Georgia insurance companies are now required to provide therapy to treat autistic children. Governor Nathan deal signed a bill into law today that provides $30,000 a year worth of therapy children age 6 and younger.

“As a parent and grandparent myself, I know how heartbreaking it is for parents of autistic children to see their loved ones struggle. We’re going to do something about that today," Deal said today. The bill is known as Ava's Law. It's named for Ava Bullard, a young girl from Vidalia with autism. For years, her mother pushed for passage of the bill, saying she and may other Georgia parents struggled to pay for autism therapy.

The bill also includes a provision for therapy coverage up to age 18. It would be paid for with an 0.2 percent increase to the state sales tax, which voters would have to approve next year.

Georgia had been one more than a dozen states that did not provide therapy coverage to autistic children. Experts say early intervention helps children develop more language skills and interaction with others.

Tags: ava's law, autisim, Governor Nathan Deal, Ellen Reinhardt