BILL ANALYSIS
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SCR 91|
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UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Bill No: SCR 91
Author: Steinberg (D)
Amended: 5/17/10
Vote: 21
SENATE FLOOR : 34-0, 4/8/10
AYES: Aanestad, Ashburn, Calderon, Cedillo, Corbett,
Correa, Cox, Denham, DeSaulnier, Ducheny, Dutton, Florez,
Hancock, Hollingsworth, Huff, Kehoe, Leno, Liu,
Lowenthal, Negrete McLeod, Oropeza, Padilla, Pavley,
Price, Romero, Runner, Simitian, Steinberg, Strickland,
Walters, Wolk, Wright, Wyland, Yee
NO VOTE RECORDED: Alquist, Cogdill, Harman, Maldonado,
Wiggins, Vacancy
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : Not available
SUBJECT : Autism Awareness Month
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This resolution designates April 2010 as Autism
Awareness Month, affirms the Legislatures commitment to the
important issues related to autism spectrum disorders
(ASDs), emphasizes that each and every individual with an
ASD is a valued and important member of our society,
recognizes and commends the parents and relatives of
individuals with ASDs for their sacrifice and dedication in
providing for the special needs of individuals with ASDs,
recognizes and commends the work of all nonprofit
CONTINUED
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organizations that are contributing to the well-being of
individuals with autism and their families, and stresses
the need to identify children with ASDs and to begin early
intervention services immediately after a child has been
diagnosed with an ASD.
Assembly Amendments recognize and commend the work of all
nonprofit organizations that contribute to the well-being
of individuals with autism, as well as their families.
ANALYSIS :
This resolution makes the following legislative findings:
1. Autism is a complex neurobiological disorder that
typically lasts throughout a person's lifetime. Autism
is part of a group of disorders known as ASDs.
2. ASDs are neurodevelopmental disorders of unknown
etiology that may cause significant impairments in
language, communications, and social interactions,
abnormalities in behaviors, and other physical
manifestations.
3. 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.
4. ASDs now impact one out of every 100 children in the
United States and are the fastest growing serious
developmental disability, making these disorders more
common than pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS
combined.
5. Most school districts in California have seen a
doubling of students with ASDs in the past five years.
The number of Californians with ASDs who are served by
the State Department of Developmental Services now
exceeds 40,000, which is a number that has more than
tripled since 1998 and has increased more than 12 times
from what it was in 1987.
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6. Many Californians are not adequately informed about
ASDs and the value and importance of early
identification, assessment, and treatment of these
disorders.
7. 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.
8. California has been the established leader in
providing services and supports for the early
identification, assessment, intervention, education,
and treatment of individuals with ASDs that began with
the passage of landmark state legislation such as the
Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Service Act of
1969 and Assembly Bill 3854 (Chapter 1527 of the
Statutes of 1974), relating to autism and public
education.
9. In 2005, Senator Perata authored Senate Concurrent
Resolution 51 (Resolution Chapter 124 of the Statutes
of 2005) that established, with bipartisan backing, the
Legislative Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism.
10. In 2007, the Legislative Blue Ribbon Commission on
Autism submitted its report, "An Opportunity to Achieve
Real Change for Californians with Autism Spectrum
Disorders," which provided specific findings and
recommendation:
11. In 2008, Senator Steinberg authored Senate Concurrent
Resolution 97 (Resolution Chapter 62 of the Statutes of
2008) that proclaimed April 2008 as Autism Awareness
Month, and acknowledged the contributions made in the
area of early autism and ASD intervention treatment.
12. In 2009, Senator Price, who at the time was a member
of the Assembly, authored Assembly Concurrent
Resolution 53 (Resolution Chapter 30 of the Statutes of
2009) that proclaimed April 2009 as Autism Awareness
Month and noted the important sacrifices and dedication
that parents and relatives of individuals with ASDs
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contribute in providing for the special needs of
individuals with ASDs.
13. In 2009, the Senate Committee on Rules,
pursuant to Senate Rule 12.5, established a
subcommittee of the General Research Committee
known as the Senate Select Committee on Autism and
Related Disorders. The Senate Select Committee on
Autism and Related Disorders.
14. The Senate Select Committee on Autism and Related
Disorders has appointed regional autism taskforces that
are comprised of consumers and their family members,
advocates, providers, researchers, and other experts in
the area of ASDs, and other stakeholders, to provide
assistance to, and to support the work of, the select
committee. Senator Steinberg, as Chair of the Senate
Select Committee on Autism and Related Disorders, has
established the Statewide Coordinating Council of
Autism Taskforces that will consist of the chairs and
cochairs of the regional autism taskforces and will
meet periodically to review the input from all of the
regional autism taskforces and develop integrated
recommendations for consideration by the Senate Select
Committee on Autism and Related Disorders.
15. Current scientific research demonstrates that early
identification of and intervention for children with
ASDs can result in significant positive outcomes in
many children with ASDs.
16. Public information and awareness efforts are of
paramount importance in accelerating early
identification efforts and the proliferation of early
intervention programs and services.
FISCAL EFFECT : Fiscal Com.: No
CTW:do 5/20/10 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: NONE RECEIVED
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