I 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 1058 

To reauthorize certain provisions of the Public Health Service Act relating 

to autism, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 7, 2019 

Mr. SMITH of New Jersey (for himself and Mr. MICHAEL F. DOYLE of Pennsylvania) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

A BILL 

To reauthorize certain provisions of the Public Health 

Service Act relating to autism, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Autism Collaboration, 

5 Accountability, Research, Education, and Support Act of 

6 2019’’ or the ‘‘Autism CARES Act of 2019’’. 


pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
2 

•HR 1058 IH

1 SEC. 2. EXPANSION, INTENSIFICATION, AND COORDINA2 TION OF ACTIVITIES OF NATIONAL INSTI3 TUTES OF HEALTH WITH RESPECT TO RE4 SEARCH ON AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER. 

5 Section 409C of the Public Health Service Act (42 

6 U.S.C. 284g) is amended— 

7 (1) in subsection (a)(1)— 

8 (A) by inserting after ‘‘and toxicology’’ the 

9 following: ‘‘, and interventions to maximize out10 comes for persons with autism spectrum dis11 order’’; 

12 (B) by inserting after ‘‘early’’ the fol13 lowing: ‘‘and ongoing’’; and 

14 (C) by inserting after ‘‘treatment of autism 

15 spectrum disorder’’ the following: ‘‘, including 

16 dissemination and implementation of clinical 

17 care, supports, intervention, and treatment’’; 

18 and 

19 (2) in subsection (b)— 

20 (A) by amending paragraph (2) to read as 

21 follows: 

22 ‘‘(2) RESEARCH.—Each center under para23 graph (1) shall conduct basic and clinical research 

24 into autism spectrum disorder. Such research should 

25 include investigations into the causes, diagnosis, and 

26 early and ongoing detection, prevention, and treatVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:53 Feb 20, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1058.IH H1058

pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 1058 IH

1 ment of autism spectrum disorder across the life2 span. The centers, as a group, shall conduct re3 search including in the fields of developmental 

4 neurobiology, genetics, psychopharmacology, genom5 ics, and developmental, behavioral, and clinical psy6 chology.’’; and 

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

8 the following new subparagraph: 

9 ‘‘(D) REDUCING DISPARITIES.—In award10 ing grants to applicants which meet the sci11 entific criteria for funding under this section, 

12 the Director may consider, as appropriate, the 

13 extent to which a center can demonstrate avail14 ability and access to clinical services for youth 

15 and adults from diverse racial, ethnic, geo16 graphic, or linguistic backgrounds.’’. 

17 SEC. 3. DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES SURVEILLANCE 

18 AND RESEARCH PROGRAM. 

19 Section 399AA(e) of the Public Health Service Act 

20 (42 U.S.C. 280i(e)) is amended by striking ‘‘2019’’ and 

21 inserting ‘‘2024’’. 

22 SEC. 4. AUTISM EDUCATION, EARLY DETECTION, AND 

23 INTERVENTION. 

24 Section 399BB of the Public Health Service Act (42 

25 U.S.C. 280i–1) is amended— 


pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
4 

•HR 1058 IH

1 (1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ‘‘for chil2 dren’’ and inserting ‘‘for individuals’’; 

3 (2) in subsection (b)— 

4 (A) by redesignating paragraphs (4) 

5 through (6) as paragraphs (5) through (7), re6 spectively; and 

7 (B) by inserting after paragraph (3) the 

8 following new paragraph: 

9 ‘‘(4) promote evidence-based screening tech10 niques and interventions for individuals with autism 

11 spectrum disorder across their lifespans;’’; 

12 (3) in subsection (c)(1), in the matter preceding 

13 subparagraph (A), by inserting after ‘‘needs of indi14 viduals with autism spectrum disorder or other de15 velopmental disabilities’’ the following: ‘‘across the 

16 lifespan of such individuals’’; 

17 (4) in subsection (e), by adding at the end the 

18 following new paragraph: 

19 ‘‘(4) PRIORITIZATION.— 

20 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In awarding grants 

21 and agreements under paragraphs (1) and (2), 

22 the Secretary may prioritize awards to training 

23 programs described in paragraph (1) that are 

24 developmental-behavioral pediatrician training 


pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
5 

•HR 1058 IH

1 programs located in rural areas or underserved 

2 areas. 

3 ‘‘(B) UNDERSERVED AREA DEFINED.—In 

4 this paragraph, the term ‘underserved area’ 

5 means— 

6 ‘‘(i) an area described in section 

7 332(a)(1)(A); and 

8 ‘‘(ii) a medically underserved popu9 lation (as defined in section 

10 330(b)(3)(A)).’’; 

11 (5) in subsection (f), by inserting after ‘‘individ12 uals with autism spectrum disorder or other develop13 mental disabilities’’ the following: ‘‘across the life14 span of such individuals’’; and 

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

16 inserting ‘‘2024’’. 

17 SEC. 5. INTERAGENCY AUTISM COORDINATING COM18 MITTEE. 

19 Section 399CC of the Public Health Service Act (42 

20 U.S.C. 280i–2) is amended— 

21 (1) in subsection (b)— 

22 (A) in paragraph (2), by inserting after 

23 ‘‘services and supports for individuals with au24 tism spectrum disorder’’ the following: ‘‘across 

25 the lifespan of such individuals’’; and 


pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
6 

•HR 1058 IH

1 (B) in paragraph (5), by inserting after 

2 ‘‘individuals with an autism spectrum disorder’’ 

3 the following: ‘‘across the lifespan of such indi4 viduals’’; 

5 (2) in subsection (c)— 

6 (A) in paragraph (1)(D), by inserting after 

7 ‘‘the Department of Education’’ the following: 

8 ‘‘, the Department of Labor, the Department of 

9 Justice, the Department of Housing and Urban 

10 Development,’’; and 

11 (B) in paragraph (3)(A), by striking ‘‘one 

12 or more additional 4-year terms’’ and inserting 

13 ‘‘one additional 4-year term’’; and 

14 (3) in subsection (f), by striking ‘‘2019’’ and 

15 inserting ‘‘2024’’. 

16 SEC. 6. REPORTS TO CONGRESS. 

17 Section 399DD of the Public Health Service Act (42 

18 U.S.C. 280i–3) is amended— 

19 (1) in subsection (a)— 

20 (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘of 

21 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘of 2019’’; and 

22 (B) in paragraph (2)— 

23 (i) by striking ‘‘of 2014’’ each place it 

24 appears and inserting ‘‘of 2019’’; 


pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
7 

•HR 1058 IH

1 (ii) in subparagraph (G), striking 

2 ‘‘age of the child’’ and inserting ‘‘age of 

3 the individual’’; 

4 (iii) in subparagraph (H), by striking 

5 ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

6 (iv) in subparagraph (I), by striking 

7 the period at the end and inserting ‘‘; 

8 and’’; and 

9 (v) by adding at the end the following 

10 new subparagraph: 

11 ‘‘(J) information on how States use home 

12 and community-based services and other sup13 ports to ensure that individuals with autism 

14 spectrum disorder or other developmental dis15 abilities are living, working, and participating in 

16 the community.’’; and 

17 (2) by amending subsection (b) to read as fol18 lows: 

19 ‘‘(b) REPORT ON HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF IN20 DIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER.— 

21 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years 

22 after the date of enactment of the Autism CARES 

23 Act of 2019, the Secretary shall prepare and submit 

24 to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and 

25 Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on EnVerDate Sep 11 2014 00:53 Feb 20, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1058.IH H1058

pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
8 

•HR 1058 IH

1 ergy and Commerce of the House of Representatives 

2 a report concerning the health and well-being of in3 dividuals with autism spectrum disorder. 

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

5 paragraph (1) shall contain— 

6 ‘‘(A) demographic factors associated with 

7 the health and well-being of individuals with au8 tism spectrum disorder; 

9 ‘‘(B) an overview of policies and programs 

10 relevant to the health and well-being of individ11 uals with autism spectrum disorder, including 

12 an identification of existing Federal laws, regu13 lations, policies, research, and programs; 

14 ‘‘(C) proposals on establishing best prac15 tices guidelines to ensure interdisciplinary co16 ordination between all relevant service providers 

17 receiving Federal funding; 

18 ‘‘(D) comprehensive approaches to improv19 ing health outcomes and well-being for individ20 uals with autism spectrum disorder, including— 

21 ‘‘(i) community-based behavioral sup22 ports and interventions; 

23 ‘‘(ii) nutrition, recreational, and social 

24 activities; and 


pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
9 

•HR 1058 IH

1 ‘‘(iii) personal safety services for indi2 viduals with autism spectrum disorder re3 lated to public safety agencies or the crimi4 nal justice system; and 

5 ‘‘(E) recommendations that seek to im6 prove health outcomes for individuals with au7 tism spectrum disorder by addressing— 

8 ‘‘(i) screening and diagnosis of indi9 viduals of all ages; 

10 ‘‘(ii) behavioral and other therapeutic 

11 approaches; 

12 ‘‘(iii) primary and preventative care; 

13 ‘‘(iv) communication challenges; 

14 ‘‘(v) aggression, self-injury, elope15 ment, and other behavioral issues; 

16 ‘‘(vi) emergency room visits and acute 

17 care hospitalization; 

18 ‘‘(vii) treatment for co-occurring phys19 ical and mental health conditions; 

20 ‘‘(viii) premature mortality; 

21 ‘‘(ix) medical practitioner training; 

22 and 

23 ‘‘(x) caregiver mental health.’’. 


pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS
10 

•HR 1058 IH

1 SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

2 Section 399EE of the Public Health Service Act (42 

3 U.S.C. 280i–4) is amended— 

4 (1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘$22,000,000 

5 for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2019’’ and in6 serting ‘‘$23,100,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 

7 through 2024’’; 

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

9 for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2019’’ and in10 serting ‘‘$50,599,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 

11 through 2024’’; and 

12 (3) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘there is au13 thorized to be appropriated $190,000,000 for each 

14 of fiscal years 2015 through 2019’’ and inserting 

15 ‘‘there are authorized to be appropriated such sums 

16 as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2020 

17 through 2024’’. 

Æ 


pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS