BILL REQ. #: S-4094.1

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SENATE BILL 6633
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State of Washington

58th Legislature

2004 Regular Session

By Senators Rasmussen, Deccio, McAuliffe, Fairley, Regala, Eide, Doumit, Shin, Prentice, Thibaudeau, Fraser, Benton, Kline, Winsley, Kohl-Welles, Kastama, Spanel, Franklin, Jacobsen, B. Sheldon, Keiser, Mulliken, Roach and Parlette

Read first time 01/27/2004. Referred to Committee on Health & Long-Term Care.

AN ACT Relating to autism; creating new sections; and making an appropriation.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that:
     (1) Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life;
     (2) As many as one million five hundred thousand Americans are believed to have some form of autism;
     (3) The number of children with autism is increasing;
     (4) Researchers are investigating a number of theories, including the link between heredity, genetics, and medical problems, and the relationship between vaccines and autism; and
     (5) Research into the causes and prevention of autism is urgently needed.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2 The department of health shall contract for a study on the causes and prevention of autism. The department shall submit a report to the appropriate committees of the legislature by December 1, 2005, that includes recommendations to help decrease the incidence of autism in Washington state.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3 The sum of two hundred fifty thousand dollars, or as much thereof as may be necessary, is appropriated for the biennium ending June 30, 2005, from the general fund to the department of health for the purposes of this act.

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