A bill to increase housing, awareness, and navigation demonstration services (HANDS) for individuals with autism spectrum disorders.

Summary: Helping Housing, Awareness, and Navigation Demonstration Services for Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorders Act of 2008 or the Helping HANDS for Autism Act of 2008 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS Secretary), in coordination with the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD Secretary) and the Secretary of Education, to establish a demonstration program to award grants to eligible entities to develop an autism navigator program to create a more efficient, effective, coordinated use of the health, housing, education, and social service systems for individuals with an autism spectrum disorder.

Requires: (1) an eligible entity that receives a grant to develop an autism navigator program that will recruit, employ, train, assign, and supervise autism navigators; and (2) the HHS Secretary to provide for evaluations to determine the effects of navigator services.

Directs the HHS Secretary, in coordination with the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to: (1) develop, demonstrate, and disseminate a standard curriculum for training first responders in assisting individuals with autism and other cognitive behavioral disabilities and their families during emergencies; and (2) award grants to states and local governments to train first responders in providing assistance to such individuals in emergency situations.

Requires the HUD Secretary to convene a task force to establish a housing demonstration grant program to award grants to entities to provide a program aimed at providing individualized housing and services to adults with an autism spectrum disorder.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Helping Housing, Awareness, and 
Navigation Demonstration Services for Individuals With Autism Spectrum 
Disorders Act of 2008'' or the ``Helping HANDS for Autism Act of 
2008''.

                   TITLE I--AUTISM NAVIGATOR PROGRAM

SEC. 101. AUTISM NAVIGATOR PROGRAM.

    Part R of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
280i et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 399DD the 
following:

``SEC. 399DD-1. AUTISM NAVIGATOR PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Authorization of Grant Program.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, in coordination with the 
        Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and the Secretary of 
        Education, shall establish a demonstration grant program to 
        award grants to eligible entities to enable such entities to 
        develop an autism navigator program to create a more efficient, 
        effective, coordinated use of the health, housing, education, 
        and social service systems for individuals with an autism 
        spectrum disorder.
            ``(2) Eligible entity.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In this section, the term 
                `eligible entity' means an entity that has--
                            ``(i) not less than 2 years experience 
                        serving the autism community in an advocacy or 
                        service capacity; and
                            ``(ii) a--
                                    ``(I) behaviorist with at least a 
                                master's degree on staff or in a 
                                consultation capacity who has 
                                experience in applied behavioral 
                                analysis;
                                    ``(II) Board Certified Behavior 
                                Analyst on staff;
                                    ``(III) special educator with 
                                training in autism spectrum disorders 
                                on staff;
                                    ``(IV) rehabilitation professional 
                                with training in autism spectrum 
                                disorders on staff; or
                                    ``(V) master's level professional 
                                with training in autism spectrum 
                                disorders on staff.
                    ``(B) Secretary's determination.--Notwithstanding 
                subparagraph (A), the Secretary may determine who 
                qualifies as an eligible entity under this section.
    ``(b) Application for a Grant.--
            ``(1) In general.--An eligible entity that desires a grant 
        under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary 
        at such time, in such manner and form, and containing such 
        information, agreements, and assurances as the Secretary 
        determines to be necessary to carry out this section.
            ``(2) Outreach services.--An application submitted under 
        paragraph (1) shall contain an assurance that the applicant 
        will provide ongoing outreach activities while receiving a 
        grant under this section, in a manner that is culturally 
        competent for the population served, to inform the public and 
        the specific community that the autism navigator is serving, of 
        the services under the grant.
    ``(c) Development of Autism Navigator Program.--
            ``(1) Autism navigators.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall determine 
                the functions of autism navigators under this section.
                    ``(B) Types of functions.--The functions of an 
                autism navigator under this section may include--
                            ``(i) with respect to an individual with an 
                        autism spectrum disorder and such individual's 
                        family--
                                    ``(I) coordinating and scheduling 
                                appointments and referrals, community 
                                outreach, assistance with 
                                transportation, housing or education 
                                arrangements, and assistance with 
                                insurance issues and other barriers to 
                                care;
                                    ``(II) case management and 
                                psychosocial assessment and care or 
                                information and referral to such 
                                services;
                                    ``(III) contact and care 
                                coordination of health care, including 
                                psychosocial assessment and care, and 
                                other community services, provider 
                                referrals, financial support and 
                                service coordination, including 
                                transportation, housing, and education;
                                    ``(IV) determining coverage under 
                                health insurance and health plans for 
                                all services;
                                    ``(V) aiding with health insurance 
                                coverage issues; and
                                    ``(VI) ensuring the initiation, 
                                continuation, or sustained access to 
                                care prescribed by the individual's 
                                health care providers;
                            ``(ii) facilitating partnerships within the 
                        healthcare and advocacy community to assist 
                        outreach to the underserved autism community;
                            ``(iii) notifying individuals and their 
                        families as to autism clinical trials and, on 
                        request, facilitating enrollment of eligible 
                        individuals;
                            ``(iv) anticipating, identifying, and 
                        helping individuals with an autism spectrum 
                        disorder overcome barriers in accessing and 
                        securing appropriate services in a timely 
                        manner;
                            ``(v) coordinating with State departments 
                        responsible for human services, education, 
                        health and senior services, housing, community 
                        affairs, and labor in providing services to 
                        individuals with an autism spectrum disorder 
                        and their families;
                            ``(vi) identifying caregiver supports for 
                        those caring for individuals with an autism 
                        spectrum disorder, including mentoring, support 
                        groups, community resources, and legal 
                        consultation;
                            ``(vii) identifying, mentoring, and 
                        supporting culturally sensitive caregivers of 
                        individuals with an autism spectrum disorder; 
                        and
                            ``(viii) serving as a reliable, expert 
                        resource for advice, support, and direction to 
                        access early intervention services under part C 
                        of the Individuals with Disabilities Education 
                        Act (20 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.), health insurance 
                        (public or private), housing programs, 
                        financial security programs, Medicare services 
                        under title XVIII of the Social Security Act, 
                        and Medicaid services under title XIX of the 
                        Social Security Act.
            ``(2) Development of program.--
                    ``(A) In general.--An eligible entity that receives 
                a grant under this section shall develop an autism 
                navigator program that will recruit, employ, train, 
                assign, and supervise autism navigators.
                    ``(B) Duration of grants.--A grant provided under 
                this section shall be--
                            ``(i) for a period of not more than 5 
                        years; and
                            ``(ii) subject to annual approval by the 
                        Secretary and subject to the availability of 
                        appropriations for the fiscal year involved.
                    ``(C) No limitation on number of grants.--Nothing 
                in this paragraph shall be construed to limit the 
                number of grants that may be made to an eligible 
                entity.
            ``(3) Outreach.--An autism navigator program developed 
        under paragraph (2) shall reach out to appropriate doctor's 
        offices and treatment centers to encourage such doctors and 
        centers to refer individuals with an autism spectrum disorder 
        to such program, which will offer autism navigation services 
        described in this subsection.
            ``(4) Training and preparation.--An autism navigator 
        program developed under paragraph (2) shall train and prepare 
        autism navigators as follows:
                    ``(A) Autism navigators shall have direct knowledge 
                of the communities they serve and provide services to 
                such communities in a culturally competent manner.
                    ``(B) Autism navigators shall be informed about 
                health insurance systems and other community services, 
                and be able to aid individuals in resolving access 
                issues.
                    ``(C) Autism navigators shall have direct knowledge 
                of the unique needs of individuals with an autism 
                spectrum disorder and the current evidence-based 
                practices that are available to such individuals 
                through Federal programs and in the State.
            ``(5) Managing care.--An autism navigator program developed 
        under paragraph (2) shall assign autism navigators, in 
        accordance with applicable criteria of the Secretary, for--
                    ``(A) managing the care of individuals with an 
                autism spectrum disorder; and
                    ``(B) assisting such individuals and families with 
                navigating the life service continuum.
            ``(6) Centralized access.--An autism navigator program 
        developed under paragraph (2) shall provide centralized access 
        for individuals with an autism spectrum disorder to multiple 
        Federal and State activities and programs related to autism 
        spectrum disorders, including such activities and programs 
        carried out by--
                    ``(A) the Administration for Children and Families;
                    ``(B) the Centers for Disease Control and 
                Prevention;
                    ``(C) the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services;
                    ``(D) the Collaborative Programs of Excellence in 
                Autism;
                    ``(E) the Department of Health and Human Services;
                    ``(F) the Health Resources and Services 
                Administration;
                    ``(G) the Interagency Autism Coordinating 
                Committee;
                    ``(H) the National Institutes of Health;
                    ``(I) the National Institute of Mental Health;
                    ``(J) the Studies to Advance Autism Research and 
                Treatment;
                    ``(K) the Department of Housing and Urban 
                Development;
                    ``(L) the Department of Education; and
                    ``(M) the Department of Labor.
            ``(7) Data collection and report.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Each recipient of a grant under 
                this section shall--
                            ``(i) collect specific autism data that 
                        records navigation services provided to each 
                        individual served by the autism navigator 
                        program; and
                            ``(ii) establish and implement procedures 
                        and protocols, consistent with applicable 
                        Federal and State laws, to ensure the 
                        confidentiality of all information shared by a 
                        participant in the program, the participant's 
                        personal representative, and the participant's 
                        health care providers, group health plans, or 
                        health insurance insurers.
                    ``(B) Disclosure of information.--A recipient of a 
                grant under this section may, consistent with 
                applicable Federal and State confidentiality laws, 
                collect, use, or disclose aggregate information that is 
                not individually identifiable.
                    ``(C) Report.--Each recipient of a grant under this 
                section shall submit an annual report to the Secretary 
                that--
                            ``(i) summarizes and analyzes the data 
                        collected under subparagraph (A)(i); and
                            ``(ii) provides information on needs for 
                        navigation services, types of access 
                        difficulties resolved, sources of repeated 
                        resolution, and flaws in the system of access, 
                        including insurance barriers.
    ``(d) Evaluations.--The Secretary shall provide, directly or 
through grants or contracts, for evaluations to determine the effects 
of the services of autism navigators.
    ``(e) Coordination With Other Programs.--The Secretary shall 
coordinate the demonstration grant program authorized under this 
section with programs authorized under the Children's Health Act of 
2000 (Public Law 106-310), the Combating Autism Act of 2006 (Public Law 
109-416), the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 701 et seq.), the 
Medicaid home- and community-based service waivers program under 
section 1915(c) of the Social Security Act, title XIX of the Social 
Security Act, and other appropriate programs.
    ``(f) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be 
construed to require payment for navigation services or to require 
payment for other services in cases where such other services are 
provided free of charge.''.

                       TITLE II--AUTISM AWARENESS

SEC. 201. TRAINING OF FIRST RESPONDERS IN THE RECOGNITION OF AUTISM.

    (a) Development of Curriculum.--The Secretary of Health and Human 
Services, in coordination with the Director of the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention and in consultation with the heads of other 
appropriate Federal agencies, shall develop, demonstrate, and 
disseminate a standard curriculum for the training of first responders 
in assisting individuals (and their families) with autism and other 
cognitive behavioral disabilities during potential and actual 
emergencies.
    (b) Training Grants.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services, 
in coordination with the Director of the Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention and in consultation with the heads of other appropriate 
Federal agencies, shall award grants to States and local governments to 
train first responders (including the police, fire departments, 
emergency medical technicians, and other paid or volunteer first 
responders) in providing assistance to individuals with autism and 
other cognitive impairments in potential and actual emergency 
situations.
    (c) Requirement.--Training carried out under this section shall 
inform first responders of the risks associated with autism and other 
cognitive behavioral disabilities, as well as provide instruction in 
appropriate autism recognition and response techniques.

                      TITLE III--HOME OF THEIR OWN

SEC. 301. HOME OF THEIR OWN.

    (a) Task Force.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development shall 
convene a task force comprised of appropriate national and State autism 
advocacy groups, recipients of funds from the Department of Housing and 
Urban Development for housing for adults with an autism spectrum 
disorder, and community-based organizations that serve adults with an 
autism spectrum disorder.
    (b) Establishment of Grant Program.--The task force described in 
subsection (a) shall establish a housing demonstration grant program to 
award grants to entities (including States, localities, public and 
private partnerships, and community nonprofit and for-profit 
organizations) to enable such entities to provide a housing program for 
adults with an autism spectrum disorder, with the goal of providing 
individualized housing and services to such adults.