1Requesting that the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
2conduct a comprehensive review of data maintained by the
3Department of Education and the Department of Public Welfare
4on the number of transition-age youth and young adults
5diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

6WHEREAS, The Autism census report update in December 2013,
7using data from the 2011 census and social service databases,
8indicated that there were approximately 8,395 adults 21 years of
9age and older with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in 2013 and
10projects that by 2020 there will be more than 30,000 adults with
11ASD; and

12WHEREAS, In fiscal year 2013-2014, an estimated 418 slots for
13Adult Autism Waivers (AAW) were available and an estimated 146
14slots for Adult Community Autism Program (ACAP) were available;
15and

16WHEREAS, The Bureau of Autism Services (BAS) reports that it
17maintains "interest lists" for AAW and ACAP which do not

1guarantee either a place in line or that services will be
2received and, in May 2014, there were an estimated 1,200 people
3on the interest lists; and

4WHEREAS, There is an unknown number of individuals with ASD
5receiving some services through the intellectual disabilities
6service system, Medicaid waiver services administered through
7the Office of Long-Term Living, mental health services or the
8Office of Vocational Rehabilitation; and

9WHEREAS, There is an unknown number of individuals with ASD
10who are not dually diagnosed with other disabilities and do not
11meet the eligibility criteria for one of the Medicaid waivers
12for people with intellectual disabilities and people with
13physical disabilities or other similar programs and are
14therefore in need of services administered by the BAS; and

15WHEREAS, There is an unknown number of individuals with ASD
16who are found in other State and community service systems
17including homeless services, State hospitals, the criminal
18justice system and the correction system; and

19WHEREAS, There is an unknown number of individuals with ASD
20not served in any State or community system who are living at
21home and reliant on aging parents or siblings; and

22WHEREAS, The Office of Developmental Programs has developed
23and maintains a comprehensive waiting list for people with
24intellectual disabilities that categorizes the level of support
25needed by each individual, the county of residence and if the
26person resides with an elderly caregiver, however that type of
27list has not been developed for people with ASD; and

28WHEREAS, The budget for fiscal year 2013-2014 allocated
29funding for an additional 1,080 people with intellectual
30disabilities but only allocated funding for an additional 118

1people with ASD; and

2WHEREAS, The proposed budget for fiscal year 2014-2015
3allocates funding for an additional 1,100 people with
4intellectual disabilities but only allocates funding for an
5additional 100 people with ASD; therefore be it

6RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives request that the
7Legislative Budget and Finance Committee conduct a comprehensive
8review of data maintained by the Department of Education and the
9Department of Public Welfare on the number of transition-age
10youth and young adults diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder;
11and be it further

12RESOLVED, That the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee
13issue a report of its findings and recommendations to the
14Department of Public Welfare and the Bureau of Autism Services
15and recommend a plan to provide home-based and community-based
16supports for adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders <-and also 
17issue an electronic copy of the report to the House of 
18Representatives no later than six months from the passage of
19this resolution.