NY A09854

Establishes the New York State Autism Council within the executive department with 16 members including representatives from health, education, and developmental disabilities agencies, plus appointments by the governor, senate president, and assembly speaker.

Council members serve three-year terms (with staggered initial appointments of one, two, and three years), meet at least four times per year, and serve without compensation except for actual necessary expenses.

Council duties include approving autism awareness programs, providing information on program and service enhancements to families, establishing mechanisms for sharing biomedical research information, and providing annual reports with recommendations to the governor.

Modifies state finance law to authorize spending from the autism services fund for program and service enhancements for individuals with autism spectrum disorders approved by the council, with autism research projects limited to no more than 10 percent of annual fund expenditures.

Takes effect 180 days after becoming law, with authority for agencies to adopt necessary rules and regulations effective immediately.