BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



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          ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
          ACR 53 (Price)
          As Amended April 2, 2009
          Majority vote 

           RULES               8-0                                         
           
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          |Ayes:|Lieu, Blakeslee, Adams,   |     |                          |
          |     |Ammiano, Hall, Silva,     |     |                          |
          |     |Swanson, Yamada           |     |                          |
          |     |                          |     |                          |
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           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  
            providing 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 (Burton) in 1974, relating to autism and  








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            public education.  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

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


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