PRINTER'S NO. 1286
No. 1169 Session of 1993
INTRODUCED BY SAURMAN, TIGUE, NAILOR, BUNT, TRELLO, BELFANTI,
CLYMER, CORNELL AND E. Z. TAYLOR, APRIL 19, 1993
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND WELFARE, APRIL 19, 1993
AN ACT
1 Providing for the establishment of a program for patients in
2 State mental institutions who are suffering from autism; and
3 making an appropriation.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Establishment of program.
7 The Department of Public Welfare shall develop and administer
8 a program for the treatment of patients in State mental
9 institutions who suffer from autism or manifest autistic
10 behavior.
11 Section 2. Pilot program.
12 The program developed shall initially be placed into
13 operation on a trial basis in a State mental institution
14 selected by the Secretary of Public Welfare. In making a
15 selection, the Secretary of Public Welfare shall select a
16 location where as many patients as possible may be treated and
17 shall provide for specially trained and knowledgeable personnel.
18 Section 3. Statewide program.
1 If after a period of one year the pilot program appears to
2 the Secretary of Public Welfare to be beneficial to the patients
3 and to be economically feasible, the program, with any
4 modifications deemed appropriate, shall be extended throughout
5 the State mental health system.
6 Section 4. Appropriation.
7 The sum of $100,000, or as much thereof as may be necessary,
8 is hereby appropriated to the Department of Public Welfare for
9 the fiscal year July 1, 1993, to June 30, 1994, to carry out the
10 purposes of this act.
11 Section 5. Effective date.
12 This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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