What's happening
This bill requires all children 18 months and older to be screened for autism during wellness visits and sets guidelines for this process.
Why it matters
Earlier and more standardized detection of autism. By mandating autism screening at all pediatric wellness visits starting at 18 months, this bill aims to identify children who may have autism spectrum disorders as early as possible, which is critical for timely intervention and support.
Consistent and evidence-based screening practices. The bill requires state agencies to set clear guidelines and best practices for screening and diagnosis, including the use of objective screening tools. This could help reduce variability in how autism is identified across different healthcare providers.
Improved referral and follow-up. The bill mandates protocols for referring children who screen positive for further evaluation, which could help ensure families are connected more quickly to diagnostic and support services, potentially improving developmental outcomes.
Fallback to federal standards if state action lags. If New York agencies do not establish these rules by the specified deadline, the bill ensures federal guidelines will automatically apply, preventing delays in the implementation of autism screening requirements.
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History
- Referred to health
- Referred to health
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2432
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 13, 2017
Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law and the mental hygiene law, in relation to directing the commissioner of health and the commissioner of developmental disabilities to promulgate rules and regulations requiring every child beginning at the age of eighteen months to be examined for autism spectrum disorders; and to repeal section 2500-j of the public health law relating to screening children for autism spectrum disorders
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 2500-j of the public health law is REPEALED.
§ 2. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 2500-l to read as follows:
§ 2500-l. Pediatric wellness visits; screening for autism spectrum disorders. 1. The commissioner shall, jointly with the commissioner of developmental disabilities, and on or before May first, two thousand nineteen, promulgate rules and regulations requiring every pediatric primary care provider, conducting a wellness and preventative care examination, on or after September first, two thousand nineteen, of a child eighteen months of age or older, to screen such child for autism spectrum disorders.
2. In addition, such rules and regulations shall establish guidelines and protocols for:
(a) the best practices for the screening for and diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders;
(b) the employment of objective autism spectrum disorder tools; and
(c) the appropriate referral mechanism for children, who based upon the results of screening for autism spectrum disorders, require further evaluation.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07684-01-7
S. 2432 2
3. If the commissioner and the commissioner of developmental disabilities shall fail to promulgate, on or before May first, two thousand nineteen, the rules and regulations required by subdivisions one and two of this section, the department shall adopt and implement the relevant federal rules and regulations relating thereto.
§ 3. The mental hygiene law is amended by adding a new section 16.39 to read as follows: § 16.39 Pediatric wellness visits; screening for autism spectrum disor-
ders.
The commissioner shall, jointly with the commissioner of health, and on or before May first, two thousand nineteen, promulgate any and all rules and regulations required by subdivisions one and two of section twenty-five hundred-l of the public health law relating to the screening of children for autism spectrum disorders.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately, except that section one of this act shall take effect September 1, 2019.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public health law and the mental hygiene law, in relation to directing the commissioner of health and the commissioner of developmental disabilities to promulgate rules and regulations requiring every child beginning at the age of eighteen months to be examined for autism spectrum disorders; and to repeal section 2500-j of the public health law relating to screening children for autism spectrum disorders
Purpose
Requires the commissioner of the office for people with developmental disabilities and the commissioner of health to promulgate rules and regulations set forth by section 2500-1, which shall require primary care providers to conduct autism spectrum disorder (ASD) screening during annual wellness and preventative care examination for children over the age of 18 months.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 repeals section 2500-j of the public health law.
Section 2 amends the public health law by adding section 2500-1 instructing the commissioner of health and the commissioner of the office of people with developmental disabilities to promulgate rules and regulations requiring all pediatric primary care providers to conduct ASD screening and preventative care examination of children over the age of eighteen months. This section also establishes requirements for the rules and regulations including: best practices for screening and diagnosis, the use of objective autism spectrum disorder tools, and the appropriate referral mechanism based upon initial screening.
Section 3 requires that the commissioners promulgate all rules and regulations required by subdivisions one and two of section 2500-1 of the public health law relating to the screening of children for ASD.
Section 4 establishes the effective date.
Justification
Autism is the fastest growing developmental disability in the nation. In fact, since 1992, there has been more than seven fold increase in the number of children in New York State diagnosed with autism. Autism varies widely in its severity and symptoms and may go unrecognized, especially in mildly affected children.
According to a study by the London School of Economics, the cost of lifelong care can be reduced by 2/3 with early diagnosis and intervention. Section 2500-1 requires pediatric primary care providers to conduct a wellness and preventative care examination for children beginning at 18 months of age.
Doctors rely on a core group of behaviors to alert them to the possibility of a diagnosis of autism.
Legislative history
2015-16: S.2875A - Referred to Health 2013-14: S.2832/A.534A - Referred to Health 2011-12: S.3404 - Referred to Health 2009-10: S.6201/A.8251 Died in Health
Fiscal implication
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately, except that section one of this act shall take effect September 1, 2019.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.