KHI NEWS SERVICE
TOPEKA, March 28
The House gave final approval Wednesday to a bill creating a state task force on autism.
Senate Bill 138 passed the House, 124-0. It was approved earlier in the Senate, 40-0.
The 20-member task force is expected to study and hold hearings on issues relating to the needs of people with autism and the services available to them. The task force is to file a preliminary report with the Legislative Educational Planning Committee by Nov. 15 and a final report by Nov. 15, 2008.
The task force will include parents of children with autism. The Senate president and House speaker will each appoint four members. The Senate and House minority leaders will each appoint three members. The governor will appoint four; the insurance commissioner one and appointed parents also will select another member. The secretaries of the departments of Health and Environment and Social and Rehabilitation Services will serve as ex-oficio or non-voting members.