Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support Act of 2014

Summary: (This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the House on June 24, 2014.  Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support Act of 2014 or the Autism CARES Act of 2014 - (Sec. 2) Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to designate an official to oversee national autism spectrum disorder (ASD) research, services, and support activities. Directs the official to implement such activities taking into account the strategic plan developed by the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (the Interagency Committee) and ensure that duplication of activities by federal agencies is minimized. Extends through FY2019: (1) the developmental disabilities surveillance and research program; (2) the autism education, early detection, and intervention program; and (3) the Interagency Committee. (Sec. 3) Includes support for regional centers of excellence in ASD and other developmental disabilities epidemiology as a purpose of grants or cooperative agreements. (Sec. 4) Requires information and education activities to be culturally competent. Allows a lead agency coordinating activities at the state level to include respite care for caregivers. Allows the use of research centers or networks for the provision of training in respite care and for research to determine practices for interventions to improve the health of individuals with ASD.  (Sec. 5) Revises responsibilities of the Interagency Committee concerning:   inclusion of school- and community-based interventions in the Committee summary of advances, monitoring of ASD research and federal services and support activities,  recommendations to the Director of the National Institutes of Health regarding the strategic plan,  recommendations regarding the process by which public feedback can be better integrated into ASD decisions, strategic plan updates and recommendations to minimize duplication, and reports to the President and Congress.  Revises Interagency Committee membership requirements to specify additional federal agencies that might be represented and to modify the non-federal membership. (Sec. 6) Modifies requirements for reports by the Secretary on ASD activities. Adds a requirement for a report to Congress concerning young adults with ASD and the challenges related to the transition from existing school-based services to those available during adulthood.  (Sec. 7) Authorizes appropriations to carry out the developmental disabilities surveillance and research program, the education, early detection, and intervention program, and the Interagency Committee for FY2015-FY2019.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
    This Act may be cited as the ``Autism Collaboration, 
Accountability, Research, Education, and Support Act of 2014'' or the 
``Autism CARES Act of 2014''.
SEC. 2. NATIONAL AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER INITIATIVE.
    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall 
designate an existing official within the Department of Health and 
Human Services to oversee, in consultation with the Secretaries of 
Defense and Education, national autism spectrum disorder research, 
services, and support activities.
    (b) Duties.--The official designated under subsection (a) shall--
        (1) implement autism spectrum disorder activities, taking into 
    account the strategic plan developed by the Interagency Autism 
    Coordinating Committee under section 399CC(b) of the Public Health 
    Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280i-2(b)); and
        (2) ensure that autism spectrum disorder activities of the 
    Department of Health and Human Services and of other Federal 
    departments and agencies are not unnecessarily duplicative.
SEC. 3. RESEARCH PROGRAM.
    Section 399AA of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280i) is 
amended--
        (1) in subsection (a)(1), by inserting ``for children and 
    adults'' after ``reporting of State epidemiological data'';
        (2) in subsection (b)(1)--
            (A) by striking ``establishment of regional centers of 
        excellence'' and inserting ``establishment or support of 
        regional centers of excellence''; and
            (B) by inserting ``for children and adults'' before the 
        period at the end;
        (3) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ``center to be 
    established'' and inserting ``center to be established or 
    supported''; and
        (4) in subsection (e), by striking ``2014'' and inserting 
    ``2019''.
SEC. 4. AUTISM INTERVENTION.
    Section 399BB of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280i-1) 
is amended--
        (1) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting ``culturally competent'' 
    after ``provide'';
        (2) in subsection (c)(2)(A)(ii), by inserting ``(which may 
    include respite care for caregivers of individuals with an autism 
    spectrum disorder)'' after ``services and supports'';
        (3) in subsection (e)(1)(B)(v), by inserting before the 
    semicolon the following: ``, which may include collaborating with 
    research centers or networks to provide training for providers of 
    respite care (as defined in section 2901)'';
        (4) in subsection (f), by striking ``grants or contracts'' and 
    all that follows through ``for individuals with'' and inserting 
    ``grants or contracts, which may include grants or contracts to 
    research centers or networks, to determine the evidence-based 
    practices for interventions to improve the physical and behavioral 
    health of individuals with''; and
        (5) in subsection (g), by striking ``2014'' and inserting 
    ``2019''.
SEC. 5. INTERAGENCY AUTISM COORDINATING COMMITTEE.
    Section 399CC of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280i-2) 
is amended--
        (1) in subsection (b)--
            (A) in paragraph (1)--
                (i) by striking ``and annually update''; and
                (ii) by striking ``intervention'' and inserting 
            ``interventions, including school and community-based 
            interventions'';
            (B) by striking paragraph (2);
            (C) by redesignating paragraph (1) as paragraph (2), and 
        inserting before such redesignated paragraph the following:
        ``(1) monitor autism spectrum disorder research, and to the 
    extent practicable services and support activities, across all 
    relevant Federal departments and agencies, including coordination 
    of Federal activities with respect to autism spectrum disorder;'';
            (D) in paragraph (3), by striking ``recommendations to the 
        Director of NIH'';
            (E) in paragraph (4), by inserting before the semicolon the 
        following: ``, and the process by which public feedback can be 
        better integrated into such decisions''; and
            (F) by striking paragraphs (5) and (6) and inserting the 
        following:
        ``(5) develop a strategic plan for the conduct of, and support 
    for, autism spectrum disorder research, including as practicable 
    for services and supports, for individuals with an autism spectrum 
    disorder and the families of such individuals, which shall 
    include--
            ``(A) proposed budgetary requirements; and
            ``(B) recommendations to ensure that autism spectrum 
        disorder research, and services and support activities to the 
        extent practicable, of the Department of Health and Human 
        Services and of other Federal departments and agencies are not 
        unnecessarily duplicative; and
        ``(6) submit to Congress and the President--
            ``(A) an annual update on the summary of advances described 
        in paragraph (2); and
            ``(B) an annual update to the strategic plan described in 
        paragraph (5), including any progress made in achieving the 
        goals outlined in such strategic plan.'';
        (2) in subsection (c)--
            (A) in paragraph (1)--
                (i) by striking the paragraph designation, the heading, 
            and the matter preceding subparagraph (A) and inserting the 
            following:
        ``(1) Federal membership.--The Committee shall be composed of 
    the following Federal members--'';
                (ii) in subparagraph (C)--

                    (I) by inserting ``, such as the Administration for 
                Community Living, Administration for Children and 
                Families, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 
                the Food and Drug Administration, and the Health 
                Resources and Services Administration'' before the 
                semicolon at the end; and
                    (II) by adding at the end ``and'';

                (iii) in subparagraph (D)--

                    (I) by inserting ``and the Department of Defense'' 
                after ``Department of Education''; and
                    (II) by striking at the end ``; and'' and inserting 
                a period; and

                (iv) by striking subparagraph (E);
            (B) in paragraph (2)--
                (i) in the paragraph heading, by striking 
            ``Additional'' and inserting ``Non-federal'';
                (ii) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by 
            striking ``Not fewer than 6 members of the Committee, or 
            \1/3\ of the total membership of the Committee, whichever 
            is greater'' and inserting ``Not more than \1/2\, but not 
            fewer than \1/3\, of the total membership of the 
            Committee'';
                (iii) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``one such 
            member shall be an individual'' and inserting ``two such 
            members shall be individuals'';
                (iv) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``one such member 
            shall be a parent or legal guardian'' and inserting ``two 
            such members shall be parents or legal guardians''; and
                (v) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``one such member 
            shall be a representative'' and inserting ``two such 
            members shall be representatives''; and
            (C) by adding at the end the following:
        ``(3) Period of appointment; vacancies.--
            ``(A) Period of appointment for non-federal members.--Non-
        Federal members shall serve for a term of 4 years, and may be 
        reappointed for one or more additional 4-year terms.
            ``(B) Vacancies.--A vacancy on the Committee shall be 
        filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made 
        and shall not affect the powers or duties of the Committee. Any 
        member appointed to fill a vacancy for an unexpired term shall 
        be appointed for the remainder of such term. A member may serve 
        after the expiration of the member's term until a successor has 
        been appointed.'';
        (3) in subsection (d)--
            (A) by striking paragraph (2); and
            (B) by redesignating paragraphs (3) and (4) as paragraphs 
        (2) and (3), respectively; and
        (4) in subsection (f), by striking ``2014'' and inserting 
    ``2019''.
SEC. 6. REPORTS.
    Section 399DD of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280i-3) 
is amended--
        (1) in the section heading, by striking ``report'' and 
    inserting ``reports'';
        (2) in subsection (b), by redesignating paragraphs (1) through 
    (9) as subparagraphs (A) through (I), respectively, and realigning 
    the margins accordingly;
        (3) by redesignating subsections (a) and (b) as paragraphs (1) 
    and (2), respectively, and realigning the margins accordingly;
        (4) by inserting after the section heading the following:
    ``(a) Progress Report.--'';
        (5) in subsection (a)(1) (as so redesignated)--
            (A) by striking ``2 years after the date of enactment of 
        the Combating Autism Reauthorization Act of 2011'' and 
        inserting ``4 years after the date of enactment of the Autism 
        CARES Act of 2014'';
            (B) by inserting ``and the Secretary of Defense'' after 
        ``the Secretary of Education''; and
            (C) by inserting ``, and make publicly available, including 
        through posting on the Internet Web site of the Department of 
        Health and Human Services,'' after ``Representatives''; and
        (6) in subsection (a)(2) (as so redesignated)--
            (A) in subparagraph (A), (as so redesignated), by striking 
        ``Combating Autism Act of 2006'' and inserting ``Autism CARES 
        Act of 2014'';
            (B) in subparagraph (B) (as so redesignated), by striking 
        ``particular provisions of Combating Autism Act of 2006'' and 
        inserting ``amendments made by the Autism CARES Act of 2014'';
            (C) by striking subparagraph (C) (as so redesignated), and 
        inserting the following:
            ``(C) information on the incidence and prevalence of autism 
        spectrum disorder, including available information on the 
        prevalence of autism spectrum disorder among children and 
        adults, and identification of any changes over time with 
        respect to the incidence and prevalence of autism spectrum 
        disorder;'';
            (D) in subparagraph (D) (as so redesignated), by striking 
        ``6-year period beginning on the date of enactment of the 
        Combating Autism Act of 2006'' and inserting ``4-year period 
        beginning on the date of enactment of the Autism CARES Act of 
        2014 and, as appropriate, how this age varies across population 
        subgroups'';
            (E) in subparagraph (E) (as so redesignated), by striking 
        ``6-year period beginning on the date of enactment of the 
        Combating Autism Act of 2006'' and inserting ``4-year period 
        beginning on the date of enactment of the Autism CARES Act of 
        2014 and, as appropriate, how this age varies across population 
        subgroups'';
            (F) in subparagraph (F) (as so redesignated), by inserting 
        ``and, as appropriate, on how such average time varies across 
        population subgroups'' before the semicolon at the end;
            (G) in subparagraph (G) (as so redesignated)--
                (i) by striking ``including by various subtypes,'' and 
            inserting ``including by severity level as practicable,''; 
            and
                (ii) by striking ``child may'' and inserting ``child or 
            other factors, such as demographic characteristics, may''; 
            and
            (H) by striking subparagraph (I) (as so redesignated), and 
        inserting the following:
            ``(I) a description of the actions taken to implement and 
        the progress made on implementation of the strategic plan 
        developed by the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee 
        under section 399CC(b).''; and
        (7) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(b) Report on Young Adults and Transitioning Youth.--
        ``(1) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the date of 
    enactment of the Autism CARES Act of 2014, the Secretary of Health 
    and Human Services, in coordination with the Secretary of Education 
    and in collaboration with the Secretary of Transportation, the 
    Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, 
    and the Attorney General, shall prepare and submit to the Committee 
    on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the 
    Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, a 
    report concerning young adults with autism spectrum disorder and 
    the challenges related to the transition from existing school-based 
    services to those services available during adulthood.
        ``(2) Contents.--The report submitted under paragraph (1) shall 
    contain--
            ``(A) demographic characteristics of youth transitioning 
        from school-based to community-based supports;
            ``(B) an overview of policies and programs relevant to 
        young adults with autism spectrum disorder relating to post-
        secondary school transitional services, including an 
        identification of existing Federal laws, regulations, policies, 
        research, and programs;
            ``(C) proposals on establishing best practices guidelines 
        to ensure--
                ``(i) interdisciplinary coordination between all 
            relevant service providers receiving Federal funding;
                ``(ii) coordination with transitioning youth and the 
            family of such transitioning youth; and
                ``(iii) inclusion of the individualized education 
            program for the transitioning youth, as prescribed in 
            section 614 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education 
            Act (20 U.S.C. 1414);
            ``(D) comprehensive approaches to transitioning from 
        existing school-based services to those services available 
        during adulthood, including--
                ``(i) services that increase access to, and improve 
            integration and completion of, post-secondary education, 
            peer support, vocational training (as defined in section 
            103 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 723)), 
            rehabilitation, self-advocacy skills, and competitive, 
            integrated employment;
                ``(ii) community-based behavioral supports and 
            interventions;
                ``(iii) community-based integrated residential 
            services, housing, and transportation;
                ``(iv) nutrition, health and wellness, recreational, 
            and social activities;
                ``(v) personal safety services for individuals with 
            autism spectrum disorder related to public safety agencies 
            or the criminal justice system; and
                ``(vi) evidence-based approaches for coordination of 
            resources and services once individuals have aged out of 
            post-secondary education; and
            ``(E) proposals that seek to improve outcomes for adults 
        with autism spectrum disorder making the transition from a 
        school-based support system to adulthood by--
                ``(i) increasing the effectiveness of programs that 
            provide transition services;
                ``(ii) increasing the ability of the relevant service 
            providers described in subparagraph (C) to provide supports 
            and services to underserved populations and regions;
                ``(iii) increasing the efficiency of service delivery 
            to maximize resources and outcomes, including with respect 
            to the integration of and collaboration among services for 
            transitioning youth;
                ``(iv) ensuring access to all services necessary to 
            transitioning youth of all capabilities; and
                ``(v) encouraging transitioning youth to utilize all 
            available transition services to maximize independence, 
            equal opportunity, full participation, and self-
            sufficiency.''.
SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
    Section 399EE of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280i-4) 
is amended--
        (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``fiscal years 2012 through 
    2014'' and inserting ``fiscal years 2015 through 2019'';
        (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``fiscal years 2011 through 
    2014'' and inserting ``fiscal years 2015 through 2019''; and
        (3) in subsection (c), by striking ``$161,000,000 for each of 
    fiscal years 2011 through 2014'' and inserting ``$190,000,000 for 
    each of fiscal years 2015 through 2019''.

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

                            Vice President of the United States and    
                                               President of the Senate.