HF 2161 Summary

• Expands early childhood developmental screening programs to include first-level screening for autism spectrum disorders, depression, anxiety, and early signs of Asperger's syndrome and attention deficit disorders as part of school district preschool screening requirements.

• Directs the Commissioner of Health to establish best practice protocols for pediatric primary care providers to screen children for autism spectrum disorders, incorporating American Academy of Pediatrics standards and objective screening instruments at regular developmental intervals.

• Creates a 17-member Early Childhood Autism Screening Study Group with appointments from legislative leaders, state agencies, medical professionals, family members of children with autism, and advocacy groups to review and recommend screening instruments by February 1, 2018.

• Requires the study group to evaluate existing social-emotional development screening instruments and autism-specific screening tools (including M-CHAT-R/F, CARS, and PL-ADOS) based on cost, administration time, training requirements, reliability, and feasibility as statewide standards.

• Study group expires February 2, 2018 unless extended by law; the Commissioner is authorized to promulgate rules necessary to implement autism spectrum disorder screening provisions.