I. There is established a council on autism spectrum disorders to provide leadership in promoting comprehensive and quality education, health care, and services for individuals with autism spectrum disorders and their families. The members of the council shall be as follows:
(a)The governor, or designee.
(b)The commissioner of the department of education, or designee.
(c)The commissioner of the department of health and human services, or designee.
(d)The director of the division of public health services, department of health and human services, or designee.
(e)The bureau chief of the bureau of developmental services, department of health and human services, or designee.
(f)The bureau chief of the bureau of behavioral health, department of health and human services, or designee.
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I. There is established a council on autism spectrum disorders to provide leadership in promoting comprehensive and quality education, health care, and services for individuals with autism spectrum disorders and their families. The members of the council shall be as follows:
(a) The governor, or designee.
(b) The commissioner of the department of education, or designee.
(c) The commissioner of the department of health and human services, or designee.
(d) The director of the division of public health services, department of health and human services, or designee.
(e) The bureau chief of the bureau of developmental services, department of health and human services, or designee.
(f) The bureau chief of the bureau of behavioral health, department of health and human services, or designee.
(g) The director of the Institute on Disability, University of New Hampshire, or designee.
(h) A special education director, appointed by the New Hampshire Association of Special Education Administrators, Inc.
(i) The president of the New Hampshire Medical Society, or designee.
(j) A representative of the New Hampshire Developmental Disabilities Council, appointed by the council.
(k) An individual who has an autism spectrum disorder, appointed by the governor.
(l) A family member of a person who has an autism spectrum disorder, appointed by the governor.
(m) A representative of the Community Support Network, Inc., appointed by such organization.
(n) A representative of the New Hampshire Psychological Association, appointed by the association.
(o) The director of the office of Medicaid business and policy, department of health and human services, or designee.
(p) Up to 5 additional members, nominated by the council and appointed by the governor.
(q) A person who has an autism spectrum disorder, appointed by the council.
(r) A representative of the New Hampshire Nurses' Association, appointed by the association.
(s) A licensed speech-language pathologist, appointed by the New Hampshire Speech-Language-Hearing Association, Inc.
I-a. A quorum of the council shall be a majority plus one member of the appointed members of the council.
II. The council shall:
(a) Provide leadership on training, policy, research, and coordination of supports and services for individuals and their families.
(b) Provide information to families and individuals with autism spectrum disorder about evidenced-based and promising practices for community-based education, support, and treatment.
(c) Collaborate with schools and other service systems to identify exemplary supports and services and promote successful practices throughout New Hampshire.
(d) Increase resources for individuals with autism spectrum disorders and their families by accessing federal and state grants and pursuing development opportunities through foundations, corporations, and planned giving.
(e) Serve as an information clearinghouse for individuals, families, and providers seeking diagnosticians, behavioral specialists, speech pathologists, occupational therapists, psychologists, and others who have expertise in working with individuals with autism spectrum disorders.
(f) Encourage the establishment of regional collaboratives with representation from educational, health care, and community service providers to ensure that individuals with autism spectrum disorders and their families receive necessary services.
(g) Make an annual report beginning on April 1, 2009 to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, the president of the senate, the commissioners of the department of health and human services and department of education, the members of the house committees on education, health, human services and elderly affairs, and finance, and the members of the senate committees on education, health and human services, and finance.
III. The department of health and human services shall provide administrative support to the council.