H. R. 7213 

One Hundred Eighteenth Congress 

of the 

United States of America 

AT THE SECOND SESSION 

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday, 

the third day of January, two thousand and twenty-four 

An Act 

To amend the Public Health Service Act to enhance and reauthorize activities 

and programs relating to autism spectrum disorder, and for other purposes. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 

the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support Act of 2024’’ or the 

‘‘Autism CARES Act of 2024’’. 

SEC. 2. NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH ACTIVITIES. 

(a) EXPANSION OF ACTIVITIES.—Section 409C(a)(1) of the Public 

Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 284g(a)(1)) is amended— 

(1) by striking ‘‘) shall, subject to the availability’’ and 

inserting the following: ‘‘), in consultation with relevant Federal 

departments and agencies, as appropriate, shall— 

‘‘(A) subject to the availability’’; 

(2) by striking ‘‘basic and clinical research in fields 

including pathology’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘basic and 

clinical research— 

‘‘(i) in fields, such as pathology’’; 

(3) by striking ‘‘toxicology, and interventions’’ and inserting 

the following: ‘‘toxicology, psychiatry, psychology, developmental behavioral pediatrics, audiology, and gerontology; and 

‘‘(ii) on interventions’’; 

(4) by striking ‘‘disorder. Such research shall investigate’’ 

and inserting the following: ‘‘disorder; and 

‘‘(B) ensure that research referred to in subparagraph 

(A)— 

‘‘(i) investigates’’; 

(5) by striking ‘‘prevention, services across the lifespan, 

supports, intervention, and treatment of autism spectrum disorder’’ and inserting ‘‘prevention, services and supports across 

the lifespan, intervention, and treatment of autism spectrum 

disorder and co-occurring conditions’’; and 

(6) by striking ‘‘treatments.’’ and inserting the following: 

‘‘treatments; 

‘‘(ii) examines supports for caregivers; and 

‘‘(iii) reflects the entire population of individuals 

with autism spectrum disorder, including those individuals with co-occurring conditions and the full range 

of needs for supports and services, including such supports and services to ensure the safety, and promote 

the well-being, of such individuals.’’. 
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(b) CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE.—Section 409C(b) of the Public 

Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 284g(b)) is amended— 

(1) in paragraph (2)— 

(A) by striking ‘‘including the fields of’’ and inserting 

‘‘in fields such as’’; and 

(B) by striking ‘‘behavioral psychology, and clinical psychology’’ and inserting ‘‘behavioral psychology, clinical psychology, and gerontology’’; 

(2) in paragraph (5)(A), by striking ‘‘five’’ and inserting 

‘‘seven’’; and 

(3) in paragraph (5)(B), by striking ‘‘period of not to exceed’’ 

and inserting ‘‘period not to exceed’’. 

(c) PUBLIC INPUT.—Section 409C(d) of the Public Health Service 

Act (42 U.S.C. 284g(d)) is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘(d) PUBLIC INPUT.— 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall under subsection 

(a)(1) provide for means through which the public can obtain 

information on the existing and planned programs and activities 

of the National Institutes of Health with respect to autism 

spectrum disorder and through which the Director can receive 

comments from the public regarding such programs and activities. 

‘‘(2) GUIDANCE.—The Director may provide guidance to centers under subsection (b)(1) on strategies, activities, and 

opportunities to promote engagement with, and solicit input 

from, individuals with autism spectrum disorder and their 

family members, guardians, advocates or authorized representatives, providers, or other appropriate individuals to inform 

the activities of the center. Such strategies, activities, and 

opportunities should consider including, as appropriate, individuals, family members, and caregivers of individuals with autism 

spectrum disorder who represent the entire population of 

individuals with autism spectrum disorder, including those 

individuals with co-occurring conditions and the full range of 

needs for supports and services, including such supports and 

services to ensure the safety, and promote the well-being, of 

such individuals, to inform the activities of the center.’’. 

(d) BUDGET ESTIMATE.—Section 409C of the Public Health 

Service Act (42 U.S.C. 284g) is amended by adding at the end 

the following: 

‘‘(e) BUDGET ESTIMATE.—For each of fiscal years 2026 through 

2029, the Director shall prepare and submit, directly to the President for review and transmittal to Congress, an annual budget 

estimate for the initiatives of the National Institutes of Health 

pursuant to the strategic plan developed under section 399CC(b)(5) 

and updated under section 399CC(b)(6)(B), after reasonable opportunity for comment (but without change) by the Secretary and 

the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee established under 

section 399CC.’’. 

SEC. 3. PROGRAMS RELATING TO AUTISM. 

(a) DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES SURVEILLANCE AND RESEARCH

PROGRAM.—Section 399AA of the Public Health Service Act (42 

U.S.C. 280i) is amended— 

(1) in subsection (a)(3), by striking ‘‘an Indian tribe, or 

a tribal organization’’ and inserting ‘‘an Indian Tribe, or a 

Tribal organization’’; 
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(2) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting ‘‘across the lifespan’’ 

before the period at the end; 

(3) in subsection (d)(1)— 

(A) in the paragraph heading, by striking ‘‘TRIBE; 

TRIBAL’’ and inserting ‘‘TRIBE; TRIBAL’’; 

(B) by striking ‘‘tribe’’ and inserting ‘‘Tribe’’; and 

(C) by striking ‘‘tribal’’ and inserting ‘‘Tribal’’; and 

(4) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘December 20, 2024’’ and 

inserting ‘‘September 30, 2029’’. 

(b) AUTISM EDUCATION, EARLY DETECTION, AND INTERVENTION.—Section 399BB of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 

280i–1) is amended— 

(1) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ‘‘culturally competent 

information’’ and inserting ‘‘culturally and linguistically appropriate information’’; 

(2) in subsection (b)(2)— 

(A) by striking ‘‘promote research’’ and inserting ‘‘promote research, which may include research that takes a 

community-based approach,’’; and 

(B) by striking ‘‘screening tools’’ each place it appears 

and inserting ‘‘screening and diagnostic tools’’; 

(3) in subsection (b)(3), by striking ‘‘at higher risk’’ and 

inserting ‘‘at increased likelihood’’; 

(4) in subsection (b)(4), by inserting ‘‘, which may give 

consideration to the perspectives of parents and guardians’’ 

before the semicolon at the end; 

(5) in subsection (b)(7), by striking ‘‘at higher risk’’ and 

inserting ‘‘at increased likelihood’’; 

(6) in subsection (c)(1), by striking ‘‘culturally competent 

information’’ and inserting ‘‘culturally and linguistically appropriate information’’; 

(7) in subsection (c)(2)(A)(ii), by striking ‘‘culturally competent information’’ and inserting ‘‘culturally and linguistically 

appropriate information’’; 

(8) by amending paragraph (1) of subsection (e) to read 

as follows: 

(9) in subsection (e)(1)— 

(A) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by 

inserting ‘‘, and strengthen the capacity of,’’ after ‘‘expand’’; 

and 

(B) in subparagraph (A)— 

(i) by striking ‘‘expand existing or develop new’’ 

and inserting ‘‘expand and strengthen the capacity of 

existing, or, in States that do not have such a program, 

develop new,’’; and 

(ii) by striking ‘‘Act) in States that do not have 

such a program’’ and inserting ‘‘Act)’’; 

(C) in subparagraph (B)(v), by inserting ‘‘or other providers, as applicable’’ before the semicolon at the end; and 

(D) by amending subparagraph (C) to read as follows: 

‘‘(C) program sites— 

‘‘(i) provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services; 

‘‘(ii) take a multidisciplinary approach and have 

experience working with underserved populations; and 

‘‘(iii) identify opportunities to partner with community-based organizations to expand the capacity of 
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communities to serve individuals with autism spectrum 

disorder or other developmental disabilities.’’; 

(10) in subsection (e)(2), by adding at the end the following 

new subparagraph: 

‘‘(C) REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date 

of the enactment of the Autism CARES Act of 2024, the 

Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and 

Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the 

Senate a report that examines the need for, and feasibility 

of, expanding the developmental-behavioral pediatrician 

training programs described in subparagraph (A).’’; 

(11) by amending subsection (f) to read as follows: 

‘‘(f) INTERVENTION.—The Secretary shall promote research 

through grants or contracts, which may include grants or contracts 

to research centers or networks, to— 

‘‘(1) develop and evaluate evidence-based practices and 

interventions to improve outcomes for individuals with autism 

spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities by 

addressing physical and behavioral health and communication 

needs of such individuals across the lifespan; 

‘‘(2) develop guidelines for such evidence-based practices 

and interventions; and 

‘‘(3) disseminate information related to such evidence-based 

practices and interventions and guidelines.’’; and 

(12) in subsection (g), by striking ‘‘December 20, 2024’’ 

and inserting ‘‘September 30, 2029’’. 

(c) 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 the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting 

‘‘, on a regular basis’’ after ‘‘shall’’; 

(B) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘develop a summary’’ 

and inserting ‘‘summarize’’; and 

(C) 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, as described in section 

409C(a)(1), 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 the Congress and the President— 

‘‘(A) an annual update on the summary of advances 

described in paragraph (2); and 

‘‘(B) a biennial update on the strategic plan described 

in paragraph (5), including progress made in achieving 

the goals outlined in such strategic plan and any specific 

measures taken pursuant to such strategic plan.’’; and 

(2) in subsection (f), by striking ‘‘December 20, 2024’’ and 

inserting ‘‘September 30, 2029’’. 

(d) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—Section 399DD of the Public Health 

Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280i–3) is amended— 
H. R. 7213—5 

(1) by striking ‘‘2019’’ each place it appears and inserting 

‘‘2024’’; and 

(2) in subsection (a), by amending paragraph (1) to read 

as follows: 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 4 years after September 

30, 2024, the Secretary, in consultation with other relevant 

Federal departments and agencies, 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, and make publicly available, 

including through posting on the website of the Department 

of Health and Human Services, a progress report on activities 

related to autism spectrum disorder and other developmental 

disabilities. Such report shall include activities and research 

related to the entire population of individuals with autism 

spectrum disorder, including those individuals with co-occurring 

conditions and the full range of needs for supports and services, 

including such supports and services to ensure the safety, and 

promote the well-being, of such individuals.’’; 

(3) in subsection (b)— 

(A) in the heading of subsection (b), by striking 

‘‘HEALTH AND WELL-BEING’’ and inserting ‘‘MENTAL HEALTH

NEEDS’’; 

(B) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘health and wellbeing’’ and inserting ‘‘mental health needs’’; and 

(C) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows: 

‘‘(2) CONTENTS.—The report submitted under paragraph 

(1) shall contain— 

‘‘(A) an overview of policies and programs relevant 

to the mental health of individuals with autism spectrum 

disorder across their lifespan, including an identification 

of existing Federal laws, regulations, policies, research, 

and programs; and 

‘‘(B) recommendations to improve mental health outcomes and address related disparities in mental health 

care for individuals with autism spectrum disorder, 

including prevention, care coordination, and communitybased services.’’; 

(4) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(c) UPDATE ON YOUNG ADULTS AND YOUTH TRANSITIONING

TO ADULTHOOD.—Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment 

of the Autism CARES Act of 2024, the Secretary, in coordination 

with other relevant Federal departments and agencies, as appropriate, shall prepare and submit to the Committee on Energy and 

Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee 

on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate an update 

to the report required pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, 

as added by section 6 of the Autism Cares Act of 2014 (Public 

Law 113–157), and in effect before the date of enactment of the 

Autism CARES Act of 2019 (Public Law 116–60), 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.’’. 

(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 399EE of the 

Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280i–4) is amended— 
H. R. 7213—6 

(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘$23,100,000 for each 

of fiscal years 2020 through 2024’’ and inserting ‘‘$28,100,000 

for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029’’; 

(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘$50,599,000 for each 

of fiscal years 2020 through 2024’’ and inserting ‘‘$56,344,000 

for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029’’; and 

(3) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘there are authorized to 

be appropriated $296,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 

through 2024’’ and inserting ‘‘there is authorized to be appropriated $306,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 

2029’’. 

SEC. 4. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO COMMUNICATION TOOLS. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health and Human Services 

(referred to in this section as the ‘‘Secretary’’) may, at the request 

of a State, Indian Tribe, Tribal organization, locality, or territory, 

provide training and technical assistance to such jurisdiction on 

the manner in which Federal funding administered by the Secretary 

may be used to provide individuals with autism spectrum disorder 

and other developmental disabilities with access to evidence-based 

services, tools, and technologies that support communication needs. 

(b) ANNUAL REPORT.—The Secretary shall annually 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 summarizing any 

technical assistance provided by the Secretary in the preceding 

fiscal year under subsection (a) and any advancements in the 

development or evaluation of such evidence-based services, tools, 

and technologies. 

Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

Vice President of the United States and

President of the Senate.