Autism Speaks' National Legislative Agenda:

• Support of the Expanding the Promise of Individuals with Autism Act (EPIAA)
  a bill designed to provide demonstration grants for autism treatment and services
  • Current Connecticut cosponsors
    • Rep. Christopher Shays (CT-4)
    • Rep. Christopher Murphy (CT-5)
  • To find out more about this bill or to contact your representative, click here.
    
• Support of the Disability Savings Act of 2008
  a bill that will provide a tax-preferred savings benefit for disability related expenses. 
     To find out more about this bill or to contact your representative, click here.
  
• Undertake a multi-state insurance legislation campaign
  an effort to change insurance laws and require coverage of medically necessary autism services.
  • Connecticut is currently in the process of working on autism insurance reform, but does not yet have a bill endorsed by Autism Speaks.
    
• Educational outreach to the policy staffs of all major party candidates for President in 2008
  

Stay up to date on the latest legislative news:

• Visit www.autismvotes.org for the most current information regarding national autism legislative issues.
• For state autism legislative issues, click here.

• Sign up to receive Autism Speaks Advocacy Alerts

Connecticut successfully passed autism legislation - In March, public hearings were held with the Insurance and Real Estate committee and testimony was given on House Bill 5696, an act requiring insurance coverage for autism; including ABA, speech, OT, psychological evaluations and medications. Although the bill made it out of committee with only speech, OT and PT coverage, this important first step in autism insurance reform will be critical to many Connecticut families. Governor M. Jodi Rell publicly signed it in to law on July 24, along with House Bill 5590, an act relating to autism specific training for teachers and paraprofessionals.

In addition, HB5666, an act expanding the autism pilot program, became law in a public ceremony in May. This legislative session, we began to strengthen our autism community coalition; which includes groups such as the Autism Society of Connecticut and the Autism Spectrum Resource Center. We look forward to continuing our advocacy push with these and other groups, as partners.