BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  ACR 53
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          Date of Hearing:   April 23, 2009

                             ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON RULES
                                 Ted W. Lieu, Chair
                     ACR 53 (Price) - As Amended:  April 2, 2009
           
          SUBJECT  :   Autism Awareness Month.

           SUMMARY  :   Declares April 2009 as Autism Awareness Month;  
          recognizes that individuals with an autism spectrum disorder  
          (ASD) are valued and important members of society; recognizes  
          the parents and relatives of individuals with ASDs for their  
          sacrifice and dedication in providing for the special needs of  
          individuals with ASDs; and declares the Legislature's continued  
          support of the work of specified organizations related to ASDs.   
            Specifically,  this resolution  makes the following legislative  
          findings:  

          1)Autism and ASDs are neurodevelopment disorders that typically  
            last throughout a person's lifetime and may cause significant  
            impairments in language, communications, and social  
            interactions, abnormalities in behaviors, and other physical  
            manifestations.

          2)ASDs, the fastest growing serious developmental disability,  
            now impact one out of every 150 children in the United States;  
            and most school districts in California have seen a doubling  
            of students with ASDs in the past five years. 

          3)Parents and family members have made invaluable contributions  
            through their commitment, caring, and advocacy to important  
            advances in research, education, and treatment for individuals  
            with ASDs; and various organizations are dedicated to provide  
            services, research, education and support awareness.

          4)California's leadership in providing services and treatment  
            for individuals with ASDs began with the passage of the  
            Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act of 1969 and  
            Assembly Bill 3854 (1974, Burton), relating to autism and  
            public education; and numerous other legislation has been  
            passed in previous years that provided funding, recognition,  
            awareness and support of individuals with ASDs and the  
            numerous organizations that serve these individuals.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :   None








                                                                  ACR 53
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           REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION  :   

           Support 
           
          None on file.

           Opposition 
           
          None on file.

           
          Analysis Prepared by  :    Anna McCabe / RLS. / (916) 319-2800