Rollens Appointed to Blue Ribbon Autism Commission

Rollens Appointed to Blue Ribbon Autism Commission

March 13, 2006

I am pleased and proud to announce that Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez (D-Los Angeles) has appointed me as one of sixteen statewide members of the Legislative Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism created by SCR 51 (Perata and Nunez), and adopted unanimously by the Legislature in 2005, see below.

SCR 51 was authored by Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata (D-Oakland) and Speaker Nunez. .

I was honored to have been asked by Assemblymember Fran Pavley (D-Malibu), a parent of an autistic child, and Assembly Majority Leader Dario Frommer (D-Pasadena), who has two relatives with autism, to consider serving on the Commission. At their urging I applied for the appointment. Other members of the Commission include high level representatives from various aspects of the autism and education communities throughout California. rick

SCR 51 Legislative Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism

WHEREAS, Autism and autism spectrum disorders, or ASD, are neurodevelopment al disorders of unknown etiology that may cause significant impairments in language, communications, social interactions, abnormalities in behaviors, and other physical manifestations; and

WHEREAS, Autism spectrum disorders are abnormalities of brain development and function that are typically diagnosed during the first three years of life, are four times more likely to occur in males than females, and impact all segments of California's population regardless of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or other factors; and

WHEREAS, Autism is the fastest growing serious developmental disability in California. Presently, one out of every 166 children is afflicted with some form of autism spectrum disorder; and WHEREAS, The State Department of Developmental Services (DDS) has established that California's autism caseload increased by 634 percent from 1987 to the end of 2002. In the four years between 1998 and 2002, the total number of persons with autism served by the regional centers had more than doubled and had reached 20,377. Presently, there is a net increase of approximately 3,000 persons with autism added to the DDS service delivery system annually; and WHEREAS, The percentage increase in the number of individuals with autism who received services from DDS during the first quarter of 2005 more than tripled the percentage increase in the number of individuals for the three other primary types of developmental disability combined; and

WHEREAS, At present, approximately 77 percent of all individuals with autism served by DDS are under the age of 18 years; and

WHEREAS, The State Department of Education reported that in the 1992-93 school year, there were 1,982 students enrolled with autism in grades K-12, while in 2004, the number of students with autism had increased to 21,948; and

WHEREAS, The number of students with autism enrolled in grades K-12 has increased over 1,000 percent during the past 22 years; and

WHEREAS, The State Department of Education reports that nearly every part of California has seen a doubling of the incidence of students with autism in grades K-12 over the past four years alone; and

WHEREAS, The number of students with autism in proportion to the total student enrollment, and also in proportion to students enrolled in special education, has more than quadrupled during the last nine years; and

WHEREAS, The State Department of Education reports that not only are there drastically more K-12 students afflicted with autism, but the students with autism comprise a significantly greater proportion of the special education population; and

WHEREAS, The economic impact of autism in the United States is more than $90 billion annually and is expected to more than double in the next decade; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly thereof concurring, That the Legislative Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism is hereby established to study and investigate issues, including, but not limited to, the early identification and intervention of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Further, the commission shall identify gaps in programs, services, and funding related to the early identification of ASD and provide recommendations to close the identified gaps; and be it further

Resolved, That the commission shall identify gaps in programs and services related to the education and treatment of children, adolescents, transitional youth, and adults with autism spectrum disorders. Further, the commission shall provide recommendations for the planning of a comprehensive and integrated continuum of programs, services, and funding that will be required to address the "aging out" of children who comprise the current autism epidemic; and be it further

Resolved, That the commission shall consist of 16 members, who shall include eight members appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules and eight members appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly; and be it further

Resolved, That the commission shall be under the direction of a chair, selected from among its members and appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules, and a vice chair, selected from among its members and appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly; and be it further

Resolved, That the commission shall submit one or more reports to the Legislature and to the Governor, including its findings and recommendations by no later than September 30, 2007; and be it further

Resolved, That the commission is authorized to act until November 30, 2007; and be it further

Resolved, That the commission shall seek funding, technical assistance, and other resources from foundations and other organizations as long as that support would not pose any conflict of interest and would be deemed as consistent with the goals and objectives of the commission; and be it further

Resolved, That the work of the commission may be supported by legislative staff and services as determined by the respective rules committees; and be it further

Resolved, That the commission and its members shall have and exercise all the rights, duties, and powers conferred upon commissions and their members by the Joint Rules of the Senate and the Assembly, as they are adopted and amended from time to time, and the pertinent provisions of the Joint Rules shall be applicable to this commission and its members.


PERATA LEGISLATION TO TACKLE AUTISM PASSES: LEADERS TO BEGIN MEETING THIS FALL

2005/09/08
 
Senate President pro Tempore Don Perata

FOR RELEASE:
CONTACT: Tom Martinez
(916) 651-4188

SACRAMENTO—Legislation by Senate President pro Tem Don Perata (D-Oakland) to address the fastest growing developmental disability passed the State Senate last night on a 39-0 bipartisan vote. As a result of that action, SCR 51 (Perata) establishes the Legislative Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism. Once a rare disorder, autism is now more prevalent than childhood cancer, juvenile diabetes, and Down Syndrome. There is a new case of autism in the United States every 20 minutes. Some 20,000 new students with autism have entered California’s schools in just 12 years.

“The commission provides an opportunity for the legislature to link the science, knowledge, and best practices of autism to public policy,” said Senate President pro Tem Don Perata. “This group will be inclusive, diverse, and include the brightest and most innovative leaders in California.”

The California Department of Developmental Services (DDS) has established that California’s autism caseload increased by 634% from 1987 to the end of December 2002; and, presently, there is a net increase of approximately 3,000 persons with autism added to the DDS service delivery system annually.

The Legislative Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism is composed of 16 members with equal appointments by the Speaker of the Assembly and the Senate Rules Committee. Funding for the commission will be provided through existing resources and philanthropic support, as well as staff support from legislative policy and research staff.