S1578A-2011 Actions

• Jan 13, 2012: PRINT NUMBER 1578A
• Jan 13, 2012: AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO EDUCATION
• Jan 4, 2012: REFERRED TO EDUCATION
• Jan 10, 2011: REFERRED TO EDUCATION

S1578A-2011 Memo

BILL NUMBER:S1578

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the executive law and the state finance law, in
relation to
creating the New York state autism council

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill authorizes the creation of the New York State Autism Council.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1 of the bill defines the terms used within the legislation
and sets fourth the makeup of the council as well as the
responsibilities and duties of the council.

Section 2 establishes a fund for program service enhancements for
individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, autism awareness
projects or autism research projects approved by the Department of
Health.

Section 3 set for the effective date of the legislation.

JUSTIFICATION:
Autism is a complex developmental disorder that impairs learning and
slows intellectual development. It is one of the five disorders under
the umbrella of the Pervasive Developmental Disorders, a category of
neurological disorders characterized by severe and pervasive
impairment in several areas of development including motor, language,
cognitive and social skills. Autism is a spectrum disorder in which
the symptoms and characteristics present themselves in a wide variety
of combinations and ranges of severity. It typically appears in
children under the age of three and most children are diagnosed with
autism by the age of two. Over 17,000 individuals in New York have
been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder and the United States
Department of Education reports that autism is growing at a rate of
10-17-% per year.

Many parent and family groups across New York State offer critical
services, information and support. While the cause of autism is
unknown, there exists extensive care and treatment programs for
individuals with autism. This council will gather many of the state
agencies and autism support groups together to:

* approve autism awareness programs;

* carry out a program to provide information and education on program
and service enhancements to families in the state with members
suffering
from autism;

* establish a mechanism for the sharing of information among
researchers and clinicians in the state conducting biomedical
research on autism and autism spectrum disorder;

* provide for a mechanism that would permit the public to obtain
information on the existing and planned programs and activities being
conducted related to autism; and

* provide an annual report to the governor with the council's
recommendations and examining the creation of programs and services
for individuals with autism.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2011-12: S.5426 - Referred to Finance.
2009-2010: A.2993 - Referred to Mental Health.
2007-2008: A.6947 - Reported from Mental Health, referred to Ways and
Means

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect 180 days after it shall have become law.

S1578A-2011 Text

 S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 
 1578--A
 2011-2012 Regular Sessions
 I N  SENATE
 January 10, 2011
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  OPPENHEIMER -- read twice and ordered printed, and
 when printed to be committed to the Committee on Education  --  recom
 mitted to the Committee on Education in accordance with Senate Rule 6,
 sec.  8  --  committee  discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as
 amended and recommitted to said committee
 

AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to required training  for
 individuals applying for certification or licensure to be a teacher
 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

Section 1. 

Section 3004 of the education law is amended by  adding  a
 new subdivision 2-a to read as follows:

 2-A.  A.  THE  COMMISSIONER  SHALL PRESCRIBE REGULATIONS REQUIRING ALL
 PERSONS APPLYING FOR CERTIFICATION OR A LICENSE TO BE A TEACHER,  ON  OR
 AFTER  JANUARY FIRST, TWO THOUSAND THIRTEEN, TO HAVE COMPLETED A MINIMUM
 OF SIX HOURS OF COURSEWORK AND TRAINING IN HOW TO RECOGNIZE AND  RESPOND
 TO  INCIDENTS  OF  BULLYING, HARASSMENT AND INTIMIDATION. EACH APPLICANT
 SHALL PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT WITH DOCUMENTATION SHOWING THAT THE  APPLI
 CANT  HAS  SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED THE REQUIRED TRAINING. SUCH COURSEWORK
 OR TRAINING SHALL BE IN ADDITION TO ALL OTHER CERTIFICATION OR LICENSURE
 REQUIREMENTS.
 B. COURSEWORK AND TRAINING REQUIRED BY THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL: (I)  BE
 PROVIDED  BY  AN  INSTITUTION OR PROVIDER WHICH HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE
 DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE  SUCH  COURSEWORK  OR  TRAINING;  AND  (II)  SHALL
 INCLUDE,  BUT  NOT  BE LIMITED TO, INFORMATION TO HELP TEACHERS IDENTIFY
 AND APPROPRIATELY RESPOND  TO  INCIDENTS  OF  BULLYING,  HARASSMENT  AND
 INTIMIDATION  IN  SCHOOLS,  AND  SHALL  PROVIDE  TEACHERS WITH SKILLS TO
 PROMOTE POSITIVE AND APPROPRIATE SOCIAL INTERACTIONS, TOLERANCE, RESPECT
 AND ACCEPTANCE OF DIVERSITY.
 C. FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS SECTION, BULLYING,  HARASSMENT  AND  INTIM
 IDATION ARE DEFINED AS ANY AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR INCLUDING VERBAL OR PHYS
 ICAL CONDUCT, AND WRITTEN OR ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION, THAT HAS OR WOULD
 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD05340-02-2
 
       S. 1578--A                          2
 HAVE  THE  EFFECT  OF  CREATING  A  HOSTILE  EDUCATIONAL  ENVIRONMENT BY
 SUBSTANTIALLY INTERFERING WITH A STUDENT'S EDUCATIONAL BENEFITS,  OPPOR
 TUNITIES  OR  PERFORMANCE, OR WITH A STUDENT'S PHYSICAL OR PSYCHOLOGICAL
 WELL-BEING, OR THAT REASONABLY CAUSES OR WOULD REASONABLY BE EXPECTED TO
 CAUSE A STUDENT TO FEAR FOR HIS OR HER PHYSICAL SAFETY.
 

S 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
 it shall have become a law.

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