What's happening
This bill requires hospitals to provide autism training for medical staff and create specialized "autism teams" for patient support.
Why it matters
Hospitals will need to integrate autism-specific training into continuing education for a wide range of medical professionals. , not just doctors but also dentists, ER staff, and other specialists, meaning more staff will be equipped to recognize and respond to autism-related needs.
The creation of dedicated “autism teams” in hospitals aims to provide immediate, expert support when patients with autism enter the ER, need tests, or are admitted. , potentially reducing miscommunication, distress, or inappropriate care for autistic patients in high-stress medical situations.
This bill acknowledges and addresses the unique communication difficulties many people with autism experience. , mandating that trained team members advise other hospital staff on best practices, which could lead to better health outcomes and less traumatic hospital visits for autistic individuals.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Create Hospital Autism Teams
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Assembly Member · Assembly District 111
3 Co-sponsors
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
1123
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 9, 2025
Introduced by M. of A. SANTABARBARA -- 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 2832 to read as follows:
§ 2832. 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.
LBD03496-01-5
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.