(c) The board shall have the following tasks and duties:

1. (1) Study and review the effectiveness of supports and services currently being provided to people diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders;
2. (2) Identify legislative and regulatory activity which may be required to improve existing service systems that support people diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders;
3. (3) Identify methods of improving interagency coordination of services and maximize the impact and effectiveness of services and agency functions;
4. (4) Identify strategies and methods of improving outreach and coordination of services associated with autism spectrum disorders for minority group members including, but not limited to, African American, Latino and Asian children; and
5. (5) Such other matters as may be deemed appropriate by the members of the board. At the discretion of the chair, the board may consult with stakeholders for the purpose of carrying out its tasks and duties in accordance with this subdivision. * (d) Such board shall meet at least quarterly. Special meetings may be called by the chair. The agenda and meeting place of all regular or special meetings shall be made available to the public in advance of such meetings. * NB Effective until March 29, 2022 * (d) (1) There is hereby created within the board the autism detection, education and mapping program. This program is established to promote screening and detection of autism, to educate the public regarding autism, to provide counseling and referral services and to map locations of occurrence of autism.
6. (2) The program shall include the:
7. (i) establishment of a statewide public education and outreach campaign to publicize autism detection and education services, such campaign shall include: general community education, autism screening services, information on the extent of coverage for such services by health insurance, any available medical assistance program and other public and private programs.
8. (ii) provision of grants to approved organizations under subdivision (e) of this section; and
9. (iii) compilation of data concerning the autism detection, education and mapping program including mapping of the frequency of the occurrence of autism in various locations in the state and dissemination of the data to the public. * NB Effective March 29, 2022 * (e) The advisory board shall submit a written report to the governor, the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly by no later than October first of the year next succeeding the effective date of this section and annually thereafter, setting forth the recommendations and activities of the council on matters within the scope of its duties as set forth in this section. * NB Effective until March 29, 2022 * (e) (1) The board shall make grants within the amounts appropriated to approved organizations, as defined in paragraph two of this subdivision, for the provision of services relating to autism screening, detection and mapping as part of this program. Such services shall include but not be limited to the:
10. (i) promotion and provision of detection of autism;
11. (ii) provision of counseling and information on treatment options and referral for appropriate medical treatment;
12. (iii) dissemination of information to the general public and to health care professionals concerning autism, the benefits of detection and treatment, and the availability of autism services;
13. (iv) identification of local autism screening services within the approved organization's region;
14. (v) provision of information, counseling and referral services to individuals diagnosed with autism; and
15. (vi) mapping of the frequency of the occurrence of autism in various locations of the state.
16. (2) For the purposes of this section, "approved organization" shall mean an organization approved by the board, to provide services under this subdivision. Such organizations shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
17. (i) a hospital licensed under article twenty-eight of the public health law;
18. (ii) a health maintenance organization licensed under article forty-three of the insurance law or certified under article forty-four of the public health law;
19. (iii) an organization with program expertise in autism related issues;
20. (iv) a county or city health department; or
21. (v) any combination of the above.
22. (3) The board shall develop recommendations for the implementation of autism detection, education and mapping programs by approved organizations which shall ensure the following:
23. (i) integration of the approved organization with existing health care providers;
24. (ii) maximizing third party reimbursement; and
25. (iii) providing data collection for mapping of the occurrence of autism in various locations of the state. * NB Effective March 29, 2022 * (f) Such board shall meet at least quarterly. Special meetings may be called by the chair. The agenda and meeting place of all regular or special meetings shall be made available to the public in advance of such meetings. * NB Effective March 29, 2022 * (g) The advisory board shall submit a written report to the governor, the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly by no later than October first of the year next succeeding the effective date of this section and annually thereafter, setting forth the recommendations and activities of the council on matters within the scope of its duties as set forth in this section. Such annual report shall also include information concerning the operation of the autism detection, education and mapping program, and the experience of the program in providing detection, education and mapping of the frequency of the occurrence of autism in various locations around the state. Approved organizations shall provide such data and assessment as the board may require for such report. Such report shall also include any recommendations for additional action to respond to the high incidence of autism in this state. * NB Effective March 29, 2022