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F I S C A L I M P A C T R E P O R T

SPONSOR Ezzell

DATE TYPED 3/7/2005 HB 972

SHORT TITLE Autism Services and Training

SB

ANALYST Dunbar

APPROPRIATION

Appropriation Contained Estimated Additional Impact Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

FY05

FY06

FY05

FY06

$10.0

Recurring General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to HJM162; SB124; HB625; HJM32

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Children Youth and Families Department (CYFD)

Human Services Department

Department of Health

NM Public Education Department (NMPED)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 972 appropriates $10,000 from the general fund to the Children, Youth and Families

Department (CYFD) for community-based services and family training for children and young

adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders in Dexter, NM.

Significant Issues

Both nationally and in New Mexico there has been a significant growth in the number of children

diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). According to a study by the University of

Missouri-Columbia (Baker, D. L., 2004, March 16. Public Policy and the Shaping of Disability:

Incidence Growth in Educational Autism)

the average growth rate nationwide for ASD between

1995 and 2002 has been 307%, compared with just 15% for all other disabilities.

House Bill 972 -- Page 2

According to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) studies done in Europe and Asia, since 1985

they have found that as many as 6 of every 1,000 children have ASD. CDC studies in the United

States have shown a prevalence of between 3-6 per 1,000 children. Given these statistics it is

estimated that there may be approximately 7,200 to 10,800 children and adults with Autism

Spectrum Disorders in New Mexico, with an estimated 540 - 810 children under the age of five.

The Public Education Department and the Department of Health are the primary agencies

charged with providing community-based services to children and young adults with Autism

Spectrum Disorder.

The bill does not specify that Dexter, NM, has an extraordinary need for this type of service.

Human Services Department, through the Medicaid program, covers medically necessary ser-

vices for this population, but does not cover “social interactions”, educational and other non-

medical needs of the population. This bill would appear to address those needs for one geo-

graphic area.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $10 thousand dollars contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the gen-

eral fund. Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of FY06 shall revert

to the general fund.

RELATIONSHIP

Training for staff and families is a strong need in New Mexico, reflected in SB124, which calls

for the development of a statewide system of training and professional development for educa-

tors serving this population. HJM162 calls for a study of the feasibility of establishing a registry

for individuals with autism spectrum disorders and a single point of contact for autism evalua-

tions, helping to identify the extent of occurrence in the state; this would enable better planning

to service this population.

The bill also relates to:

HB 625, which appropriates funds to University of New Mexico for diagnostic evalua-

tions of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, and

HJM32, which calls for a study to determine the number of individuals with Autism

Spectrum Disorder in New Mexico and how to deliver the necessary services to these in-

dividuals

.

OTHER SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES

The Department of Health promotes full community integration for persons with developmental

disabilities, such as Autism Spectrum Disorders. DOH also understands the importance of educa-

tion and training for families and caregivers, as promoted in HB 972.

Statewide services exist to address the needs of children and adults with Autism Spectrum Dis-

orders, for example: infants and toddlers with developmental delays and their families can re-

ceive comprehensive early intervention services and social support through the DOH Family In-

House Bill 972 -- Page 3

fant Toddler Program and children ages 3-21 are eligible for public school services. In addition,

based on availability of funding, they may also have access to Developmental Disabilities (DD)

Waiver services, DD State General Funded (SCF) Respite and DD SGF Self Directed Services.

Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders are eligible for DD SGF Vocational and Residential

services as well as the array of DOH services listed above for children.

The number of children diagnosed with autism, who are covered by the federal Individuals with

Disabilities Education Act, has increased 500% over the last 10 years, according to a recent re-

port released by the Government Accountability Office. They suggest this rise is due to better

diagnoses, a broader range of conditions being categorized as autism and a higher incidence of

autism in the general population.

WD/njw