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Explanatory Memorandum to the Autism

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Explanatory Memorandum to the Autism This Explanatory Memorandum has been prepared by Paul Davies AM and is laid before the National Assembly for Wales. Declaration of Legislative Competence In my view, the provisions of the Autism (Wales) Bill, introduced by me on 13 July 2018 would be within the legislative competence of the National Assembly for Wales. Paul Davies AM Member in charge of the Bill July 2018 Autism (Wales) Bill: Explanatory Memorandum Contents Declaration of Legislative Competence ......................................................... 1 Part 1: Background and purpose of the Bill .................................................. 9 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................... 9 2. Legislative powers............................................................................................ 10 2. 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................................... 10 2. 2. Reservations .................................................................................................................................................. 10 2. 3. Welsh Public Authorities ..................................................................................................................... 13 2. 4. Jurisdiction and Compatibility ....................................................................................................... 14 3. Context and overall need for the Bill ......................................................... 14 4. Support for the Bill and public consultation ......................................... 18 4. 1. First consultation: principles of the Bill .................................................................................... 18 Views on whether there is a need for a Bill ...................................................................... 19 Whether there is a need for guidance .................................................................................. 19 Views on consultation and reviewing the autism strategy ............................... 20 Views on and experiences of diagnosis ............................................................................. 20 Views on the sufficiency of current services .................................................................... 21 Views on data collection .................................................................................................................. 21 Views on staff training ....................................................................................................................... 22 Employment for people with ASD .......................................................................................... 22 Whether a definition of autism is needed in the Bill ............................................... 22 Views on the potential costs of the Bill ............................................................................... 23 Negative/unintended consequences ................................................................................... 24 How the consultation influenced the shape of the Bill ........................................ 25 4. 2. The draft Bill (second consultation) ......................................................................................... 26 The definition of Autism Spectrum Disorder and a power in the Bill to allow the Welsh Ministers to include other neurodevelopmental disorders. ...................................................................................................................................................... 26 3 Autism (Wales) Bill: Explanatory Memorandum Timescales set out in the draft Bill for the strategy, guidance and commencement ................................................................................................................................... 26 Timescale for the period from referral to diagnosis ................................................. 27 Timescale for completion of needs assessment ......................................................... 27 Example list of professionals to undertake diagnosis ........................................... 28 Data collection ........................................................................................................................................ 28 Campaign to raise awareness and understanding of autism ......................... 28 Barriers to accessing services ..................................................................................................... 28 Other comments ....................................................................................................................................29 How the final version of the Bill differs from the draft Bill .................................29 5. What the Bill does and Why .......................................................................... 31 5. 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................................... 31 5. 2. Definition of Autism Spectrum Disorder and power to prescribe other neurodevelopmental conditions ............................................................................................................. 31 5. 3. Relevant bodies .......................................................................................................................................... 32 5. 4. The autism strategy ................................................................................................................................ 33 Duty to publish an autism strategy ........................................................................................ 33 Contents of the autism strategy ................................................................................................ 35 Best practice models ......................................................................................................................... 36 A clear pathway and map of services ................................................................................... 37 5. 5. Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder.............................................................................. 38 Timescales for diagnostic assessments ............................................................................. 38 Multi-disciplinary diagnostic assessments ...................................................................... 40 5. 6. Timescales for needs assessments ............................................................................................. 41 5. 7. Accessibility of services ......................................................................................................................... 41 5. 8. Welsh language provision ................................................................................................................. 42 5. 9. Inappropriate access criteria .......................................................................................................... 43 5. 10. Transition to adult services ............................................................................................................ 44 5. 11. Staff training................................................................................................................................................. 44 5. 12. Awareness raising .................................................................................................................................. 46 4 Autism (Wales) Bill: Explanatory Memorandum 5. 13. Support for families and carers. ................................................................................................. 48 5. 14. Research, innovation and service improvement ......................................................... 48 5. 15. Local infrastructure .............................................................................................................................. 49 5. 16. Data on autism spectrum disorder ........................................................................................ 50 5. 17. Guidance on implementation and delivery of the autism strategy .............. 51 6. Power to make subordinate legislation.................................................. 54 Part 2: Regulatory Impact Assessment ........................................................ 56 7. Summary of RIA ................................................................................................. 57 7. 1. Options considered ................................................................................................................................. 59 8. Option 1: Continue with the Welsh Government’s future plans .... 61 8. 1. General comment on estimating costs ................................................................................. 63 8. 2. Updating and assessing the current autism strategy ............................................... 63 8. 3. Produce a Code of Practice ............................................................................................................. 65 8. 4. Existing costs of training ................................................................................................................... 66 8. 5. Costs of existing data collection on Autism Spectrum Disorder .................... 70 8. 6. General costs in relation to autism ...........................................................................................
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