Sponsored by:
Assemblyman FREDERICK SCALERA
District 36 (Bergen, Essex and Passaic)
Assemblyman JOSEPH J. ROBERTS, JR.
District 5 (Camden and Gloucester)
Assemblywoman JOAN M. VOSS
District 38 (Bergen)
Assemblyman JIM WHELAN
District 2 (Atlantic)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman Vainieri Huttle, Assemblymen Schaer, McKeon, Assemblywoman Greenstein, Assemblymen Wolfe, Holzapfel, Epps, Assemblywomen Quigley, Stender, Assemblymen Gordon, Manzo and Munoz
SYNOPSIS
Requires DHSS to establish autism awareness program for emergency medical technicians, police officers and firefighters.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act establishing autism awareness program and supplementing various sections of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Legislature finds and declares that:
a. Autism is a developmental disorder of brain function which is typically manifested in impaired social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication and imagination, and unusual or severely limited activities and interests. These symptoms generally appear during the first three years of childhood and continue throughout life.
b. Studies indicate that one in 500 children born in the State will be diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder and that 12,000 individuals in the State have autism or an autism spectrum disorder.
c. Firefighters, emergency medical technicians and police officers may unexpectedly encounter or be asked to locate a person diagnosed with autism. Given the high number of individuals affected by autism, it is altogether fitting and proper to ensure that emergency responders are uniformly trained in recognizing the behavioral symptoms and characteristics of an autistic child or adult, and are educated in the high risks associated with autism as well as basic response techniques.
2. a. The Commissioner of Health and Senior Services shall develop a training course and curriculum with the purpose of informing emergency responders of the risks associated with autism, as well as providing instruction in appropriate autism recognition and response techniques.
b. Prior to certification by the Department of Health and Senior Services, each emergency medical technician trained in basic life support services as defined in section 1 of P.L.1985, c.351 (C.26:2K-21) shall be required to satisfactorily complete the training course developed under subsection a. of this section. Every emergency medical technician certified prior to the effective date of this act shall, within 18 months of the effective date of this act satisfactorily complete a continuing education course in autism recognition and response techniques.
c. The Commissioner of Health and Senior Services shall adopt rules and regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) to effectuate the purposes of this act.
3. a. The Division of Fire Safety in the Department of Community Affairs shall adopt a training course regarding the risks associated with autism and appropriate autism recognition and response techniques based on the curriculum developed by the Department of Health and Senior Services pursuant to subsection a. of section 2 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill). The course curriculum and instruction shall be administered to every firefighter recruit, volunteer or paid.
b. Each person, volunteer or paid, who is engaged in fire suppression, firefighting, or fire rescue before the effective date of this act shall, within 18 months of the effective date of this act, satisfactorily complete a continuing education course in autism recognition and response techniques.
c. The Commissioner of Community Affairs shall adopt rules and regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) to effectuate the purposes of this act.
4. a. The Police Training Commission in the Department of Law and Public Safety shall adopt a training course regarding the risks associated with autism and appropriate autism recognition and response techniques based on the curriculum developed by the Department of Health and Senior Services pursuant to subsection a. of section 2 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).
b. Prior to being appointed to permanent status as a local police officer in a law enforcement unit, an individual shall be required to complete the training course adopted under subsection a. of this section. Every local police officer appointed prior to the effective date of this act shall, within 18 months of the effective date of this act satisfactorily complete a continuing education course in autism recognition and response techniques.
c. The Police Training Commission shall adopt rules and regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) to effectuate the purposes of this act.
5. This act shall take effect on the first day of the seventh month following enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill would require the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) to establish an autism awareness training course and curriculum with the purpose of informing emergency responders of the risks associated with autism, as well as providing instruction in appropriate autism recognition and response techniques. Prior to being certified, any emergency medical technician would be required to complete the training course administered by DHSS. Individuals currently certified as emergency medical technicians would be required to complete a continuing education course in autism recognition and response techniques.
Additionally, under the provisions of the bill, the Division of Fire Safety and the Police Training Commission would adopt the training course curriculum created by DHSS in order to adequately train firefighter and local police officer recruits in autism awareness, recognition and response. Individuals currently appointed as police officers and firefighters, paid and volunteer, would be required to complete a continuing education course in autism recognition and response techniques.