Title: Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support Act of 2019
Policy area: Health

Summary:
Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support Act of 2019 or the Autism CARES Act of 2019
This bill reauthorizes through FY2024 and revises several programs and activities relating to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Among other things, the bill reauthorizes provisions relating to (1) expanded ASD research at the National Institutes of Health; (2) ASD education, early detection, and intervention activities supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration; and (3) the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee.
The bill also generally revises the scope of such programs and activities to encompass ASD individuals of all ages, rather than only youth.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1058 Introduced in House (IH)]

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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.

    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 
              NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH 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) by inserting after ``and toxicology'' the 
                following: ``, and interventions to maximize outcomes 
                for persons with autism spectrum disorder'';
                    (B) by inserting after ``early'' the following: 
                ``and ongoing''; and
                    (C) by inserting after ``treatment of autism 
                spectrum disorder'' the following: ``, including 
                dissemination and implementation of clinical care, 
                supports, intervention, and treatment''; and
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows:
            ``(2) Research.--Each center under paragraph (1) shall 
        conduct basic and clinical research into autism spectrum 
        disorder. Such research should include investigations into the 
        causes, diagnosis, and early and ongoing detection, prevention, 
        and treatment of autism spectrum disorder across the lifespan. 
        The centers, as a group, shall conduct research including in 
        the fields of developmental neurobiology, genetics, 
        psychopharmacology, genomics, and developmental, behavioral, 
        and clinical psychology.''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (3), by adding at the end the 
                following new subparagraph:
                    ``(D) Reducing disparities.--In awarding grants to 
                applicants which meet the scientific criteria for 
                funding under this section, the Director may consider, 
                as appropriate, the extent to which a center can 
                demonstrate availability and access to clinical 
                services for youth and adults from diverse racial, 
                ethnic, geographic, or linguistic backgrounds.''.

SEC. 3. DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES SURVEILLANCE AND RESEARCH PROGRAM.

    Section 399AA(e) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
280i(e)) is amended by striking ``2019'' and inserting ``2024''.

SEC. 4. 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), by striking ``for children'' and 
        inserting ``for individuals'';
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (6) as 
                paragraphs (5) through (7), respectively; and
                    (B) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following 
                new paragraph:
            ``(4) promote evidence-based screening techniques and 
        interventions for individuals with autism spectrum disorder 
        across their lifespans;'';
            (3) in subsection (c)(1), in the matter preceding 
        subparagraph (A), by inserting after ``needs of individuals 
        with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental 
        disabilities'' the following: ``across the lifespan of such 
        individuals'';
            (4) in subsection (e), by adding at the end the following 
        new paragraph:
            ``(4) Prioritization.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In awarding grants and 
                agreements under paragraphs (1) and (2), the Secretary 
                may prioritize awards to training programs described in 
                paragraph (1) that are developmental-behavioral 
                pediatrician training programs located in rural areas 
                or underserved areas.
                    ``(B) Underserved area defined.--In this paragraph, 
                the term `underserved area' means--
                            ``(i) an area described in section 
                        332(a)(1)(A); and
                            ``(ii) a medically underserved population 
                        (as defined in section 330(b)(3)(A)).'';
            (5) in subsection (f), by inserting after ``individuals 
        with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental 
        disabilities'' the following: ``across the lifespan of such 
        individuals''; and
            (6) in subsection (g), by striking ``2019'' and inserting 
        ``2024''.

SEC. 5. 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 after ``services 
                and supports for individuals with autism spectrum 
                disorder'' the following: ``across the lifespan of such 
                individuals''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (5), by inserting after 
                ``individuals with an autism spectrum disorder'' the 
                following: ``across the lifespan of such individuals'';
            (2) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)(D), by inserting after ``the 
                Department of Education'' the following: ``, the 
                Department of Labor, the Department of Justice, the 
                Department of Housing and Urban Development,''; and
                    (B) 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''.

SEC. 6. 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 ``of 2014'' and 
                inserting ``of 2019''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (2)--
                            (i) by striking ``of 2014'' each place it 
                        appears and inserting ``of 2019'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (G), striking ``age of 
                        the child'' and inserting ``age of the 
                        individual'';
                            (iii) in subparagraph (H), by striking 
                        ``and'' at the end;
                            (iv) in subparagraph (I), by striking the 
                        period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and
                            (v) by adding at the end the following new 
                        subparagraph:
                    ``(J) information on how States use home and 
                community-based services and other supports to ensure 
                that individuals with autism spectrum disorder or other 
                developmental disabilities are living, working, and 
                participating in the community.''; and
            (2) by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:
    ``(b) Report on Health and Well-Being of Individuals With Autism 
Spectrum Disorder.--
            ``(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.
            ``(2) Contents.--The report submitted under paragraph (1) 
        shall contain--
                    ``(A) demographic factors associated with the 
                health and well-being of individuals with autism 
                spectrum disorder;
                    ``(B) an overview of policies and programs relevant 
                to the health and well-being of individuals with autism 
                spectrum disorder, including an identification of 
                existing Federal laws, regulations, policies, research, 
                and programs;
                    ``(C) proposals 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 for 
                        individuals with autism spectrum disorder 
                        related to public safety agencies or the 
                        criminal justice system; and
                    ``(E) recommendations that seek to improve health 
                outcomes for individuals with autism spectrum disorder 
                by addressing--
                            ``(i) screening and diagnosis of 
                        individuals of all ages;
                            ``(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.''.

SEC. 7. 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 
        through 2019'' and inserting ``there are authorized to be 
        appropriated such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal 
        years 2020 through 2024''.
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