07-R309

2007 -- H 6501

Enacted 06/06/07

H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A SPECIAL HOUSE COMMISSION TO STUDY THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

Introduced By: Representatives Palumbo, Jackson, Naughton, Dennigan, and Malik

Date Introduced: June 06, 2007

     RESOLVED, That a special House commission be and the same is hereby created

consisting of twelve (12) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the House of

Representatives, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the

Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the Commissioner of the Department of Elementary

and Secondary Education, or designee; one of whom shall be the Director of the Department of

Human Services, or designee; one of whom shall be the Director of the Department of Health, or

designee; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of The Autism Project of Rhode Island, or

designee; one of whom shall be the President of the National Autism Association, or designee;

one of whom shall be the President of TL Autism Research, or designee; one of whom shall be

the President of the Rhode Island Chapter – Autism Society of America; one of whom shall be a

diagnostician to be appointed by the Speaker; and one of whom shall be a representative of higher

education, to be appointed by the Speaker.

     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a permanent advisory

commission, a legislative study commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly

resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu

of a legislator, provided that the majority leader or the minority leader of the political party which

is entitled to the appointment consents to the appointment of the member of the general public.

     The purpose of said commission shall be to make a comprehensive study of the education

of children with autism, particularly the diagnosis and assessment, the prevalence of numbers in

the state, the effect on and role of families, the appropriate goals for education, effective

interventions and educational programs, public policy approaches to ensuring access to

appropriate education and personnel preparation.

     Upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at the call of

the Speaker of the House and organize and shall select, from among the legislators, a chairperson.

     Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.

     The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

     All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or

desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

     The Speaker of the House is hereby authorized and directed to provide suitable quarters

for said commission, and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the

House of Representatives no later than January 30, 2008 and said commission shall expire on

June 15, 2008.

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LC03237

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