30:6D-61 Duties of council, director.

6. The council shall provide guidance and direction to the director of the council, who shall be responsible for the following duties:

a. Carry out a program to provide information and education on advances in the diagnosis and biomedical treatment of autism to families in the State with autistic members and to the general public;

b. Establish a five-member Scientific Advisory Committee whose members shall serve at the pleasure of the council. The members of the committee shall include: three biomedical research scientists with demonstrated achievements in biomedical research relating to autism; and two medical clinicians whose practice is primarily devoted to the treatment of individuals with autism. The committee shall identify and make recommendations to the council regarding grants for the most promising pilot studies for biomedical research, diagnosis and treatment for autism and autism spectrum disorders;

c. Present the recommendations of the Scientific Advisory Committee to the council, which shall select the final grants for pilot studies;

d. Establish mechanisms to use the results of biomedical research on autism and autism spectrum disorders, conducted at the center and through the pilot studies in the development of policies and programs to improve the outcomes of individuals in the State with these disorders;

e. Establish a mechanism for the sharing of information among researchers and clinicians in the State conducting biomedical research on autism and autism spectrum disorders;

f. Provide for a mechanism that would permit the public to obtain information on the existing and planned programs and activities being conducted through the center and the pilot studies, and the council to receive comments from the public regarding these programs and activities;

g. Continually seek and apply for funding to supplement and eventually replace the moneys provided pursuant to subsection f. of R.S.39:5-41; and

h. Report not later than March 1 of each year to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), to the Legislature on the status of the Center of Excellence for Autism and other activities of the council.

L.1999, c.105, s.6; amended L.2007, c.168, s.6.