to N.J. autism research
By karl vilacoba
Staff Writer
Law breakers will find themselves committing an act of philanthropy, due to a new state law.
Gov. James McGreevey signed a bill on Aug. 6 that will tack on an extra $1 to all fines resulting from motor vehicle offenses. The proceeds will go to the Governor’s Council for Medical Research and Treatment of Infantile Autism, and will fund studies on the causes, diagnosis, prevention and treatment of autism spectrum disorders in New Jersey.
"In addition to supporting research in New Jersey, the funding will place our state in a better position to successfully compete for federal grants for autism research," McGreevey said in a press release.
The bill was sponsored in the state Senate by Joseph Vitale (D-19) and Barbara Buono (D-18), and signed by the governor in a ceremony held in Tenafly.
State officials estimate the new law could produce in the range of $3.8 million in revenues annually.
The $1 surcharge was originally aimed to be permanent, according to Jason Butkowski, a spokesman for the state Senate Democrats. But after revisions in committee, the bill was changed to last for five years, and can be renewed after that time, he said.
"New Jersey is one of the few states you read about whose government agencies are doing anything," said Robert Lanzieri, president of the Brick-based Parents of Autistic Children (POAC).
Lanzieri said he was pleased with the bill’s passage but would like to see more done at the national level, since autism is far from an issue of concern just to the state.
One national measure under consideration is the Teacher Education for Autistic Children (TEACH) Act, introduced in the House of Representatives by New Jersey Congressman Chris Smith (R-4) and Congressman Mike Doyle of Pennsylvania last year. If enacted, the legislation would allocate federal funding to further train those who teach students with autism spectrum disorders.
The TEACH bill passed in the House, and a companion bill is now under examination by a Senate committee.
Autism spectrum disorders are a complex group of disabilities that impair social interaction and communication skills. Its symptoms and effects can vary widely in individuals, and despite heavy research, much about the causes and treatment of autism remains a mystery.
Officials estimate there are between 12,000 and 18,000 individuals and as many as one out of every 250 children in New Jersey with autism spectrum disorders.