This task force will serve as a "brain trust" for Georgia so that it may establish policy by gathering scientific minds, researchers, physicians, and parents of children affected by this disease to create better screening, education, treatment, and services for those children and to recommend a unified and coordinated agenda for addressing autism in the State of Georgia. Early therapeutic treatment for these children has been shown to reduce costs to families and to the State of Georgia. The goal of this task force will be to review prevalence data for autism spectrum disorders, review current programs and funding, determine gaps in services and access issues, review best practices in the field, and provide for a comprehensive plan with recommendations and identifiable needs.
The bill now moves to the Georgia House.
An earlier version -- "Ava's Law" -- would have included an insurance mandate.
