I 

112TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2007 

To establish programs to provide services to individuals with autism and 

the families of such individuals, and to increase public education and 

awareness of autism, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MAY 26, 2011 

Mr. SMITH of New Jersey (for himself and Mr. DOYLE) introduced the 

following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

A BILL 

To establish programs to provide services to individuals with 

autism and the families of such individuals, and to increase public education and awareness of 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 Spectrum Dis5 orders Services Act of 2011’’. 


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1 SEC. 2. INTERAGENCY AUTISM COORDINATING COM2 MITTEE. 

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

4 U.S.C. 280i–2) is amended— 

5 (1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘within the 

6 Department of Health and Human Services’’ and in7 serting ‘‘of Federal agencies’’; 

8 (2) in subsection (b)— 

9 (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘and 

10 the families of such individuals’’ before the 

11 semicolon at the end; 

12 (B) in paragraph (2)— 

13 (i) by inserting ‘‘, evaluate, and as14 sess’’ after ‘‘monitor’’; and 

15 (ii) by inserting ‘‘and facilitate col16 laboration among Federal agencies regard17 ing such activities’’ before the semicolon at 

18 the end; 

19 (C) in paragraph (3), by inserting ‘‘and 

20 other appropriate Federal Government depart21 ment and agency heads’’ after ‘‘Secretary’’; 

22 (D) in paragraph (4), by inserting ‘‘and 

23 other appropriate Federal Government depart24 ment and agency heads’’ after ‘‘Secretary’’; 

25 (E) in paragraph (5), by inserting ‘‘and 

26 services and supports for individuals with auVerDate Mar 15 2010 00:42 Jun 02, 2011 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2007.IH H2007

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1 tism spectrum disorder and the families of such 

2 individuals’’ after ‘‘research’’; and 

3 (F) in paragraph (6), by striking ‘‘submit 

4 to the Congress’’ and inserting ‘‘submit to the 

5 President, who shall review and transmit to 

6 Congress,’’; 

7 (3) in subsection (c)— 

8 (A) in paragraph (1) in subparagraph (D), 

9 by inserting ‘‘, the Department of Defense, the 

10 National Council on Disability, the Department 

11 of Housing and Urban Development, the De12 partment of Justice, and the Department of 

13 Labor’’ before the semicolon at the end; 

14 (B) in paragraph (2)— 

15 (i) in the matter preceding subpara16 graph (A), by striking ‘‘fewer than 6 members of the Committee, or 1 17 ⁄3 of the total 

18 membership of the Committee, whichever 

is greater,’’ and inserting ‘‘less than 1 19 ⁄2 of 

20 the total membership of the Committee’’; 

21 (ii) in subparagraph (A), by striking 

22 ‘‘one such member shall be an individual’’ 

23 and inserting ‘‘2 such members shall be in24 dividuals’’; 

25 (iii) in subparagraph (B)— 


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1 (I) by striking ‘‘one such member 

2 shall be a parent or legal guardian’’ 

3 and inserting ‘‘2 such members shall 

4 be a parent or a legal guardian’’; and 

5 (II) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; 

6 (iv) in subparagraph (C)— 

7 (I) by striking ‘‘one such member 

8 shall be a representative’’ and insert9 ing ‘‘2 such members shall be rep10 resentatives’’; and 

11 (II) by striking the period at the 

12 end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 

13 (v) by adding at the end the following: 

14 ‘‘(D) at least 2 such members shall be cli15 nicians who treat individuals with autism spec16 trum disorder.’’; 

17 (4) in subsection (d) in paragraph (2), by in18 serting ‘‘, except that the term of any member ap19 pointed under subsection (c)(2)(C) shall expire if 

20 such member no longer represents the organization 

21 described in such subsection’’ after ‘‘additional 4 

22 year term’’; 

23 (5) in subsection (e), by striking the first sen24 tence and inserting ‘‘In carrying out its functions, 

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1 ferences. The Committee shall establish a sub2 committee on research on autism spectrum dis3 orders, a subcommittee on services and supports for 

4 individuals with autism spectrum disorders and the 

5 families of such individuals, and such other sub6 committees as the Committee determines appro7 priate. Such subcommittees shall vote separately on 

8 matters within their respective jurisdictions.’’; and 

9 (6) by adding at the end the following: 

10 ‘‘(f) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the date 

11 of enactment of the Autism Spectrum Disorders Services 

12 Act of 2011 and annually thereafter, the Comptroller Gen13 eral of the United States shall submit a report to Congress 

14 concerning the progress of the Federal Government in im15 plementing the strategic plan for autism spectrum dis16 order research and services and supports for individuals 

17 with autism spectrum disorder and the families of such 

18 individuals.’’. 

19 SEC. 3. SERVICES FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM SPEC20 TRUM DISORDERS. 

21 Part R of title III of the Public Health Service Act 

22 (42 U.S.C. 280i et seq.) is amended— 

23 (1) by redesignating section 399EE (relating to 

24 authorization of appropriaations) as section 399FF; 

25 and 


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1 (2) by inserting after section 399DD the fol2 lowing: 

3 ‘‘SEC. 399EE. PLANNING AND DEMONSTRATION GRANT FOR 

4 SERVICES FOR CHILDREN, TRANSITIONING 

5 YOUTH, AND ADULTS. 

6 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—To assist selected eligible enti7 ties in providing appropriate services to children, youth 

8 with autism spectrum disorders who are transitioning 

9 from secondary education to careers or postsecondary edu10 cation (referred to in this section as ‘transitioning youth’), 

11 adults with autism spectrum disorders, and individuals of 

12 any age with autism spectrum disorders who may be at 

13 risk due to behavioral and preventable environmental fac14 tors, such as wandering (referred to in this section as ‘in15 dividuals at risk’), the Secretary shall establish— 

16 ‘‘(1) a one-time, single-year planning grant pro17 gram for eligible entities; and 

18 ‘‘(2) a multiyear service provision demonstra19 tion grant program for selected eligible entities. 

20 ‘‘(b) PURPOSE OF GRANTS.—Grants shall be award21 ed to eligible entities to provide all or part of the funding 

22 needed to carry out programs that focus critical aspects 

23 of life for children, transitioning youth, and adults with 

24 autism spectrum disorders (including adults not eligible 


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1 for developmental disability services provided by a State), 

2 such as— 

3 ‘‘(1) postsecondary education, peer support, vo4 cational training, self-advocacy skills, and employ5 ment; 

6 ‘‘(2) community-based behavioral supports and 

7 interventions; 

8 ‘‘(3) residential services, housing, and transpor9 tation; 

10 ‘‘(4) nutrition, health and wellness, and rec11 reational and social activities; and 

12 ‘‘(5) personal safety for individuals at risk and 

13 the needs of individuals with autism spectrum dis14 orders who become involved with the criminal justice 

15 system. 

16 ‘‘(c) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—An eligible entity desiring 

17 to receive a grant under this section shall be a State or 

18 other public or private nonprofit organization, including 

19 a State Council on Developmental Disabilities, as defined 

20 in section 102 of the Developmental Disabilities Assist21 ance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000. 

22 ‘‘(d) PLANNING GRANTS.— 

23 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall award 

24 one-time grants to eligible entities to support the 

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1 pand and enhance service delivery systems for chil2 dren, individuals at risk, transitioning youth, and 

3 adults with autism spectrum disorders. 

4 ‘‘(2) APPLICATION.—In order to receive such a 

5 grant, an eligible entity shall— 

6 ‘‘(A) submit an application at such time 

7 and containing such information as the Sec8 retary may require; and 

9 ‘‘(B) demonstrate the ability to carry out 

10 such planning grant in coordination with the 

11 applicable State Council on Developmental Dis12 abilities and organizations representing or serv13 ing individuals with autism spectrum disorders 

14 and the families of such individuals. 

15 ‘‘(e) IMPLEMENTATION GRANTS.— 

16 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall award 

17 grants to eligible entities that have received a plan18 ning grant under subsection (d) to enable such enti19 ties to provide appropriate services to children, indi20 viduals at risk, transitioning youth, and adults with 

21 autism spectrum disorders. 

22 ‘‘(2) APPLICATION.—In order to receive a grant 

23 under paragraph (1), the eligible entity shall submit 

24 an application at such time and containing such in25 formation as the Secretary may require, including— 


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1 ‘‘(A) the services that the eligible entity 

2 proposes to provide and the expected outcomes 

3 for the individuals who receive such services; 

4 ‘‘(B) the number of individuals who will be 

5 served by such grant, including an estimate of 

6 the individuals in underserved areas who will be 

7 served by such grant; 

8 ‘‘(C) the ways in which services will be co9 ordinated among both public and nonprofit pro10 viders of services for children, transitioning 

11 youth, and adults with disabilities, including 

12 community-based services; 

13 ‘‘(D) where applicable, the process through 

14 which the eligible entity will distribute funds to 

15 a range of community-based or nonprofit pro16 viders of services, including local governments, 

17 and the capacity of such entity to provide such 

18 services; 

19 ‘‘(E) the process through which the eligible 

20 entity will monitor and evaluate the outcome of 

21 activities funded through the grant, including 

22 the effect of the activities upon individuals who 

23 receive such services; 


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1 ‘‘(F) where applicable, the plans of the eli2 gible entity to coordinate and streamline transi3 tions from youth to adult services; 

4 ‘‘(G) the process by which the eligible enti5 ty will ensure compliance with the integration 

6 requirement under section 302 of the Ameri7 cans With Disabilities Act of 1990; and 

8 ‘‘(H) a description of how such services 

9 may be sustained following the grant period. 

10 ‘‘(f) EVALUATION.—The Secretary shall contract 

11 with a third-party organization with expertise in evalua12 tion to evaluate such demonstration grant program and, 

13 not later than 180 days after the conclusion of the grant 

14 program under subsection (e), submit a report to the Sec15 retary. The evaluation and report may include an analysis 

16 of whether and to what extent the services provided 

17 through the grant program described in this section re18 sulted in improved safety, health, education, employment, 

19 and community integration outcomes or other measures, 

20 as the Secretary determines appropriate. 

21 ‘‘(g) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.—Of the amounts 

22 appropriated to carry out this section, the Secretary shall 

23 set aside not more than 7 percent for administrative ex24 penses, including the expenses related to carrying out the 

25 evaluation described in subsection (f). 


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1 ‘‘(h) SUPPLEMENT, NOT SUPPLANT.—Demonstra2 tion grant funds provided under this section shall supple3 ment, not supplant, existing treatments, interventions, 

4 and services for individuals with autism spectrum dis5 orders. 

6 ‘‘SEC. 399EE–1. NATIONAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER 

7 FOR AUTISM TREATMENTS, INTERVENTIONS, 

8 AND SERVICES. 

9 ‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL TECHNICAL AS10 SISTANCE CENTER FOR AUTISM TREATMENTS, INTER11 VENTIONS, AND SERVICES.—The Secretary shall award a 

12 grant to a national nonprofit organization for the estab13 lishment and maintenance of a national technical assist14 ance center. 

15 ‘‘(b) ELIGIBILITY.—An organization shall be eligible 

16 to receive a grant under subsection (a) if the organiza17 tion— 

18 ‘‘(1) has demonstrated knowledge and expertise 

19 in serving children with autism and adults with au20 tism and the families of such individuals; 

21 ‘‘(2) has demonstrated knowledge of how to 

22 translate research to practice, and present informa23 tion in a way that is easily accessible and under24 standable to the family members of individuals with 

25 autism; 


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1 ‘‘(3) has demonstrated capacity of training edu2 cators, health care providers, family members, and 

3 others to support the needs of individuals with au4 tism; 

5 ‘‘(4) has demonstrated capacity of dissemi6 nating information throughout the United States; 

7 and 

8 ‘‘(5) has demonstrated capacity to establish and 

9 maintain a Web site through which to disseminate 

10 information in an easily accessible manner. 

11 ‘‘(c) USE OF FUNDS.—The national technical assist12 ance center established under this section shall— 

13 ‘‘(1) gather and disseminate information on evi14 dence-based treatments, interventions, and services 

15 for children with autism and adults with autism, in16 cluding best practices in delivering such treatments, 

17 interventions, and services, and make this informa18 tion available to State agencies with responsibilities 

19 under section 399BB(c)(2), local communities, and 

20 individuals; 

21 ‘‘(2) gather and disseminate information on ac22 tivities of the Interagency Autism Coordinating 

23 Committee established under section 399CC; 


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1 ‘‘(3) provide analysis of activities funded under 

2 the Autism Spectrum Disorders Services Act of 

3 2011, including— 

4 ‘‘(A) the effectiveness of State and commu5 nity-based models for delivering comprehensive 

6 services to individuals with autism; 

7 ‘‘(B) identification and dissemination of 

8 best practices emerging from States, commu9 nity-based organizations, nonprofit providers, 

10 and local governments receiving demonstration 

11 grants under this subpart; 

12 ‘‘(C) the State-by-State availability of, and 

13 gaps in, services for individuals with autism 

14 spectrum disorders, including information on 

15 services or service gaps in rural areas; and 

16 ‘‘(D) levels of funding and funding sources 

17 of services for individuals with autism spectrum 

18 disorders in States; 

19 ‘‘(4) provide technical assistance to States and 

20 organizations funded under this part; 

21 ‘‘(5) gather and disseminate information about 

22 autism spectrum disorders; 

23 ‘‘(6) establish and maintain a Web site through 

24 which to disseminate the information gathered under 

25 this section in an easily accessible manner; 


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1 ‘‘(7) establish partnerships with advocacy orga2 nizations to disseminate accurate information on 

3 education, service-provision, and support options and 

4 provide assistance in navigating service-provision 

5 systems; and 

6 ‘‘(8) gather and disseminate other information 

7 as determined appropriate by the Secretary.’’. 

8 SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

9 Section 399FF of the Public Health Service Act (42 

10 U.S.C. 240i–4), as redesignated by section 3(1), is amend11 ed by adding at the end the following: 

12 ‘‘(d) PLANNING AND DEMONSTRATION GRANT FOR

13 SERVICES FOR CHILDREN, TRANSITIONING YOUTH, AND

14 ADULTS.—To carry out section 399EE, there are author15 ized to be appropriated the following: 

16 ‘‘(1) For fiscal year 2012, $80,000,000. 

17 ‘‘(2) For fiscal year 2013, $90,000.000. 

18 ‘‘(3) For fiscal year 2014, $100,000,000. 

19 ‘‘(4) For fiscal year 2015, $110,000,000. 

20 ‘‘(5) For fiscal year 2016, $120,000,000. 

21 ‘‘(e) NATIONAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER

22 FOR AUTISM TREATMENTS, INTERVENTIONS, AND SERV23 ICES.—To carry out section 399EE–1, there are author24 ized to be appropriated the following: 

25 ‘‘(1) For fiscal year 2012, $2,000,000. 


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1 ‘‘(2) For fiscal year 2013, $2,100,000. 

2 ‘‘(3) For fiscal year 2014, $2,200,000. 

3 ‘‘(4) For fiscal year 2015, $2,300,000. 

4 ‘‘(5) For fiscal year 2016, $2,400,000.’’. 

5 SEC. 5. GAO STUDY ON SERVICE PROVISION AND FINANC6 ING. 

7 Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment 

8 of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States 

9 shall release a report that examines the following issues: 

10 (1) The ways in which autism services and 

11 treatments are currently financed in the United 

12 States. 

13 (2) Current policies for public and private 

14 health insurance coverage of autism treatments, 

15 interventions, and services. 

16 (3) Geographic and regional disparities in provi17 sion of services across the lifespan of individuals 

18 with autism, levels of community-based versus insti19 tutional services, and coverage for such services. 

20 (4) Ways in which to improve financing of au21 tism treatments, interventions, and services, so as to 

22 ensure a minimum level of coverage across the 

23 United States. 

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1 ticularly on the needs of adults not eligible for devel2 opmental disability services provided by the State. 

3 (6) Areas of need to improve the quality of 

4 services available to individuals on the autism spec5 trum in cross-disability contexts, such as vocational 

6 rehabilitation and centers for independent living. 

7 (7) Findings from replicable studies that indi8 cate an increased risk of mortality for individuals 

9 with autism due to preventable circumstances such 

10 as wandering, exposure, drowning, and untreated 

11 seizure disorders. 

12 SEC. 6. EMERGING NEEDS PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY 

13 PROGRAM FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH AUTISM 

14 SPECTRUM DISORDERS. 

15 (a) INITIATIVES ON AUTISM SPECTRUM DIS16 ORDERS.—Title I of the Developmental Disabilities Assist17 ance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 15001 

18 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: 

19 ‘‘Subpart F—Initiatives on Autism Spectrum 

20 Disorders 

21 ‘‘SEC. 171. EMERGING NEEDS PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY 

22 PROGRAM. 

23 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall make grants 

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1 bling such systems to address the needs of individuals with 

2 autism spectrum disorders. 

3 ‘‘(b) SERVICES PROVIDED.—Services provided under 

4 this section may include the provision of— 

5 ‘‘(1) information, referrals, and advice; 

6 ‘‘(2) individual and family advocacy; 

7 ‘‘(3) legal representation; 

8 ‘‘(4) specific assistance in self-advocacy and as9 sistance in capacity building for organizations that 

10 advocate on behalf of individuals with autism spec11 trum disorder; or 

12 ‘‘(5) training to individuals with autism spec13 trum disorders, the families of such individuals, or 

14 advocates for individuals with autism spectrum dis15 orders. 

16 ‘‘(c) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to receive a grant 

17 under this section, a protection and advocacy system 

18 shall— 

19 ‘‘(1) have the right and authority to investigate 

20 incidents of abuse and neglect of youth and adults 

21 with autism spectrum disorders if the incidents are 

22 reported to the protection and advocacy system or if 

23 there is probable cause to believe that the incidents 

24 occurred; 


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1 ‘‘(2) have the right and authority to pursue ad2 ministrative, legal, and other appropriate remedies 

3 and approaches to ensure the protection of youth 

4 and adults with autism spectrum disorders; and 

5 ‘‘(3) have the rights and authorities, including 

6 access authority, described in section 143 of this Act 

7 and section 105 of the Protection and Advocacy for 

8 Individuals with Mental Illness Act. 

9 ‘‘(d) GRANT AMOUNTS.—The Secretary shall make 

10 grants under this section during each fiscal year beginning 

11 on October 1 to protection and advocacy systems as fol12 lows: 

13 ‘‘(1) APPROPRIATIONS LESS THAN $6,700,000.— 

14 With respect to any fiscal year for which the amount 

15 appropriated under subsection (i) is less than 

16 $6,700,000, the Secretary shall make grants from 

17 such amount to protection and advocacy systems 

18 that apply for a grant under this section in the 

19 amounts described in paragraph (3). 

20 ‘‘(2) APPROPRIATIONS OF $6,700,000 OR

21 MORE.— 

22 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—With respect to any 

23 fiscal year for which the amount appropriated 

24 under subsection (i) is $6,700,000 or more, the 

25 Secretary shall make grants from such amount 


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1 to protection and advocacy systems under this 

2 section in accordance with subparagraph (B). 

3 ‘‘(B) AMOUNT OF GRANT.—Subject to 

4 paragraph (3), the amount of a grant to a pro5 tection and advocacy system under subpara6 graph (A) shall be equal to an amount bearing 

7 the same ratio to the total amount appropriated 

8 for the fiscal year involved as the population of 

9 the State, Territory, or Consortium in which 

10 the grantee is located bears to the cumulative 

11 population of all States, Territories, and the 

12 Consortium that receive such grants. 

13 ‘‘(3) MINIMUM AMOUNTS.— 

14 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The amount of a 

15 grant under this section shall not be less 

16 than— 

17 ‘‘(i) in the case of a protection and 

18 advocacy system located in a State, 

19 $120,000; and 

20 ‘‘(ii) in the case of a protection and 

21 advocacy system located in a Territory or 

22 Consortium, $60,000. 

23 ‘‘(B) ADJUSTMENTS TO MINIMUM

24 AMOUNTS.— 


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1 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—In the case of a 

2 fiscal year (referred to in this subpara3 graph as the ‘current fiscal year’) in which 

4 the total amount appropriated under sub5 section (i) is $10,000,000 or more, and 

6 such amount appropriated exceeds the 

7 total amount appropriated under such sub8 section for the preceding fiscal year, the 

9 Secretary shall increase the minimum 

10 grant amounts under subparagraph (A) by 

11 a percentage equal to the percentage by 

12 which the total amount appropriated for 

13 the current fiscal year exceeds the amount 

14 appropriated for the previous fiscal year. 

15 ‘‘(ii) EXCEPTION.—Clause (i) shall 

16 not apply in the case that the total amount 

17 appropriated for the current fiscal year is 

18 less than the amount appropriated for any 

19 fiscal year in the period between the date 

20 of enactment of the Combating Autism Re21 authorization Act of 2011 and such cur22 rent fiscal year. 

23 ‘‘(C) APPLICABILITY OF ADJUSTMENTS.— 

24 An increase in the minimum grant amounts 


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1 under subparagraph (B) shall be effective for 

2 each subsequent fiscal year. 

3 ‘‘(4) LOWER APPROPRIATION YEARS.—In the 

4 case of a fiscal year for which the amount appro5 priated under subsection (i) is insufficient to satisfy 

6 the requirements of paragraph (3) for each protec7 tion and advocacy system that applies for a grant 

8 under this section, the Secretary shall award grants 

9 in the amounts described in paragraph (3) to as 

10 many protection and advocacy systems as the 

11 amount appropriated allows. 

12 ‘‘(5) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this sub13 section and subsection (e): 

14 ‘‘(A) CONSORTIUM.—The term ‘Consor15 tium’ means an American Indian Consortium, 

16 as defined in section 102(1). 

17 ‘‘(B) STATE.—The term ‘State’ means 

18 each of the 50 States of the United States, the 

19 District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of 

20 Puerto Rico. 

21 ‘‘(C) TERRITORY.—The term ‘Territory’ 

22 means American Samoa, the Commonwealth of 

23 the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and the 

24 United States Virgin Islands. 


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1 ‘‘(e) CARRYOVER.—Any amount paid to a protection 

2 and advocacy system that serves a Consortium, State, or 

3 Territory for a fiscal year under this section that remains 

4 unobligated at the end of such fiscal year shall remain 

5 available to such system for obligation during the next fis6 cal year for the purposes for which such amount was origi7 nally provided. 

8 ‘‘(f) DIRECT PAYMENT.—Notwithstanding any other 

9 provision of law, the Secretary shall pay directly to any 

10 protection and advocacy system that complies with the 

11 provisions of this section, the total amount of the grant 

12 for such system, unless the system provides otherwise for 

13 such payment. 

14 ‘‘(g) ADMINISTRATIVE, REPORTING, AND OVERSIGHT

15 REQUIREMENTS.—To the extent practicable, reporting, 

16 monitoring, program financing, and other administrative 

17 and oversight requirements established by the Secretary 

18 under this section shall be consistent with the other ad19 ministrative, reporting, and oversight requirements for a 

20 protection and advocacy system. 

21 ‘‘(h) ANNUAL REPORT.—Each protection and advo22 cacy system that receives a payment under this section 

23 shall submit an annual report to the Secretary concerning 

24 the services provided to individuals with autism spectrum 

25 disorders by such system. 


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1 ‘‘(i) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—To 

2 carry out this section, there are authorized to be appro3 priated the following: 

4 ‘‘(1) For fiscal year 2012, $8,000,000. 

5 ‘‘(2) For fiscal year 2013, $9,000,000. 

6 ‘‘(3) For fiscal year 2014, $10,000,000. 

7 ‘‘(4) For fiscal year 2015, $11,000,000. 

8 ‘‘(5) For fiscal year 2016, $12,000,000. 

9 ‘‘(j) DEFINITION.—In this section, the term ‘protec10 tion and advocacy system’ means a protection and advo11 cacy system established under section 143. 

12 ‘‘(k) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.— 

13 ‘‘(1) APPROPRIATIONS OF LESS THAN

14 $6,750,000.—For a fiscal year for which the amount 

15 appropriated to carry out this section is less than 

16 $6,750,000, the Secretary shall set aside the greater 

17 of— 

18 ‘‘(A) 1 percent of the funds appropriated; 

19 or 

20 ‘‘(B) $25,000, to make a grant to a na21 tional organization with experience in providing 

22 training and technical assistance to protection 

23 and advocacy systems to provide such training 

24 and technical assistance. 


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1 ‘‘(2) APPROPRIATIONS OF NOT LESS THAN

2 $6,750,000.—For a fiscal year for which the amount 

3 appropriated to carry out this section is not less 

4 than $6,750,000, the Secretary shall set aside 2 per5 cent of the funds appropriated to make a grant to 

6 a national organization with experience in providing 

7 training and technical assistance to protection and 

8 advocacy systems to provide such training and tech9 nical assistance. 

10 ‘‘SEC. 172. NATIONAL TRAINING INITIATIVE. 

11 ‘‘(a) GRANTS AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.— 

12 ‘‘(1) GRANTS.— 

13 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, in con14 sultation with the Interagency Autism Coordi15 nating Committee established under section 

16 399CC of the Public Health Service Act, shall 

17 award multiyear grants to eligible entities to 

18 provide individuals with interdisciplinary train19 ing, continuing education, technical assistance, 

20 and information for the purpose of improving 

21 services rendered to individuals with autism 

22 spectrum disorders and the families of such in23 dividuals, to address unmet needs related to au24 tism spectrum disorders. 


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1 ‘‘(B) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—To be eligible to 

2 receive a grant under this subsection, an entity 

3 shall be— 

4 ‘‘(i) a University Center for Excel5 lence in Developmental Disabilities Edu6 cation, Research, and Service; or 

7 ‘‘(ii) a comparable interdisciplinary 

8 education, research, and service entity. 

9 ‘‘(C) APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS.—An 

10 entity that desires to receive a grant for a pro11 gram under this subsection shall submit to the 

12 Secretary an application— 

13 ‘‘(i) demonstrating that the entity has 

14 capacity to— 

15 ‘‘(I) provide training and tech16 nical assistance in evidence-based 

17 practices to evaluate, and provide ef18 fective interventions, services, treat19 ments, and supports to individuals 

20 with autism spectrum disorders and 

21 the families of such individuals; and 

22 ‘‘(II) establish a consumer advi23 sory committee that includes individ24 uals with autism spectrum disorder 


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1 and family members of individuals 

2 with autism spectrum disorder; 

3 ‘‘(ii) providing assurances that the en4 tity will— 

5 ‘‘(I) provide trainees under this 

6 subsection with an appropriate bal7 ance of interdisciplinary academic and 

8 community-based experiences; and 

9 ‘‘(II) provide to the Secretary, in 

10 the manner prescribed by the Sec11 retary, data regarding the number of 

12 individuals who have benefitted from, 

13 and outcomes of, the provision of 

14 training and technical assistance 

15 under this subsection; 

16 ‘‘(iii) providing assurances that train17 ing, technical assistance, dissemination of 

18 information, and services under this sub19 section will be— 

20 ‘‘(I) consistent with the goals of 

21 this Act, the Americans with Disabil22 ities Act of 1990, the Individuals with 

23 Disabilities Education Act, and the 

24 Elementary and Secondary Education 

25 Act of 1965; and 


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1 ‘‘(II) conducted in coordination 

2 with relevant State agencies, institu3 tions of higher education, and service 

4 providers; and 

5 ‘‘(iv) containing such other informa6 tion and assurances as the Secretary may 

7 require. 

8 ‘‘(D) USE OF FUNDS.—A grant received 

9 under this subsection shall be used to provide 

10 individuals (including parents and health, allied 

11 health, vocational, and educational profes12 sionals) with interdisciplinary training, con13 tinuing education, technical assistance, and in14 formation for the purpose of improving services 

15 rendered to individuals with autism spectrum 

16 disorders and the families of such individuals, 

17 to address unmet needs related to autism spec18 trum disorders. Such training, education, as19 sistance, and information shall include each of 

20 the following: 

21 ‘‘(i) Training health, allied health, vo22 cational, and educational professionals to 

23 identify, evaluate the needs of, and develop 

24 interventions, services, treatments, and 

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1 ty, and employment-related supports) for 

2 individuals with autism spectrum dis3 orders. 

4 ‘‘(ii) Developing, demonstrating, and 

5 disseminating a standard curriculum for 

6 the training of first responders, including 

7 police, firefighters, emergency medical 

8 technicians, and other law enforcement and 

9 public safety officers. 

10 ‘‘(iii) Training direct service profes11 sionals to provide housing and employment 

12 related supports. 

13 ‘‘(iv) Developing model services and 

14 supports that demonstrate evidence-based 

15 practices. 

16 ‘‘(v) Developing systems and products 

17 that allow for the interventions, services, 

18 treatments, and supports to be evaluated 

19 for fidelity of implementation. 

20 ‘‘(vi) Working to expand the avail21 ability of evidence-based, lifelong interven22 tions; educational, employment, and transi23 tion services; and community supports. 

24 ‘‘(vii) Providing statewide technical 

25 assistance in collaboration with relevant 


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1 State agencies, institutions of higher edu2 cation, advocacy organizations, family 

3 groups, and community-based service pro4 viders. 

5 ‘‘(viii) Working to develop comprehen6 sive systems of supports and services for 

7 individuals with autism spectrum disorders 

8 and the families of such individuals, in9 cluding seamless transitions between edu10 cation and health systems across the life11 span. 

12 ‘‘(ix) Promoting training, technical as13 sistance, dissemination of information, 

14 supports, and services. 

15 ‘‘(x) Developing mechanisms to pro16 vide training and technical assistance, in17 cluding for-credit courses, intensive sum18 mer institutes, continuing education pro19 grams, distance-based programs, and 

20 Internet Web site-based information dis21 semination strategies. 

22 ‘‘(xi) Promoting activities that sup23 port community-based family and indi24 vidual services and enable individuals with 

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1 pate in society and achieve good quality-of2 life outcomes. 

3 ‘‘(xii) Collecting data on the outcomes 

4 of training and technical assistance pro5 grams to meet statewide needs for the ex6 pansion of services to individuals with au7 tism spectrum disorders. 

8 ‘‘(E) AMOUNT OF GRANTS.—The amount 

9 of a grant to any entity for a fiscal year under 

10 this paragraph shall be not less than $250,000. 

11 ‘‘(2) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Secretary 

12 shall reserve 2 percent of the amount appropriated 

13 to carry out this subsection for a fiscal year to make 

14 a grant to a national organization with dem15 onstrated capacity for providing training and tech16 nical assistance to— 

17 ‘‘(A) assist in national dissemination of 

18 specific information, including evidence-based 

19 best practices, from interdisciplinary training 

20 programs, and when appropriate, other entities 

21 whose findings would inform the work per22 formed by entities awarded grants; 

23 ‘‘(B) compile and disseminate strategies 

24 and materials that prove to be effective in the 

25 provision of training and technical assistance so 


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1 that the entire network can benefit from the 

2 models, materials, and practices developed in 

3 individual centers; 

4 ‘‘(C) assist in the coordination of activities 

5 of grantees under this subsection; 

6 ‘‘(D) develop an Internet portal that will 

7 provide linkages to each of the individual train8 ing initiatives and provide access to training 

9 modules, promising training, and technical as10 sistance practices and other materials developed 

11 by grantees; 

12 ‘‘(E) serve as a research-based resource for 

13 Federal and State policymakers on information 

14 concerning the provision of training and tech15 nical assistance for the assessment, and provi16 sion of supports and services for, individuals 

17 with autism spectrum disorders; 

18 ‘‘(F) partner with Federal, State, and local 

19 advocacy organizations to ensure effective dis20 semination of research findings to individuals 

21 on the autism spectrum; 

22 ‘‘(G) convene experts from multiple inter23 disciplinary training programs, individuals with 

24 autism spectrum disorders, and the families of 

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1 ommendations with regard to training issues re2 lated to assessment, interventions, services, 

3 treatment, and supports for individuals with au4 tism spectrum disorders; and 

5 ‘‘(H) undertake any other functions that 

6 the Secretary determines to be appropriate. 

7 ‘‘(3) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 

8 To carry out this subsection, there are authorized to 

9 be appropriated the following: 

10 ‘‘(A) For fiscal year 2012, $20,000,000. 

11 ‘‘(B) For fiscal year 2013, $22,000,000. 

12 ‘‘(C) For fiscal year 2014, $24,000,000. 

13 ‘‘(D) For fiscal year 2015, $26,000,000. 

14 ‘‘(E) For fiscal year 2016, $28,000,000. 

15 ‘‘(b) EXPANSION OF THE NUMBER OF UNIVERSITY

16 CENTERS FOR EXCELLENCE IN DEVELOPMENTAL DIS17 ABILITIES EDUCATION, RESEARCH, AND SERVICE.— 

18 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—To provide for the estab19 lishment of up to 4 new University Centers for Ex20 cellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, 

21 Research, and Service, the Secretary shall award up 

22 to 4 grants to institutions of higher education in ac23 cordance with the requirements of this subtitle. 

24 ‘‘(2) APPLICABLE PROVISIONS.—Except for 

25 subsection (a)(3), the provisions of subsection (a) 


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1 shall apply with respect to grants under this sub2 section to the same extent and in the same manner 

3 as such provisions apply with respect to grants 

4 under subsection (a). 

5 ‘‘(3) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under this 

6 section, the Secretary shall give priority to appli7 cants that— 

8 ‘‘(A) are minority institutions that have 

9 demonstrated capacity to meet the requirements 

10 of this section and provide services to individ11 uals with autism spectrum disorders and the 

12 families of such individuals; or 

13 ‘‘(B) are located in a State with one or 

14 more unserved or underserved populations. 

15 ‘‘(4) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 

16 To carry out this section, there are authorized to be 

17 appropriated the following: 

18 ‘‘(A) For fiscal year 2012, $2,000,000. 

19 ‘‘(B) For fiscal year 2013, $2,200,000. 

20 ‘‘(C) For fiscal year 2014, $2,400,000. 

21 ‘‘(D) For fiscal year 2015, $2,600,000. 

22 ‘‘(E) For fiscal year 2016, $2,800,000. 

23 ‘‘(5) DEFINITION.—In this subsection: 


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1 ‘‘(A) The term ‘minority institution’ has 

2 the meaning given such term in section 365 of 

3 the Higher Education Act of 1965. 

4 ‘‘(B) The term ‘University Center for Ex5 cellence in Developmental Disabilities Edu6 cation, Research, and Service’ means a Univer7 sity Center for Excellence in Developmental 

8 Disabilities Education, Research, and Service 

9 that has been or is funded through subtitle D 

10 or this subsection.’’. 

11 SEC. 7. REPORT TO CONGRESS. 

12 Not later than January 1, 2013, and each January 

13 1 thereafter, the Secretary of Health and Human Services 

14 shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress 

15 a report concerning the implementation of this Act, includ16 ing the amendments made by this Act. 

Æ 


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