00 HOUSE BILL NO. 425 01 "An Act establishing a program for the provision of autism services within the 02 Department of Health and Social Services." 03 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 04  * Section 1. AS 47.20 is amended by adding new sections to read: 05 Article 3. Autism Services.  06 Sec. 47.20.400. Purpose. The purpose of AS 47.20.400 - 47.20.490 is to create 07 and implement a statewide program to provide and coordinate home-based services for 08 children who have been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder and to prevent, 09 reduce, and ameliorate the effects of autism spectrum disorders in the state. 10 Sec. 47.20.410. Statewide autism services program established. (a) A 11 statewide program for the provision and coordination of services for the prevention, 12 treatment, and amelioration of the effects of autism spectrum disorders is established 13 in the department. 14 (b) The department shall 01 (1) design the program established under this section to reflect a data- 02 based demonstration of evidence-based early interventions that include the provision 03 of medically necessary and rehabilitative care; 04 (2) provide home-based services to families with a child suspected or 05 diagnosed as having an autism spectrum disorder that include 06 (A) autism spectrum disorders screening; 07 (B) intensive caregiver training to provide support that is 08 consistent with the methods and outcomes established through applied 09 behavior analysis; 10 (C) assessment and planning of direct services by a board 11 certified autism specialist; 12 (D) assistance to achieve and maintain a child's maximum 13 capacity to perform activities of daily living; 14 (E) care coordination; 15 (F) other services determined to be medically necessary and 16 consistent with rehabilitation; 17 (3) establish a centralized database for information related to autism 18 spectrum disorders that includes prevalence, suspected causes, and standards for 19 prevention and care; 20 (4) coordinate and contract with other public and private entities to 21 implement the program, provide direct services, and provide public information and 22 training related to autism spectrum disorders prevention and care; 23 (5) provide supervised service delivery experience to students who are 24 completing national accreditation toward certification in applied behavior analysis; 25 (6) adopt regulations necessary to carry out the program. 26 Sec. 47.20.420. Program director. The department shall employ a program 27 director to assist in the design and implementation of the program established under 28 AS 47.20.410 and to supervise and coordinate service delivery and training under the 29 program. 30 Sec. 47.20.490. Definitions. In AS 47.20.400 - 47.20.490, 31 (1) "autism spectrum disorders" means a range of disorders that cause 01 severe and pervasive impairment in thinking, feeling, language, and the ability to 02 relate to others; the disorders range from a severe form called autistic disorder, 03 through pervasive development disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), to a 04 much milder form called Asperger's syndrome, and also includes two rare disorders, 05 Rett syndrome and childhood disintegrative disorder; 06 (2) "department" means the Department of Health and Social Services.