Senate Bill 2127

AN ACT TO AUTHORIZE AND DIRECT THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO DEVELOP STANDARDS AND IMPLEMENT AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS (ASDS) CLASSROOMS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS STATEWIDE TO MORE FULLY MEET THE NEEDS OF STUDENTS WITH AUTISM IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SETTING; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

WHEREAS, autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and is part of a group of disorders known as Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs); and

WHEREAS, as of the effective date of this act at least one in 150 individuals in the United States are diagnosed with autism, making it more common than the occurrence in our population of pediatric cancer, diabetes and AIDS combined; and

WHEREAS, autism impairs a person's ability to communicate and relate to others; is associated with rigid routines and repetitive behaviors, such as obsessively arranging objects or following very specific routines; is four times more likely to affect boys than girls; and occurs in all racial, ethnic and social groups; and

WHEREAS, symptoms of the disability can range from very mild to quite severe, and autistic behaviors not only make life difficult for those individuals who suffer from the disability, but also for their families, health care providers and teachers; and

WHEREAS, special education services shall be expanded to include teacher training; the establishment of ASDs classrooms in Mississippi school districts; one-on-one speech therapy; applied behavior analysis; sensory integration; and other learning and behavioral interventions appropriate for the education of children with autism; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. The State Board of Education is authorized to direct the Mississippi Department of Education, in consultation with the local districts and parents, to review data on autism prevalence rates by school district and develop a plan to implement the Autism Spectrum Disorders classrooms into the school districts statewide, under the following conditions:

(a) Elementary schools will serve as the target group for this program.

(b) The ASDs classroom will be taught by an educational expert who is trained in behavioral supports, including applied behavior science and techniques.

(c) Services will include early intervention for ASDs children under the age of three (3) and shall include a minimum of twenty-five (25) hours per week for twelve (12) months of the year. Early intervention services shall be available for ASDs children up to age seven (7).

(d) The Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) classroom will not replace the self-contained/resource classroom, the Attention Deficit Disorder classroom, or the general inclusion program. The ASDs classroom will serve as an additional service that meets the specialized needs of children with autism. All students with ASDs shall have access to appropriate services for a minimum of thirty (30) hours per week unless otherwise justified on the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) of the child.

(e) All school district personnel instructing children with ASDs shall be trained in behavioral supports, including applied behavior science and techniques. This training should include elementary, junior high and high school personnel.

(f) Professional training will include in-service training for current regular and special educators, establishing an expert within each school district on autism and behavioral intervention treatment for the 2012-2013 school year and establishing within the next two (2) years an expert within each school site. Continuing education for parents and supporters of children with autism shall be included in this training. All training for professional educators and parents shall be an ongoing process.

(g) The programs shall include transitional services to include high school and post-high school vocational and job training programs that meet the individual needs of teens and adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after January 1, 2013.