the growth in the number of
10 individuals being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
11 § 2. On or before April 1, 2021, the commissioner of the office for
12 people with developmental disabilities, the commissioner of education,
13 the commissioner of health, the commissioner of the office of children
14 and family services and the commissioner of mental health shall deliver
15 a copy of the findings of the study conducted pursuant to section one of
16 this act and any legislative recommendations he or she deems to be
17 necessary to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, the
18 speaker of the assembly, the chair of the mental health and develop-
19 mental disabilities committee of the senate, and the chair of the mental
20 health committee of the assembly.
21 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03266-01-7
