Sec 36-574. Children's autism services; contract

A. Subject to legislative appropriation, in addition to any existing autism services, the department may provide children's autism services through the division of developmental disabilities to serve children who have, or who are at risk of having, autism by entering into a contract with any organization for training and oversight of habilitation workers to utilize intensive behavioral treatment through applied behavioral analysis.

B. Subject to legislative appropriation, in addition to any existing autism services, the department may provide children's autism services to serve children who have, or who are at risk of having, autism by entering into contracts with the following providers for the following services:

1. An established firm that specializes in autism services and related disorders and that employs at least five nationally board certified behavior analysts, one of whom is a state-licensed psychologist. The contract shall be for services that are for children who begin treatment before they reach five years of age and that utilize techniques of discrete trial and natural environment intensive behavioral treatment through applied behavioral analysis.

2. An autism and research firm that is based in this state and that has raised at least fifteen million dollars of private sector monies. The contract shall be for providing toddlers with autism services that utilize intensive early intervention.