House committee passes bill creating autism registry

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- A House committee has passed a bill that would create a registry of Utahns with autism.

House Bill 263 would implement a statewide list, complete with medical histories, that would be available to researchers and families seeking resources.

The bill's sponsor, Republican Rep. Eric Hutchings of Kearns, says autism research needs more data to work with. Some Utah experts are concerned about a 20-fold increase in autism rates since the 1980s for which they haven't determined a cause. The state also has the nation's highest rate of late-onset autism.

The University of Utah would operate the registry.

The bill, which also includes provisions for a public education campaign, now goes to the House floor.

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Information from: The Salt Lake Tribune

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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