A 1123: 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.
The bill aims to improve medical providers' knowledge about autism by providing specialized training through medical continuing education programs for various medical specialists. The training will be designed and provided by the department and will cover the communication difficulties that people with autism often face. Once the training is implemented, a pilot program will be established to develop a team of specialists who can advise physicians and other hospital staff on how to communicate effectively with patients with autism. This team will be knowledgeable about autism and its communication difficulties. The bill will take effect 90 days after it becomes a law, and the department is authorized to make any necessary rule or regulation changes to implement the act.
| Jan. 07, 2026 | referred to higher education |
| Jan. 09, 2025 | referred to higher education |
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