To require the President to call a White House Conference on Autism.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``White House Conference on Autism Act 
of 2009''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    The Congress finds the following:
            (1) Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are the fastest-growing 
        serious developmental disability in the U.S. occurring in all 
        racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups.
            (2) According to the Centers for Disease Control and 
        Prevention's Autism and Disabilities Monitoring Network the 
        rate of Autism in the United States has exploded from an 
        estimated 1 in 10,000 during the 1980s to a the current rate of 
        1 in 150 demonstrating that the United States is facing an 
        literal epidemic of autism.
            (3) The epidemic shows no sign of slowing as a new case of 
        autism is diagnosed almost every 20 minutes.
            (4) More children will be diagnosed with autism this year 
        than with AIDS, diabetes, and cancer combined.
            (5) Autism costs the Nation over $35,000,000,000 per year, 
        a figure expected to significantly increase in the next decade.
            (6) Autism is a life changing condition not a life 
        threatening condition. Our Nation's educational, labor, housing 
        and medical communities are ill-equipped and undertrained to 
        handle a generation of autism individuals.
            (7) In the long-term, this autism epidemic could 
        potentially deprive our Nation of a huge pool of future 
        military, industrial, medical, and scientific talent.
            (8) Although autism spectrum disorders are an urgent 
        societal concern and comprehensive research is the best hope 
        for understanding the causes of autism and other developmental 
        disorders, autism receives less than 5 percent of the Federal 
        research funding of many less prevalent childhood diseases.
            (9) In December 2006, Congress passed and President Bush 
        signed into law the ``Combating Autism Act of 2006,'' which 
        committed nearly $1,000,000,000 to autism research, including 
        essential research on environmental factors, treatments, and 
        early identification and support services.
            (10) A White House Conference on Autism presents an 
        historic opportunity to build on the foundation of the 
        Combating Autism Act to advance the scientific study and 
        analysis of many promising cutting-edge treatments and services 
        for autism.

SEC. 3. AUTHORIZATION OF THE CONFERENCE.

    (a) Authority To Call Conference.--Not later than December 31, 
2010, the President shall call the White House Conference on Autism (in 
this Act referred to as the ``Conference'') to be convened not later 
than 18 months after the selection of the Policy Committee established 
in section 4, in order to make fundamental policy recommendations on 
ways to combat the autism epidemic in the United States and to 
implement the purposes set forth in subsection (c).
    (b) Planning and Direction.--The Secretary of Health and Human 
Services, the Secretary of Education, and the Secretary of Housing and 
Urban Development (in this Act referred to as the ``Cochairs'') shall 
plan, conduct, and convene the Conference, in consultation with the 
Surgeon General.
    (c) Purposes of the Conference.--The purposes of the Conference are 
to--
            (1) galvanize a national effort to find the underlying 
        cause or causes of autism;
            (2) identify viable solutions and valuable services to help 
        autistic individuals and families of autistic individuals meet 
        the challenges they face on a daily basis;
            (3) bring together the best scientific minds to chart a 
        comprehensive research agenda, including the exploration of 
        potential environmental triggers or contributors;
            (4) bring together parents of autistic children and leaders 
        in the field of education and social services to begin a 
        national dialogue about addressing the life-long challenges 
        faced by these children and their families;
            (5) highlight emerging and innovative programs from the 
        public and private sectors, including community-based and 
        faith-based organizations that effectively serve the needs of 
        autistic children and adults and recommend such programs as can 
        be reasonably and cost-effectively replicated; and
            (6) review the current structure, scope, and effectiveness 
        of existing legislation and programs at the Federal, State, and 
        local levels that provide autism research services; and to 
        develop such specific and comprehensive recommendations for 
        legislative action as may be appropriate for improving those 
        bills and programs with the aim of enhancing the health, 
        quality of life and well-being of autistic individuals and 
        their families.

SEC. 4. POLICY COMMITTEE; RELATED COMMITTEES.

    (a) Establishment.--Not later than June 30, 2009, there is 
established a Policy Committee comprising of 17 members to be selected 
as follows:
            (1) Presidential appointees.--Nine members shall be 
        selected by the President and shall include--
                    (A) 3 members who are officers or employees of the 
                United States, including the Surgeon General; and
                    (B) 6 members with experience in addressing the 
                needs of people with autism spectrum disorders in the 
                United States.
            (2) House appointees.--
                    (A) Two members shall be selected by the Speaker of 
                the House of Representatives after consultation with 
                the chairperson of the Committee on Education and 
                Labor, and the chairperson of the Committee on Energy 
                and Commerce, of the House of Representatives.
                    (B) Two members shall be selected by the minority 
                leader of the House of Representatives, after 
                consultation with the ranking minority members of such 
                committees.
            (3) Senate appointees.--
                    (A) Two members shall be selected by the majority 
                leader of the Senate, after consultation with members 
                of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and 
                Pensions, and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and 
                Urban Affairs of the Senate.
                    (B) Two members shall be selected by the minority 
                leader of the Senate, after consultation with members 
                of such committees.
    (b) Special Qualifications.--Of the members of the Policy Committee 
appointed under paragraph (a)(1)(B), (a)(2), and (a)(3), 50 percent 
must be drawn from private industry, the nonprofit sector, or academia, 
of whom--
            (1) at least 1 shall be a parent or legal guardian of 
        individuals with autism or other pervasive developmental 
        disorders;
            (2) at least 1 other shall be knowledgeable about autism 
        intervention programs and systems, including complementary and 
        alternative therapies;
            (3) at least 1 other shall be knowledgeable about programs 
        specifically designed to meet the unique educational needs of 
        children and adults with autism;
            (4) at least 1 other shall be knowledgeable about programs 
        specifically designed to meet the unique housing needs of 
        children and adults with autism;
            (5) at least 1 other shall be knowledgeable about programs 
        specifically designed to train and educate law enforcement and 
        criminal justice officials to respond to the unique needs of 
        children and adults with autism; and
            (6) at least 1 other shall be knowledgeable about 
        environmental or toxic exposure of adults and children as it 
        relates to the development of autism.
    (c) Voting; Chairperson.--
            (1) Voting.--The Policy Committee shall act by the vote of 
        a majority of the members present. A quorum of Committee 
        members shall be required to conduct Committee business.
            (2) Chairperson.--The Surgeon General shall serve as the 
        chairperson of the Policy Committee. The chairperson may vote 
        only to break a tie vote of the other members of the Policy 
        Committee.
    (d) Duties of the Policy Committee.--The Policy Committee shall 
initially meet at the call of the Cochairs, not later than 30 days 
after the last member is selected under subsection (a). Subsequent 
meetings of the Policy Committee shall be held at the call of the 
chairperson. Through meetings, hearings, and working sessions, the 
Policy Committee shall--
            (1) make recommendations to the Cochairs to facilitate the 
        timely convening of the Conference;
            (2) submit to the Cochairs a proposed agenda for the 
        Conference not later than 90 days after the first meeting of 
        the Policy Committee;
            (3) make recommendations for the delegates of the 
        Conference;
            (4) establish the number of delegates to be selected under 
        section 5; and
            (5) establish an executive committee consisting of 3 
        members of the Policy Committee to work with delegates of the 
        Conference.

SEC. 5. CONFERENCE DELEGATES.

    To carry out the purposes of the Conference, the Cochairs shall 
bring together delegates representative of the spectrum of thought in 
the field of autism and neurodevelopmental disorders, without regard to 
political affiliation or past partisan activity, who shall include--
            (1) representatives of Federal, State, and local 
        governments;
            (2) professional people and laypeople who are working in 
        the field of autism and neurodevelopmental disorders; and
            (3) representatives of the general public who are affected 
        by autism spectrum disorders in the United States.

SEC. 6. CONFERENCE ADMINISTRATION.

    (a) Administration.--In administering this section, the Cochairs 
shall--
            (1) provide written notice to all members of the Policy 
        Committee of each meeting, hearing, or working session of such 
        Committee not later than 48 hours before the occurrence of such 
        meeting, hearing, or working session;
            (2) request the cooperation and assistance of the heads of 
        such other Federal departments and agencies as may be 
        appropriate, including the detailing of personnel;
            (3) make available for public comment a proposed agenda 
        prepared by the Policy Committee, which will reflect to the 
        greatest extent possible the major issues facing the field of 
        autism consistent with the purposes of the Conference set forth 
        in section 3(c);
            (4) prepare and make available background materials that 
        the Cochairs deem necessary for the use of delegates to the 
        Conference; and
            (5) employ such additional personnel as may be necessary to 
        carry out the provisions of this Act without regard to 
        provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing 
        appointments in the competitive service, and without regard to 
        chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of such title 
        relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates.
    (b) Duties.--In carrying out the Cochairs's responsibilities and 
functions under this section, the Cochairs shall ensure that--
            (1) the proposed agenda prepared under subsection (a)(3) is 
        published in the Federal Register not later than 30 days after 
        such agenda is approved by the Policy Committee;
            (2) the personnel employed under subsection (a)(5) are 
        fairly balanced in terms of points of views represented and are 
        appointed without regard to political affiliation or previous 
        partisan activities;
            (3) the recommendations of the Conference are not 
        inappropriately influenced by any public official or by any 
        special interest, but instead are the result of the independent 
        and collective judgment of the delegates of the Conference; and
            (4) before the Conference is convened--
                    (A) current and adequate statistical data 
                (including decennial census data) and other information 
                on autism spectrum disorders in the United States; and
                    (B) such information as may be necessary to 
                evaluate Federal programs and policies relating to 
                autism spectrum disorders;
        which the Cochairs may obtain by making grants to or entering 
        into an agreement with, public agencies or nonprofit 
        organizations, are readily available in advance of the 
        Conference to the delegates.
    (c) Gifts.--The Cochairs may accept, on behalf of the United 
States, gifts (in cash or in kind, including voluntary and 
uncompensated services), which shall be available to carry out this 
Act. Gifts of cash shall be available in addition to amounts 
appropriated to carry out this title. Gifts may be earmarked by the 
donor or the executive committee for a specific purpose.
    (d) Records.--The Cochairs shall maintain records regarding--
            (1) the sources, amounts, and uses of gifts accepted under 
        subsection (c); and
            (2) the identity of each person receiving assistance to 
        carry out this Act, and the amount of such assistance received 
        by each such person.

SEC. 7. REPORT OF THE CONFERENCE.

    (a) Preliminary Report.--Not later than 100 days after the 
Conference adjourns, the Policy Committee shall prepare a preliminary 
report on the Conference which shall be published in the Federal 
Register and submitted to the chief executive officers of the States. 
The Policy Committee shall request that the chief executive officers of 
the States submit to the Policy Committee, not later than 45 days after 
receiving such report, their views and findings on such report.
    (b) Final Report.--Not later than 6 months after the date on which 
the Conference adjourns, the Policy Committee shall--
            (1) prepare a final report of the Conference which shall 
        include a compilation of the views and findings of the chief 
        executive officers of the States received under subsection (a); 
        and
            (2) publish in the Federal Register, and transmit to the 
        President and to Congress, the recommendations for the 
        administrative action and the legislation necessary to 
        implement the recommendations contained in such report.

SEC. 8. STATUS REPORTS.

    (a) Initial Status Report.--Not later than 2 years after the date 
on which the Conference adjourns, the Surgeon General shall--
            (1) prepare a status report documenting the implementation 
        of the recommendations contained in the final report described 
        in section 7(b)(1); and
            (2) publish in the Federal Register, and transmit to the 
        President and to Congress, such status report.
    (b) Subsequent Status Reports.--Not later than 5 years after the 
date on which the Conference adjourns, and every 5 years thereafter 
until all recommendations in the final report described in section 
7(b)(1) are achieved, the Comptroller General shall--
            (1) prepare a status report documenting the implementation 
        of the recommendations contained in such final report; and
            (2) publish in the Federal Register, and transmit to the 
        President and to Congress, such status report.

SEC. 9. DEFINITION OF STATE.

    For the purposes of this Act, the term ``State'' means any of the 
several States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands of the United States, or 
the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

SEC. 10. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) Authorization.--
            (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to 
        carry out this Act--
                    (A) such sums as may be necessary for the first 
                fiscal year in which the Policy Committee plans the 
                Conference and for the following fiscal year; and
                    (B) such sums as may be necessary for the fiscal 
                year in which the Conference is held.
            (2) Limitation.--Any new spending authority or new 
        authority to enter into contracts under this Act, and under 
        which the United States is obligated to make outlays, shall be 
        effective only to the extent, and in such amounts, as are 
        provided in advance in appropriations Acts.
    (b) Availability of Funds.--
            (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (3), funds 
        appropriated to carry out this Act and funds received as gifts 
        under section 6(c) shall remain available for obligation or 
        expenditure until the expiration of the 1-year period beginning 
        on the date the Conference adjourns.
            (2) Unobligated funds.--Except as provided in paragraph 
        (3), any such funds neither expended nor obligated before the 
        expiration of the 1-year period beginning on the date the 
        Conference adjourns shall be returned to the United States 
        Treasury.
            (3) Conference not convened.--If the Conference is not 
        convened before December 31, 2010, a trust fund shall be 
        established and such funds shall only be available for a future 
        Conference on Autism.

Summary: White House Conference on Autism Act of 2009 - Requires the President, by December 31, 2010, to call the White House Conference on Autism (to be convened within 18 months of the selection of a Policy Committee) to make fundamental policy recommendations on ways to combat the autism epidemic in the United States.

Sets forth as purposes of the Conference to: (1) galvanize a national effort to find the underlying causes of autism; (2) identify viable solutions and valuable services to help autistic individuals and their families; (3) bring together the best scientific minds to chart a comprehensive research agenda; (4) bring together parents of autistic children and leaders in the fields of education and social services to begin a national dialogue on the challenges faced by these children and their families; (5) highlight emerging and innovative programs that effectively serve the needs of autistic children and adults; and (6) review the effectiveness of existing legislation and programs that provide autism research services and develop recommendations for legislative action for improvements.