Senate Committee Advances Bill to Create Autism Spectrum Disorder Trust Fund

Senator Julie Rocky Adams on behalf of the bill presented Senate Bill 69 to the Kentucky Senate committee, and the committee voted to report the measure favorably.

Adams told the committee the bill creates an autism spectrum disorder trust fund modeled on the state's pediatric cancer trust fund that would be housed in the state treasury and administered by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. "So I'm pleased to be before you today to present senate bill 69, which has been developed to support our children, adults, families, and caregivers who have been impacted by autism spectrum disorder," Adams said, citing a CDC prevalence she summarized as "1 in 31 children at 8 years old" and noting that "about 40 percent of children identified with an autism spectrum disorder have a co occurring intellectual disability."

Under the bill, individuals could contribute part or all of an income tax refund to the trust fund via the Kentucky individual income tax form. Adams said the trust fund "can receive contributions from individual income tax refunds as well as grants, other contributions, and appropriations," and that it is intended to support both services and research for Kentuckians. Section 2 would establish the trust fund in the state treasury and require administration by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services; section 3 would task the advisory council on autism spectrum disorders with administering grants through a competitive process and using a comprehensive statewide needs assessment to allocate funds.

During questioning, Senator Gary Boswell asked whether the tax-refund option would appear on both paper and electronic tax returns. "So both on the paper, tax return and on the electronic filing, there will be a place to put this," Boswell asked. Adams responded, "That's the intention." Senator Funke Fromeier asked how individuals or families would access services funded by the trust. Adams said providers would apply for competitive grants: "they would submit an application for a grant to the trust fund, and then those would be reviewed and identified. And then, if the entity felt it was a good use of the money, then they would receive the grant."

Senator Gary Boswell moved to advance the bill and Senator Neal seconded. The secretary called the roll; the clerk later reported a tally of 12 aye votes and no nays, and the committee "passed with favorable expression." The committee recorded the motion, the second, and the favorable report out of committee.

The bill contains an emergency clause, and Adams closed by offering to take questions and asking for the committee's support. With no further business, the chair adjourned the meeting.

Votes at a glance: Motion to report Senate Bill 69 favorably — mover: Senator Gary Boswell; second: Senator Neal; result: 12 aye, 0 nay; measure passed with favorable expression.