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

To reauthorize certain provisions of the Public Health Service Act relating to autism, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support Act of 2014 Autism CARES Act of 2014 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) (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. 3. Research program Section 399AA of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 280i (1) in subsection (a)(1), by inserting for children and adults reporting of State epidemiological data (2) in subsection (b)(1)— (A) by striking establishment of regional centers of excellence establishment or support of regional centers of excellence (B) by inserting for children and adults (3) in subsection (b)(2), by striking center to be established center to be established or supported (4) in subsection (e), by striking 2014 2019 4. Autism intervention Section 399BB of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 280i–1 (1) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting culturally competent provide (2) in subsection (c)(2)(A)(ii), by inserting (which may include respite care for caregivers of individuals with an autism spectrum disorder) 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 for individual with 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 (5) in subsection (g), by striking 2014 2019 5. Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee Section 399CC of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 280i–2 (1) in subsection (b)— (A) in paragraph (1)— (i) by striking and annually update (ii) by striking intervention 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 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 (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 and 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, services, and support activities 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 heading and 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 (II) by adding at the end and (iii) in subparagraph (D)— (I) by inserting and the Department of Defense Department of Education (II) by striking at the end ; and (iv) by striking subparagraph (E); (B) in paragraph (2)— (i) in the paragraph heading, by striking Additional Non-Federal (ii) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking Not fewer than 6 members of the Committee, or 1/3 Not more than 1/2 1/3 (iii) in subparagraph (A), by striking one such member shall be an individual two such members shall be individuals (iv) in subparagraph (B), by striking one such member shall be a parent or legal guardian two such members shall be parents or legal guardians (v) in subparagraph (C), by striking one such member shall be a representative two such members shall be representatives (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 term. (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 2019 6. Reports Section 399DD of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 280i–3 (1) in the section heading, by striking Report 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 4 years after the date of enactment of the Autism CARES Act of 2014 (B) by inserting and the Secretary of Defense the Secretary of Education (C) by inserting , and make publicly available, including through posting on the Internet Web site of the Department of Health and Human Services, Representatives (6) in subsection (a)(2) (as so redesignated)— (A) in subparagraph (A), (as so redesignated), by striking Combating Autism Act of 2006 the Autism CARES Act of 2014 (B) in subparagraph (B) (as so redesignated), by striking particular provision of Combating Autism Act of 2006 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 4-year period beginning on the date of enactment of the Autism CARES Act of 2014 and, as appropriate, how this age varies across populations 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 4-year period beginning on the date of enactment of the Autism CARES Act of 2014 and, as appropriate, how this age varies across populations subgroups (F) in subparagraph (F) (as so redesignated), by inserting and, as appropriate, how this average time varies across populations subgroups disabilities (G) in subparagraph (G) (as so redesignated)— (i) by striking including by various subtypes, including by severity level as practicable, (ii) by striking child may child or other factors, such as demographic characteristics, may (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. ; 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) 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; (B) demographic characteristics of youth transitioning from school-based to community-based supports; (C) proposals on establishing best practices guidelines to ensure— (i) interdisciplinary coordination between all relevant services providers receiving Federal funding; (ii) coordination with transitioning youth and the family of such transitioning youth; and (iii) the inclusion of the transitioning youth’s Individualized Education Program 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 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 (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 relevant service providers 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. . 7. Authorization of appropriations Section 399EE of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 280i–4 (1) in subsection (a), by striking fiscal years 2012 through 2014 fiscal years 2015 through 2019 (2) in subsection (b), by striking fiscal years 2011 through 2014 fiscal years 2015 through 2019 (3) in subsection (c), by striking $161,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2011 through 2014 $190,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2019

Summary: 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.