Connecticut General Statutes 17a-215c – Division of Autism Spectrum Disorder Services within Department of Social Services. Services and programs for state residents diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder
(a) There is established a Division of Autism Spectrum Disorder Services within the Department of Social Services.
Terms Used In Connecticut General Statutes 17a-215c
- Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
- intellectual disability: means a significant limitation in intellectual functioning existing concurrently with deficits in adaptive behavior that originated during the developmental period before eighteen years of age. See Connecticut General Statutes 1-1g
(b) The Department of Social Services may adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, to define the term “autism spectrum disorder”, establish eligibility standards and criteria for the receipt of services by any resident of the state diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, regardless of age, and data collection, maintenance and reporting processes. The Commissioner of Social Services may implement policies and procedures necessary to administer the provisions of this section prior to adoption of such regulations, provided the commissioner shall publish notice of intent to adopt such regulations not later than twenty days after implementation of such policies and procedures. Any such policies and procedures shall be valid until such regulations are adopted.
(c) The Division of Autism Spectrum Disorder Services may, within available appropriations, research, design and implement the delivery of appropriate and necessary services and programs for all residents of the state with autism spectrum disorder. Such services and programs may include the creation of: (1) Autism-specific early intervention services for any child under the age of three diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder; (2) education, recreation, habilitation, vocational and transition services for individuals age three to twenty-one, inclusive, diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder; (3) services for adults over the age of twenty-one diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder; and (4) related autism spectrum disorder services deemed necessary by the Commissioner of Social Services.
(d) The Department of Social Services shall serve as the lead state agency for the purpose of the federal Combating Autism Act, P.L. 109-416, as amended from time to time, and for applying for and receiving funds and performing any related responsibilities concerning autism spectrum disorder which are authorized pursuant to any state or federal law.
(e) The Department of Social Services may make recommendations to the Governor and the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human services concerning legislation and funding required to provide necessary services to persons diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
(f) The Division of Autism Spectrum Disorder Services shall research and locate possible funding streams for the continued development and implementation of services for persons diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder but not with intellectual disability. The division shall take all necessary action to secure Medicaid reimbursement for home and community-based individualized support services for adults diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder but not with intellectual disability. Such action may include applying for a Medicaid waiver pursuant to Section 1915(c) of the Social Security Act, as amended from time to time, in order to secure the funding for such services.
(g) The Division of Autism Spectrum Disorder Services shall, within available appropriations: (1) Design and implement a training initiative that shall include training to develop a workforce; and (2) develop a curriculum specific to autism spectrum disorder in coordination with the Board of Regents for Higher Education.
(h) The case records of the Division of Autism Spectrum Disorder Services maintained by the division for any purpose authorized pursuant to subsections (b) to (g), inclusive, of this section shall be subject to the same confidentiality requirements, under state and federal law, that govern all client records maintained by the Department of Social Services.
(i) The Commissioner of Social Services may seek approval of an amendment to the state Medicaid plan or a waiver from federal law, whichever is sufficient and most expeditious, to establish and implement a Medicaid-financed home and community-based program to provide community-based services and, if necessary, housing assistance, to adults diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder but not with intellectual disability.
(j) On or before January 1, 2008, and annually thereafter, the Commissioner of Social Services, in accordance with the provisions of § 11-4a, shall submit a report to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to human services, on the status of any amendment to the state Medicaid plan or waiver from federal law as described in subsection (i) of this section and on the establishment and implementation of the program authorized pursuant to subsection (i) of this section.
(k) The Autism Spectrum Disorder Advisory Council, established pursuant to § 17a-215d, shall advise the Commissioner of Social Services on all matters relating to autism.
(l) The Commissioner of Social Services, in consultation with the Autism Spectrum Disorder Advisory Council, shall designate services and interventions that demonstrate, in accordance with medically established and research-based best practices, empirical effectiveness for the treatment of autism spectrum disorder. The commissioner shall update such designations periodically and whenever the commissioner deems it necessary to conform to changes generally recognized by the relevant medical community in evidence-based practices or research.