New Jersey § 26:1a-36

§ 26:1a-36.

The Early Intervention Program in the Department of Health, established pursuant to

section 2 of P.L.1993, c. 309 ( C.26:1A-36.7 ), shall conduct activities to address the specific needs of children with autism

spectrum disorders and their families. These activities shall include, but not be limited to, the following: a. developing, in consultation with autism experts and advocates, including, but not

limited to, the Governor's Council for Medical Research and Treatment of Autism, Autism

Speaks, The New Jersey Center for Outreach and Services for the Autism Community,

The Autism Center of New Jersey Medical School at Rutgers, The State University , the Statewide Parent Advocacy Network, Inc., and the New Jersey chapter of the American

Academy of Pediatrics, guidelines for health care professionals to use in evaluating

infants and toddlers living in the State for autism and to ensure the timely referral

by health care professionals of infants and toddlers who are identified as having

autism or suspected of being on the autism spectrum to the Early Intervention Program

in order to provide appropriate services to those infants and toddlers as early as

possible; b. referring affected children who are identified as having autism or suspected of

being on the autism spectrum and their families to schools and agencies, including

community, consumer, and parent-based agencies, and organizations and other programs

mandated by Part C of the “Individuals with Disabilities Education Act” ( 20 U.S.C. s.1431 et seq. ), which offer programs specifically designed to meet the unique needs of children

with autism; c. collecting data on Statewide autism screening, diagnosis, and intervention programs

and systems that can be used for applied research, program evaluation, and policy

development; and d. disseminating information on the medical care of individuals with autism to health

care professionals and the general public.