Relates to creating autism teams in hospitals; requires the department of health to design a pilot program to develop one "autism team" who may be called upon should a patient with autism come to a hospital; provides that members of the autism team 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.
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 Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The public health law is amended by adding a new section
2 2832 to read as follows:
3 § 2832. Autism teams. 1. Notwithstanding any law, rule or regulation
4 to the contrary, to expand current medical providers' knowledge about
5 autism, the department shall design and provide specialized training on
6 autism through medical continuing education programs for primary care
7 physicians, neurologists, psychiatrists, dentists, emergency room
8 personnel and other medical specialists.
9 2. Once the training on autism is implemented, the department shall
10 design a pilot program to ultimately develop one "autism team" who may
11 be called upon should a patient with autism enter the emergency room of
12 a hospital, need tests or x-rays, or need to be admitted. Members of the
13 autism team shall have completed the specialized training on autism and
14 shall be knowledgeable about autism and communication difficulties many
15 people with autism have and advise physicians and other staff on how to
16 communicate with patients with autism.
17 § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
18 have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or
19 repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of
20 this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed
21 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
