House Bill 656

AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION TO APPOINT A STATEWIDE AUTISM DIRECTOR WITHIN THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION; TO PRESCRIBE THE DUTIES OF THE DIRECTOR; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

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

SECTION 1. (1) Subject to the availability of funding specifically for such purpose, the State Superintendent of Public Education shall appoint an individual to serve as the Statewide Autism Director within the State Department of Education. The Statewide Autism Director must possess all qualifications established by the State Superintendent of Public Education and shall be paid a salary established by the state superintendent, subject to the approval of the State Personnel Board.

(2) The Statewide Autism Director shall be responsible for performing, at a minimum, the following duties:

(a) Collaborating with various program offices within the State Department of Education to develop and implement cohesive education programs and initiatives specifically relating to students with autism in order to provide the best possible education throughout the state to students with autism;

(b) Coordinating the work of the State Department of Education relating to the education of students with autism with the related activities of the Mississippi Autism Advisory Committee established under Section 37-169-1, the State Department of Mental Health, local school districts and other appropriate state and local agencies;

(c) Providing information and assistance, upon request, to local school districts developing or implementing programs designed to better equip educators to teach students with autism and to improve the overall educational experience of students with autism;

(d) Recommending to the State Superintendent of Public Education policies and initiatives aimed at improving the delivery of educational services to students with autism;

(e) Serving as the department's point of contact for matters relating to children with autism; and

(f) Such other duties as may be assigned by the State Superintendent of Public Education.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2015.