What's happening
This bill requires specialized autism training for medical professionals and creates hospital "autism teams" to assist autistic patients.
Why it matters
Addresses gaps in provider knowledge. by mandating ongoing autism-specific training for a wide range of medical professionals, not just those in pediatrics or mental health, potentially improving care quality for autistic patients across many specialties.
Creates designated support teams. ("autism teams") within hospitals who are specifically trained to assist autistic patients during high-stress situations like ER visits, diagnostic testing, or hospital admissions, aiming to reduce miscommunication and distress.
Focuses on practical communication strategies. , requiring team members to be equipped to advise other hospital staff, which could help prevent misunderstandings, unnecessary restraints, or escalation due to communication difficulties.
Introduces a pilot program framework. , suggesting the approach will be tested and evaluated before broader rollout, which may lead to more effective and evidence-based statewide implementation if successful.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Create Autism Teams in Hospitals
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Assembly Member · Assembly District 111
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to higher education
- Referred to higher education
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3078
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 28, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. SANTABARBARA, LIFTON -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to creating autism teams in hospitals
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 2827 to read as follows:
§ 2827. Autism teams. 1. Notwithstanding any law, rule or regulation to the contrary, to expand current medical providers' knowledge about autism, the department shall design and provide specialized training on autism through medical continuing education programs for primary care physicians, neurologists, psychiatrists, dentists, emergency room personnel and other medical specialists.
2. Once the training on autism is implemented, the department shall design a pilot program to ultimately develop one "autism team" who may be called upon should a patient with autism enter the emergency room of a hospital, need tests or x-rays, or need to be admitted. Members of the autism team shall have completed the specialized training on autism and shall be knowledgeable about autism and communication difficulties many people with autism have and advise physicians and other staff on how to communicate with patients with autism.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06467-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.