MCA Chapter 169

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-169-1 Mississippi autism advisory committee created; purpose; report to Legislature.

The Mississippi Autism Advisory Committee is created to study, make recommendations and develop a strategic plan on how best to educate and train students with autism or ASD to maximize their potential productivity with the workforce.The committee shall meet at least six (6) times annually, and shall develop an annual plan.The report and plan of the committee, which shall be due annually on July 1, to the Mississippi Legislature, shall detail the progress and problems in creating meaningful progress in the areas of mental health, education, medical and employment for individuals with autism or ASD and their families.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-169-3 Composition of advisory committee.

Members of the advisory committee shall be composed of the following: Five (5) persons who are the parents of children with autism or ASD, with one (1) such person to be appointed by the Governor, two (2) to be appointed by the Lieutenant Governor, and two (2) to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; One (1) person who is a member of the governing body of a school district, to be appointed by the State Superintendent of Public Education; The State Superintendent of Public Education or the Associate Superintendent of the Office of Special Education; One (1) person who is the director of special education services in a school district, to be appointed by the State Superintendent of Public Education; Two (2) members of the Mississippi Special Education Advisory Committee, to be selected by the committee; Two (2) educators or behavioral specialists who work directly with students with ASD, to be appointed by the State Superintendent of Public Education; Two (2) Mississippi licensed psychologists who perform evaluation or consultation with Mississippi schools, to be appointed by the Mississippi Association of Psychology in the Schools; The project director of the Mississippi Parent Training and Information Center; Two (2) persons who are representatives of autism advocacy groups or professionals who work with the advocacy groups and provide services to individuals with autism or ASD, to be appointed by the Executive Director of the Department of Mental Health; One (1) person who is a representative of the State Department of Mental Health, to be appointed by the executive director of the department; One (1) person who is a representative of a private mental health facility who provides services to youth with ASD, to be appointed by the Executive Director of the State Department of Mental Health; One (1) person who is a representative of the University of Mississippi Medical Center and who provides medical or other services to individuals with autism or ASD, to be appointed by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Mississippi Medical Center; Two (2) persons who are working in private industry whose business has the potential to employ individuals with autism, to be appointed by the Governor; One (1) person who is a Transition Specialist, to be appointed by the State Superintendent of Public Education; One (1) representative of the T.K. Martin Center, to be appointed by the Director of the T.K. Martin Center; One (1) representative of the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services; Two (2) persons who are licensed therapists, to be appointed by the President of the Mississippi Speech Language and Hearing Association; One (1) person who is a representative of the Mississippi Department of Insurance, to be appointed by the commissioner; and One (1) person who is a representative of the Mississippi Department of Human Services, to be appointed by the director of the department.

Miss. Code Ann. § 37-169-5 Duties of advisory committee; meetings; terms of members.

The advisory committee shall: Review the recommendations of the Caring for Individuals with Autism Task Force of 2007; Evaluate, study and identify any and all current relevant information and make legislative recommendations regarding the development and implementation of a continuum of educational and medical services for individuals with autism or ASD; and File a report with those standing committees of the Mississippi Legislature and present the report to those state agencies having jurisdiction over specific recommendations of the task force, not later than July 1 of each year. The advisory committee shall hold its first meeting not later than April 1, 2011, with the date, time and location of the meeting to be designated by the Executive Director of the Department of Mental Health. At that first meeting, the advisory committee shall elect from among its membership a chairman, vice chairman and any other officers determined to be necessary, and shall set the date, time and location of its next meeting. The terms of advisory committee members shall run for two (2) years, concurrent with the term of members of the Mississippi Congressional Delegation elected to the United States House of Representatives. The State Department of Mental Health shall provide the staff and other support necessary for the Mississippi Autism Advisory Committee to perform its duties. Members of the advisory committee shall serve without compensation in the form of a per diem or any other expense for service on the committee.