BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  SCR 91
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   April 29, 2010

                             ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON RULES
                                Nancy Skinner, Chair
                 SCR 91 (Steinberg) - As Introduced:  March 22, 2010

           SENATE VOTE  :   34-0
           
          SUBJECT  :   Autism Awareness Month.

           SUMMARY  :   Designates April 2010 as Autism Awareness Month;  
          recognizes and commends the parents and relatives of individuals  
          with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) for their sacrifice and  
          dedication in providing for the special needs of individuals  
          with ASDs; expresses support for the work of the Senate Select  
          Committee on Autism and Related Disorders, members of regional  
          autism taskforces, and the Statewide Coordinating Council of  
          Autism Taskforces; and recognizes and commends the work of  
          certain ASD programs.  Specifically,  this resolution  makes the  
          following findings:

          1)ASDs are abnormalities of brain development and function that  
            are typically diagnosed during the first three years of life,  
            are four times more likely to occur in males than females, and  
            impact all segments of California's population regardless of  
            race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or other factors; and  
            ASDs now impact one out of every 100 children in the United  
            States.

          2)Many Californians are not adequately informed about ASDs and  
            the value and importance of early identification, assessment,  
            and treatment of these disorders; and parents and family  
            members have made invaluable contributions through their  
            commitment, care, and advocacy to important advances in  
            research, education, and treatment for individuals with ASDs.

          3)California's leadership in providing services and treatment of  
            individuals with ASDs began with the passage of the Lanterman  
            Developmental Disabilities Services Act of 1969 and Assembly  
            Bill 3854 (Chapter 1527, Statutes of 1974), 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.

           REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION  :





                                                                  SCR 91
                                                                  Page  2


           Support 
           
          None on file.
           
            Opposition 
           
          None on file.


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