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

SPONSOR King

ORIGINAL DATE

LAST UPDATED

2/8/06

HB 671

SHORT TITLE UNM Autism Spectrum Disorder Programs

SB

ANALYST Lewis

APPROPRIATION (dollars in thousands)

Appropriation

FY06

FY07

Recurring

or Non-Rec

Fund

Affected

500.0

Recurring

General Fund

(Parenthesis ( ) Indicate Expenditure Decreases)

Relates to

HB575 (CYFD Autism Spectrum Disorder Programs)

SOURCES OF INFORMATION

LFC Files

Responses Received From

Health Policy Commission (HPC)

Public Education Department (PED)

Higher Education Department (HED)

Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC)

SUMMARY

Synopsis of Bill

House Bill 671 appropriates $500,000 from the general fund to the Board of Regents of the Uni-

versity of New Mexico for neurodevelopmental interdisciplinary diagnostic clinic programs, in-

cluding diagnostic evaluations for children with autism spectrum disorder and telemedicine con-

sultation for autism spectrum disorders.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS

The appropriation of $500,000 contained in this bill is a recurring expense to the general fund.

Any unexpended or unencumbered balance remaining at the end of fiscal year 2007 shall revert

to the general fund.

SIGNIFICANT ISSUES

According to the Developmental Disabilities Planning Council (DDPC), the wait list for diagnos-

tic services through the Neurodevelopmental Interdisciplinary Diagnostic Clinic is currently 12-

House Bill 671 – Page

2

24 months. The rate of autism spectrum disorders continues to rise. Based on national prevalence

figures, there are between 3,500 and 10,000 people in the state with autism spectrum.

More than 40 children under the age of three were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder

(ASD) last year through the CDD Neurodevelopmental Interdisciplinary Clinic. The clinic pro-

vides diagnostic services for children and adolescents who have ASD; the clinic also has pro-

vided differential diagnostic services for children who have other disorders, including pervasive

developmental disorders, Tourette’s disorder, communication disorders, learning disabilities and

other disorders that are mistaken for ASD.

The DDPC adds that funding for consultations using telemedicine regarding ASD would help

professionals in the rural areas of the state access technical assistance in a timely manner.

According to the Higher Education Department (HED),

the UNM Health Sciences Center

(UNMHSC) operates the Southwest Autism Network and Project SET. The goals of the two or-

ganizations are to provide assistance in the diagnosis of children with autism spectrum disorder

(ASD) and assistance to their families. Services are individual and family centered and culturally

sensitive, have respect for dignity, meaningful choices, and preferences of individuals with au-

tism and their families, and are provided by individuals who are well-trained, knowledgeable,

and competent in best practices in the field of autism.

HED adds that the Southwest Autism Network is a collection of autism specific programs and

projects that have a variety of objectives. Each program emphasizes the needs of people with

ASD and their families. The Southwest Autism Network is a family support, technical assistance,

and training network staffed by parents and professionals with unique knowledge of the special

needs of people with ASD.

HED notes that Project SET is a technical assistance and training program at the UNMHSC,

Center for Development and Disability. The program provides information for the families of

children diagnosed with ASD as well as on-site technical assistance and consultation to early in-

terventionists, preschool teachers, and therapists statewide. Referrals for SET services come

from families, school personnel, early intervention agencies, and the Early Childhood Evaluation

Program.

This request was not on the list of priority projects submitted by the UNM to the HED for review

and was not included in the HEDs funding recommendation for FY07.

WHAT WILL BE THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ENACTING THIS BILL

According to the DDPC,

diagnostic services for children with ASD and related disorders will

continue to be delayed. Because professionals in rural and frontier areas will not have access to

technical assistance regarding ASD, appropriate diagnosis and treatment of children in those ar-

eas will be delayed.

ML/nt