To enact section 3701.135 of the Revised Code to create the Autism Diagnosis Education Pilot Program and to provide funding for the Pilot Program by making an appropriation for the biennium beginning on July 1, 2007.

Section 1. That section 3701.135 of the Revised Code be enacted to read as follows:

Sec. 3701.135. (A) The autism diagnosis education pilot program is hereby established in the department of health. The program shall have the following goals:

(1) To educate health care professionals, teachers and other educational personnel, child care providers, parents, early intervention and developmental disabilities providers, and other community-based services providers in this state regarding the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders, including the range of symptoms that may indicate autism spectrum disorders and screening tools;

(2) To promote appropriate standards for the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders in children, including screening tools and treatment planning for children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders;

(3) To encourage physicians and other health care professionals with expertise in screening, diagnosing, and treating autism spectrum disorders to share that information with other health care professionals in this state;

(4) To encourage the regional coordination of services to facilitate the effective, timely treatment of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders.

(B) The director of health shall contract with a public or private entity to conduct or administer the autism diagnosis education program.

Section 2. Not later than December 31, 2008, the Director of Health shall compile and submit to the Governor and the General Assembly a written report describing the action taken under the Autism Diagnosis Education Pilot Program since the effective date of this section.

Not later than December 31, 2009, the Director of Health shall compile and submit to the Governor and the General Assembly a written report describing the action taken under the Autism Diagnosis Education Pilot Program since December 31, 2008.

Section 3. All items in this section are hereby appropriated as designated out of any moneys in the state treasury to the credit of the General Revenue Fund. For all appropriations made in this act, those in the first column are for fiscal year 2008 and those in the second column are for fiscal year 2009. The appropriations made in this act are in addition to any other appropriations made for the FY 2008-2009 biennium.

Appropriations

General Revenue Fund

AUTISM PILOT PROGRAM

The foregoing appropriation item 440-434, Autism Pilot Program, shall be used for the establishment of the Autism Diagnosis Education Pilot Program.

Within the limits set forth in this act, the Director of Budget and Management shall establish accounts indicating the source and amount of funds for each appropriation made in this act, and shall determine the form and manner in which appropriation accounts shall be maintained. Expenditures from appropriations contained in this act shall be accounted for as though made in the main operating appropriations act of the 127th General Assembly.

The appropriations made in this act are subject to all provisions of the main operating appropriations act of the 127th General Assembly that are generally applicable to such appropriations.

Section 4. Sections 1 and 2 of this act take effect on July 1, 2007.

Section 5. The sections of law contained in this act are not subject to the referendum. Therefore, under Ohio Constitution, Article II, Section 1d and section 1.471 of the Revised Code the sections of law contained in this act go into immediate effect when this act becomes law.