2005 Legislation

Dept. of Defense Funding Bill Includes Line Item For Autism

Fiscal Year 2005 Department of Defense Appropriations Bill (HR4613), which passed both houses and was signed into law August 5, 2004, includes a special line item for autism research. Several legislators, including Autism Caucus Chair Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Representative Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY), had pushed for inclusion of funding for autism in the bill since it was first introduced in June. Although the item was not included in the versions of the bill approved earlier by the Senate and House, it did make it in the final version approved in conference last week. Specifically, the Senate had recommended $50 million for a Peer Reviewed Medical Research program. The conferees agreed to provide $50 million for this program, and recommend the following projects as candidates for study:

• acellular human tissue matrix research;
• amyotrophic lateral sclerosis;
• alcoholism research;
• anti-radiation drug development;
• autism;
• blood-related cancer research;
• Interstitial Cystitis;
• childhood asthma;
• chronic pain research;
• conjugate vaccines to prevent shigellosis;
• diabetes research;
• Duchenne's disease research;
• epilepsy research;
• Lupus and Lupus-Biomarker Research;
• orthopaedic extremity trauma research;
• osteoporosis and bone-related diseases;
• Padget's disease; post traumatic stress disorders;
• social work research;
• Volume Angio CAT (VAC) research;
• and autoimmune diseases such as scleroderma and Sjogren's syndrome.

The conferees directed the Department to provide a report by March 1, 2005, on the status of this Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program.

Mercury-Free Vaccine Act
(HB511, now P.A. 94-0614)

Introduced by Representative Kurt Granberg, this act makes Illinois one of only a few states that will ban the use of thimerosal in vaccines. Beginning on January 1, 2006, no person shall be vaccinated with a mercury-containing vaccine that contains more than 1.25 micrograms of mercury per dose; commencing January 1, 2008, no person shall be vaccinated with a vaccine or injected with any product that contains, or prior to dilution had contained as an additive, any mercury-based product, whether at preservative or trace-amount levels. This is the most progressive and thorough thimerosal ban in the United States.

Autism Research Fund Tax Check-Off
(HB18, now P.A. 94-0442)

Introduced by Representative Patti Bellock. Illinois taxpayers will now have the option of donating through their tax return forms to a research fund housed by the Department of Human Services. Look for this line on your tax forms in April (Autism Awareness Month).

Giant Steps Autism Center Program 
(SB3, now P.A. 94-0196)

Introduced by Senate President Emil Jones. Authorizes the Illinois State Board of Education to make grants to school districts and other programs that apply to participate in the Giant Steps Autism Center for Excellence program for the study and evaluation of autism and to provide related training for teachers, paraprofessionals, and respite workers, as well as therapist training and consultative services.

Health Insurance Parity Extension 
(HB59, now P.A. 94-0402)

Introduced by Representative Lou Lang. Makes permanent a law that requires insurers who provide group health policies to cover "serious mental illness," which includes autism, to the same extent as other illnesses and diseases. So, if your policy provides 20 hours of speech therapy per year for someone who suffers a stroke, it should provide the same amount for a person with autism.
Effective immediately.