1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to special education; establishing regional 
  1.3             centers on autism-related disorders; proposing coding 
  1.4             for new law in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 125A. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  [125A.257] [RESOURCE CENTER FOR AUTISM SPECTRUM 
  1.7   DISORDERS.] 
  1.8      Subdivision 1.  [ESTABLISHMENT.] The commissioner of 
  1.9   children, families, and learning must establish regional 
  1.10  resource centers for autism spectrum disorders to support the 
  1.11  efforts of existing low-incidence projects and the Minnesota 
  1.12  autism network. 
  1.13     Subd. 2.  [STAFF; DUTIES.] The resource centers must employ 
  1.14  staff persons who have special expertise in the area of autism 
  1.15  spectrum disorders.  School districts must refer families whose 
  1.16  children have been identified through early intervention 
  1.17  programs as children with autism spectrum disorders.  Resource 
  1.18  centers will provide families with information about autism 
  1.19  spectrum disorders and with training in promising 
  1.20  interventions.  Resource centers will also assist in the 
  1.21  screening and identification of children and the coordination of 
  1.22  services in order to secure funds and provide intensive 
  1.23  programming in the home and community. 
  1.24     Subd. 3.  [TRAINING.] Resource centers must support school 
  1.25  districts by establishing training for teachers and 
  2.1   paraprofessionals that will lead to a special certification in 
  2.2   autism spectrum disorders. 
  2.3      Subd. 4.  [CONTRACTING.] Resource centers must coordinate 
  2.4   with each other.  They may contract with nonprofit organizations 
  2.5   to provide parent education and program coordination.  They may 
  2.6   contract with post-secondary institutions to provide training to 
  2.7   educators and other personnel.