H. R. 1058 

One Hundred Sixteenth Congress 

of the 

United States of America 

AT THE FIRST SESSION 

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Thursday, 

the third day of January, two thousand and nineteen 

An Act 

To amend the Public Health Service Act to enhance activities of the National 

Institutes of Health with respect to research on autism spectrum disorder and 

enhance programs relating to autism, 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 2019’’ or the 

‘‘Autism CARES Act of 2019’’. 

SEC. 2. EXPANSION, INTENSIFICATION, AND COORDINATION OF 

ACTIVITIES OF THE NIH WITH RESPECT TO RESEARCH ON 

AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER. 

Section 409C of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 284g) 

is amended— 

(1) in subsection (a)(1)— 

(A) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘and toxicology’’ 

and inserting ‘‘toxicology, and interventions to maximize 

outcomes for individuals with autism spectrum disorder’’; 

and 

(B) by striking the second sentence and inserting the 

following: ‘‘Such research shall investigate the causes 

(including possible environmental causes), diagnosis or 

ruling out, early and ongoing detection, prevention, services 

across the lifespan, supports, intervention, and treatment 

of autism spectrum disorder, including dissemination and 

implementation of clinical care, supports, interventions, 

and treatments.’’; 

(2) in subsection (b)— 

(A) in paragraph (2)— 

(i) in the second sentence, by striking ‘‘cause’’ and 

all that follows through ‘‘disorder’’ and inserting 

‘‘causes, diagnosis, early and ongoing detection, prevention, and treatment of autism spectrum disorder across 

the lifespan’’; and 

(ii) in the third sentence, by striking ‘‘neurobiology’’ 

and all that follows through the period and inserting 

‘‘neurobiology, genetics, genomics, 

psychopharmacology, developmental psychology, 

behavioral psychology, and clinical psychology.’’; and 

(B) in paragraph (3), by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(D) REDUCING DISPARITIES.—The Director may consider, as appropriate, the extent to which a center can 
H. R. 1058—2 

demonstrate availability and access to clinical services for 

youth and adults from diverse racial, ethnic, geographic, 

or linguistic backgrounds in decisions about awarding 

grants to applicants which meet the scientific criteria for 

funding under this section.’’. 

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)(1), by striking ‘‘adults on autism spectrum disorder’’ and inserting ‘‘adults with autism spectrum 

disorder’’; 

(2) in subsection (a)(2)— 

(A) by striking ‘‘State and local public health officials’’ 

and inserting ‘‘State, local, and Tribal public health officials’’; 

(B) by striking ‘‘or other developmental disabilities’’ 

and inserting ‘‘and other developmental disabilities’’; 

(3) in subsection (a)(3), by striking ‘‘a university, or any 

other educational institution’’ and inserting ‘‘a university, any 

other educational institution, an Indian tribe, or a tribal 

organization’’; 

(4) in subsection (b)(2)(A), by striking ‘‘relevant State and 

local public health officials, private sector developmental disability researchers, and advocates for individuals with developmental disabilities’’ and inserting ‘‘State, local, and Tribal 

public health officials, private sector developmental disability 

researchers, advocates for individuals with autism spectrum 

disorder, and advocates for individuals with other developmental disabilities’’; 

(5) in subsection (d)— 

(A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as paragraphs (2) and (3), respectively; and 

(B) by inserting before paragraph (2), as so redesignated, the following new paragraph: 

‘‘(1) INDIAN TRIBE; TRIBAL ORGANIZATION.—The terms 

‘Indian tribe’ and ‘tribal organization’ have the meanings given 

such terms in section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement 

Act.’’; and 

(6) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘2019’’ and inserting 

‘‘2024’’. 

(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 (a)(1)— 

(A) by striking ‘‘individuals with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities’’ and inserting 

‘‘individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other 

developmental disabilities’’; and 

(B) by striking ‘‘children with autism spectrum disorder’’ and all that follows through ‘‘disabilities;’’ and 

inserting ‘‘individuals with autism spectrum disorder and 

other developmental disabilities across their lifespan;’’; 

(2) in subsection (b)— 

(A) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘individuals with’’ 

before ‘‘autism spectrum disorder’’; 
H. R. 1058—3 

(B) by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (6) as 

paragraphs (5) through (7), respectively; and 

(C) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following: 

‘‘(4) promote evidence-based screening techniques and interventions for individuals with autism spectrum disorder and 

other developmental disabilities across their lifespan;’’; 

(3) in subsection (c)— 

(A) in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘the needs of individuals with autism 

spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities and 

their families’’ and inserting ‘‘the needs of individuals with 

autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities across their lifespan and the needs of their families’’; 

and 

(B) in paragraph (2)— 

(i) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by striking ‘‘caregivers 

of individuals with an autism spectrum disorder’’ and 

inserting ‘‘caregivers of individuals with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities’’; 

(ii) in subparagraph (B)(i)(II), by inserting ‘‘autism 

spectrum disorder and’’ after ‘‘individuals with’’; and 

(iii) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by inserting ‘‘autism 

spectrum disorder and’’ after ‘‘individuals with’’; 

(4) in subsection (e)— 

(A) in paragraph (1)— 

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

inserting ‘‘across their lifespan’’ before ‘‘and ensure’’; 

and 

(ii) in subparagraph (B)(iv), by inserting ‘‘across 

their lifespan’’ after ‘‘other developmental disabilities’’; 

(B) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively; and 

(C) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following: 

‘‘(2) DEVELOPMENTAL-BEHAVIORAL PEDIATRICIAN TRAINING

PROGRAMS.— 

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In making awards under this subsection, the Secretary may prioritize awards to applicants 

that are developmental-behavioral pediatrician training 

programs located in rural or underserved areas. 

‘‘(B) DEFINITION OF UNDERSERVED AREA.—In this paragraph, the term ‘underserved area’ means— 

‘‘(i) a health professional shortage area (as defined 

in section 332(a)(1)(A)); and 

‘‘(ii) an urban or rural area designated by the 

Secretary as an area with a shortage of personal health 

services (as described in section 330(b)(3)(A)).’’; 

(5) in subsection (f), by inserting ‘‘across the lifespan of 

such individuals’’ after ‘‘other developmental disabilities’’; and 

(6) in subsection (g), by striking ‘‘2019’’ and inserting 

‘‘2024’’. 

(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 paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘across the lifespan 

of such individuals’’ before the semicolon; and 
H. R. 1058—4 

(B) in paragraph (5), by inserting ‘‘across the lifespan 

of such individuals’’ before ‘‘and the families’’; 

(2) in subsection (c)— 

(A) in paragraph (1)(D), by inserting ‘‘, the Department 

of Labor, the Department of Justice, the Department of 

Veterans Affairs, the Department of Housing and Urban 

Development,’’ after ‘‘Department of Education’’; 

(B) in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of paragraph 

(2), by striking ‘‘at least two such members’’ each place 

it appears and inserting ‘‘at least three such members’’; 

(C) in paragraph (3)(A), by striking ‘‘one or more additional 4-year terms’’ and inserting ‘‘one additional 4-year 

term’’; and 

(3) in subsection (f), by striking ‘‘2019’’ and inserting ‘‘2024’’. 

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

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

(1) in subsection (a)— 

(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘Autism CARES Act 

of 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘Autism CARES Act of 2019’’; and 

(B) in paragraph (2)— 

(i) in subparagraphs (A), (B), (D), and (E), by 

striking ‘‘Autism CARES Act of 2014’’ each place it 

appears and inserting ‘‘Autism CARES Act of 2019’’; 

(ii) in subparagraph (G), by striking ‘‘age of the 

child’’ and inserting ‘‘age of the individual’’; 

(iii) in subparagraph (H), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and 

inserting ‘‘;’’; 

(iv) in subparagraph (I), by striking the period 

and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

(v) by adding at the end the following: 

‘‘(J) information on how States use home- and community-based services and other supports to ensure that 

individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other 

developmental disabilities are living, working, and participating in their community.’’; and 

(2) in subsection (b)— 

(A) in the heading, by striking ‘‘YOUNG ADULTS AND

TRANSITIONING YOUTH’’ and inserting ‘‘THE HEALTH AND

WELL-BEING OF INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DIS- ORDER ACROSS THEIR LIFESPAN’’; 

(B) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows: 

‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years after the date 

of enactment of the Autism CARES Act of 2019, the Secretary 

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 the health and well-being of individuals 

with autism spectrum disorder.’’; and 

(C) in paragraph (2)— 

(i) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as follows: 

‘‘(A) demographic factors associated with the health 

and well-being of individuals with autism spectrum disorder;’’; 

(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘young adults’’ 

and all that follows through the semicolon and 

inserting ‘‘the health and well-being of individuals with 
H. R. 1058—5 

autism spectrum disorder, including an identification 

of existing Federal laws, regulations, policies, research, 

and programs;’’; and 

(iii) by amending subparagraphs (C), (D), and (E) 

to read as follows: 

‘‘(C) recommendations on establishing best practices 

guidelines to ensure interdisciplinary coordination between 

all relevant service providers receiving Federal funding; 

‘‘(D) comprehensive approaches to improving health 

outcomes and well-being for individuals with autism spectrum disorder, including— 

‘‘(i) community-based behavioral supports and 

interventions; 

‘‘(ii) nutrition, recreational, and social activities; 

and 

‘‘(iii) personal safety services related to public 

safety agencies or the criminal justice system for such 

individuals; and 

‘‘(E) recommendations that seek to improve health outcomes for such individuals, including across their lifespan, 

by addressing— 

‘‘(i) screening and diagnosis of children and adults; 

‘‘(ii) behavioral and other therapeutic approaches; 

‘‘(iii) primary and preventative care; 

‘‘(iv) communication challenges; 

‘‘(v) aggression, self-injury, elopement, and other 

behavioral issues; 

‘‘(vi) emergency room visits and acute care hospitalization; 

‘‘(vii) treatment for co-occurring physical and 

mental health conditions; 

‘‘(viii) premature mortality; 

‘‘(ix) medical practitioner training; and 

‘‘(x) caregiver mental health.’’. 

(e) 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 ‘‘$22,000,000 for each 

of fiscal years 2015 through 2019’’ and inserting ‘‘$23,100,000 

for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024’’; 

(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘$48,000,000 for each 

of fiscal years 2015 through 2019’’ and inserting ‘‘$50,599,000 

for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024’’; and 

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

be appropriated $190,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 
H. R. 1058—6 

through 2019’’ and inserting ‘‘there are authorized to be appropriated $296,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 

2024’’. 

Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

Vice President of the United States and

President of the Senate.