House Bill 40 Summary

• Defines autism spectrum disorder to include Autism, Asperger Syndrome, Pervasive Development Disorder-NOS, Rett Syndrome, and Child Disintegrative Disorder as diagnosed by a licensed physician, and includes children with autism in special education services for handicapped and severely handicapped students.

• Requires teacher training programs to include coursework on recognizing characteristics and special cognitive needs of students with disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, and gifted students, along with appropriate instructional strategies.

• Establishes an ombudsman within the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to assist families and school districts with early identification, assessment, and services for children with autism spectrum disorder.

• Creates a "Missouri Special Needs Identification and Education Program" fund to provide fully-reimbursed training on early detection and signs of autism spectrum disorder for parent educators, K-12 teachers, school nurses, and counselors by specified deadlines between 2013-2017.

• Establishes the Missouri Autism Spectrum Disorder Commission within the Department of Mental Health to develop a ten-year strategic plan addressing services, training, funding, insurance coverage, and identification of individuals with autism spectrum disorder, with the plan due to the General Assembly by December 1, 2012.