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Action Needed: Illinois' Autism Insurance Bill Has a Second Chance

By Charles Fox

                                               

Illinois' autism insurance bill has new life, thanks to the efforts of parents Pete DiCianni, Laura Cellini, Nelly Aguilar, Enrique Abraham, Senator Jim DeLeo, Representative Angelo Saviano, and now Governor Rod Blagojevich. 

As you may recall, SB1900 was introduced this spring, passed the Senate 50- 0 and passed the House 113- 0.  However, the bill got derailed by a dispute over a late amendment that did not go to the substance of the bill, and it has been in limbo since. 

On June 13, 2008, in a rare Sunday press conference at Chicago's Children's Museum at Navy Pier, Governor Blagojevich announced that he was going to add the language from SB1900 to another bill that was already on his desk, HB4255, through an amendatory veto.  That bill was introduced by Rep. Bob Pritchard to increase coverage for multiple sclerosis.  Rep. Pritchard was also at the press conference to announce his support for the addition to help our kids, along with Rep. Elga Jefferies, the State Insurance Director Michael McRaith, and many of our families.                            

                                                    

Please call your State Representative on June 14, 2008 at their local office, or June 15, 2008 at the Capitol. Ask him/her to vote to concur in the amendatory veto of HB4255, which adds insurance coverage for autism, up to $36,000 per year.  Your state rep has already voted for this coverage under SB1900.  Please thank them for their support, too!                            

                                                    

We need your help if Illinois is to join the other states with new autism insurance legislation this year, like Texas, South Carolina, Arizona, Louisiana, and Pennsylvania.                            

                                                 

Full post as published by Special Education Law Blog on July 14, 2008 (boomark / email).