Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support Act of 2024” or the “Autism CARES Act of 2024”.
Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support Act of 2024
A BILL
To amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize programs and research relating to autism, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Programs relating to autism
Developmental disabilities surveillance and research program— Section 399AA of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280i) is amended—
in subsection (a)(3), by striking “tribe, or a tribal” and inserting “Tribe, or a Tribal”;
in subsection (d)(1)—
in the paragraph heading, by striking “tribe; tribal” and inserting “Tribe; Tribal”;
by striking “tribe” and inserting “Tribe”; and
by striking “tribal” and inserting “Tribal”; and
in subsection (e), by striking “2024” and inserting “2029”.
Autism education, early detection, and intervention— Section 399BB of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280i–1) is amended—
in subsections (b)(1) and (c), by striking “culturally competent” each place it appears and inserting “culturally and linguistically appropriate”;
in subsection (b)—
in paragraph (2), by striking “screening” each place it appears and inserting “screening and diagnostic”;
in paragraph (3), by striking “higher risk” and inserting “increased likelihood”; and
in paragraph (7), by striking “higher risk” and inserting “increased likelihood”;
in subsection (e)(2), by adding at the end the following:
“(C) Report—Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the Autism CARES Act of 2024, the Secretary shall 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 that examines the need for developmental-behavioral pediatricians and the feasibility of expanding the developmental-behavioral pediatrician training programs described in subparagraph (A).”
by amending subsection (f) to read as follows:
“(f) Intervention—The Secretary shall promote research, through grants or contracts, which may include grants or contracts to research centers or networks, to—
“(1) develop and evaluate evidence-based practices and interventions to improve outcomes for individuals with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities by addressing physical and behavioral health and communication needs of such individuals across the lifespan;
“(2) develop guidelines for such evidence-based interventions; and
“(3) disseminate information related to such evidence-based practices and interventions and guidelines.”
in subsection (g), by striking “2024” and inserting “2029”.
Interagency autism coordinating committee— Section 399CC of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280i–2) is amended—
in subsection (b)—
in paragraph (2), by striking “develop a summary of” and inserting “summarize, on an annual basis,”;
in paragraph (5)(A), by striking “proposed budgetary requirements” and inserting “a professional judgment of anticipated budgetary needs”; and
in paragraph (6)(B), by striking “an annual” and inserting “a biennial”; and
in subsection (f), by striking “2024” and inserting “2029”.
by striking “2019” each place it appears and inserting “2024”;
in subsection (a)(1)—
in the paragraph heading, by striking “In General” and inserting “In general”;
by striking “Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee of the Senate and the Energy and Commerce Committee” and inserting “Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce”; and
by striking “Internet Web site” and inserting “website”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(c) Update on young adults and youth transitioning to adulthood—Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the Autism CARES Act of 2024, the Secretary, in coordination with other Federal departments and agencies that serve individuals with autism spectrum disorder, 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 an update to the report required pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, as added by section 6 of the Autism CARES Act of 2014 and in effect before the date of enactment of the Autism CARES Act of 2019, concerning young adults with autism spectrum disorder and the challenges related to the transition from existing school-based services to services available during adulthood.”
Authorization of appropriations— Section 399EE of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280i–4) is amended—
in subsection (a), by striking “$23,100,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024” and inserting “$28,100,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029”;
in subsection (b), by striking “$50,599,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024” and inserting “$56,344,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029”; and
in subsection (c), by striking “$296,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024” and inserting “$306,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029”.
Sec. 3 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—
in subsection (a)—
in paragraph (1)—
by striking “including pathology” and inserting “such as pathology”; and
by inserting “psychiatry, psychology, gerontology, developmental behavioral pediatrics, audiology,” after “toxicology,”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(4) Considerations—In carrying out this section, the Director shall take into consideration the various needs of individuals with autism spectrum disorder with respect to services and supports and addressing co-occurring conditions.”
in subsection (b)—
in paragraph (2), by inserting “gerontology,” after “behavioral psychology,”; and
in paragraph (5)(B), by striking “period of” and inserting “period”.
Sec. 4 Technical assistance to improve access to communication tools
In general— The Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this section as the “Secretary”) may, at the request of a State, Indian Tribe or Tribal organization, locality, or territory, provide training and technical assistance to such jurisdiction on the manner in which Federal funding administered by the Secretary may be used to provide individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities with access to evidence-based services, tools, and technologies that support communication needs.
Annual report— The Secretary shall annually prepare and submit to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a report summarizing any technical assistance provided by the Secretary in the preceding fiscal year under subsection (a) and any advancements in the development or evaluation of such evidence-based services, tools, and technologies.