1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to health; establishing the Legislative Commission on Autism.
1.3 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.4 	Section 1. LEGISLATIVE COMMISSION ON AUTISM.
 1.5 		Subdivision 1.Establishment. A Legislative Commission on Autism is established 
1.6 	to study and provide recommendations on issues related to autism spectrum disorders.
1.7 		Subd. 2.Membership. (a) The Legislative Commission on Autism consists of 16 
1.8 	members appointed as follows:
1.9 	(1) eight members of the senate to be appointed by the Subcommittee on Committees 
1.10 	of the Committee on Rules and Administration and to serve until their successors are 
1.11 	appointed; and
1.12 	(2) eight members of the house of representatives to be appointed by the speaker of 
1.13 	the house and to serve until their successors are appointed.
1.14 	(b) The commission shall be under the direction of a chair, selected from among its 
1.15 	members and appointed by the senate Subcommittee on Committees, and a vice-chair, 
1.16 	selected from among its members and appointed by the speaker of the house.
1.17 		Subd. 3.Duties. The commission shall have the following duties:
1.18 	(1) to study and investigate issues, including, but not limited to, the early 
1.19 	identification and intervention of autism spectrum disorders;
1.20 	(2) identify gaps in programs, services, and funding related to the early identification 
1.21 	of autism spectrum disorders and provide recommendations to close the identified gaps;
1.22 	(3) identify gaps in programs and services related to the education and treatment of 
1.23 	children, adolescents, transitional youth, and adults with autism spectrum disorders; and
2.1 	(4) provide recommendations for the planning of a comprehensive and integrated 
2.2 	continuum of programs, services, and funding that will be required to address the aging 
2.3 	out of children from Minnesota schools who comprise the current autism epidemic.
2.4 		Subd. 4.Staff support. The work of the commission may be supported by 
2.5 	legislative staff and services as determined by the respective rules committees of the 
2.6 	senate and house of representatives.
2.7 		Subd. 5.Report. The commission shall submit one or more reports to the legislature 
2.8 	and to the governor according to Minnesota Statutes, section 3.195, including its findings 
2.9 	and recommendations by no later than September 30, 2009.
2.10 		Subd. 6.Funding. The commission shall seek funding, technical assistance, and 
2.11 	other resources from foundations and other organizations as long as that support would 
2.12 	not pose any conflict of interest and would be deemed as consistent with the goals and 
2.13 	objectives of the commission.
2.14 		Subd. 7.Expiration. The commission expires November 30, 2009.