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Saturday, February 20, 2010

State Action

At Technorati, Corrie Howe has an update on legislation in Missouri and Virginia.

A bill aimed at solving a dearth of early treatment options for children with autism cleared its first legislative hurdle Friday.

HB311 would set up an Autism Treatment Fund in the Utah Health Department to be administered by a volunteer five-person committee. The measure calls for no state investment.

For now, funding would come from private donations from foundations and individuals, said sponsoring Rep. Becky Lockhart, R-Provo.

The money would fund grants to providers of early, intensive behavior therapy to children under age 8 who have been diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.

The bill was unanimously approved by the House Health and Human Services Committee and sent to the consent calendar of the House. [Audio of committee meeting here -- JJP]