Expanding the Promise for Individuals With Autism Act of 2007 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to: (1) convene, on behalf of the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, a Treatments, Interventions, and Services Evaluation Task Force to evaluate evidence-based biomedical and behavioral treatments and services for individuals with autism; (2) establish a multi-year demonstration grant program for states to provide evidence-based autism treatments, interventions, and services. (3) establish planning and demonstration grant programs for adults with autism; (4) award grants to states for access to autism services following diagnosis; (5) award grants to University Centers of Excellence for Developmental Disabilities to provide services and address the unmet needs of individuals with autism and their families; (6) make grants to protection and advocacy systems to address the needs of individuals with autism and other emerging populations of individuals with disabilities; and (7) award a grant to a national nonprofit organization for the establishment and maintenance of a national technical assistance center for autism services and information dissemination.
Directs the Comptroller General to issue a report on the financing of autism services and treatments.
[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1881 Introduced in House (IH)]
110th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 1881
To improve support and services for individuals with autism and their
families.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 17, 2007
Mr. Doyle (for himself, Mr. Smith of New Jersey, Mr. Engel, and Mr.
Pickering) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To improve support and services for individuals with autism and their
families.
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 ``Expanding the Promise for
Individuals With Autism Act of 2007''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) Autism is a complex developmental disability that
affects the functioning of the brain and lasts through a
person's lifetime.
(2) Individuals living with autism have the same rights as
other individuals to exert control and choice over their own
lives, to live independently, and to fully participate in and
contribute to their communities through full integration and
inclusion in the economic, political, social, cultural, and
educational mainstream of society.
(3) The prevalence of autism appears to be growing. The
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that in 2007,
autism affects 1 in every 150 children and 1,500,000 Americans
have autism.
(4) Both children and adults with autism typically show
difficulties in verbal and nonverbal communication, social
interactions, and sensory processing. Individuals with autism
exhibit different symptoms or behaviors, which may range from
mild to significant, and require varying degrees of support
from their friends, families, and communities.
(5) Although the overall incidence of autism is consistent
around the globe, it is 4 times more prevalent in boys than in
girls. Autism knows no racial, ethnic, or social boundaries, or
differences in family income, lifestyle, or educational levels
and can affect any family and any child.
(6) Individuals with autism often need assistance in the
areas of early intervention, education, employment,
transportation, housing, health, and recreation. With access to
these types of services and supports, individuals with autism
can live full, rich, productive lives. Greater coordination
within the service delivery system will enable individuals and
families to access assistance from all sectors throughout the
lifespan, thus facilitating the appropriate delivery of
information, education, and services.
(7) There is strong consensus within the research community
that intensive intervention started as soon as possible
following diagnosis yields the most positive outcomes for
children with autism.
(8) The limited amount of credible evidence-based research
on services to children and adults with autism is a major
impediment to the development of quality services. Without this
base of research, many services and supports for individuals
with autism are not covered by private or public health
insurance programs, nor are certain interventions provided as
part of a child's special education individualized education
plan. As a result, individuals and families who wish to access
services are often only able to do so through incurring
significant nonreimbursable costs.
(9) Workforce shortages contribute to the limited
availability of treatments, interventions, and supports. There
is a need for more professionals who can appropriately provide
employment, residential, and other community-based services to
adults with autism, as well as a need for professionals who can
appropriately diagnose autism in very young children, and those
who can develop appropriate evidence-based treatments,
interventions, and supports across the lifespan of individuals
with autism.
(10) The combined characteristics of an individual with
autism, a lack of or limited verbal communication, the
inability to gauge social cues, and challenging behaviors, has
resulted in a growing need for community-based individual and
family support services and increased monitoring for abuse,
neglect, and rights violations.
(11) Preliminary numbers on 20 States indicate that in
2006, almost a quarter of individuals served under protection
and advocacy programs for individuals with developmental
disabilities were individuals with autism, a 6 percent increase
from the previous year, yet thousands of individuals with
autism were unable to access services due to a lack of
resources.
(12) Whatever their individual needs, children and adults
with autism should receive the treatments, interventions,
services, and programs that will enable them to fully
participate in and enjoy a good quality of life in their
communities.
SEC. 3. AMENDMENT TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE ACT.
Part R of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
280i et seq.) is amended--
(1) by inserting after the header for part R the following:
``Subpart 1--Combating Autism'';
(2) in section 399AA(d), by striking ``part'' and inserting
``subpart''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``Subpart 2--Support for Individuals With Autism and Their Families
``SEC. 399GG. DEFINITIONS.
``In this subpart:
``(1) Adult with autism.--The term `adult with autism'
means an individual with autism who is 18 years of age or
older.
``(2) Autism.--The term `autism' means an autism spectrum
disorder or a related developmental disability.
``(3) Children with autism.--The term `children with
autism' means individuals with autism who have not attained 18
years of age.
``(4) Individual with autism.--The term `individual with
autism' means an individual who has been diagnosed with autism.
``(5) Interventions.--The term `interventions' means the
educational methods and positive behavioral support strategies
designed to improve or ameliorate symptoms associated with
autism.
``(6) Services.--The term `services' means the services to
assist individuals with autism to live more independently in
their communities.
``(7) Treatments.--The term `treatments' means the health
services, including mental health services, designed to improve
or ameliorate symptoms associated with autism.
``SEC. 399HH. TREATMENTS, INTERVENTIONS, AND SERVICES EVALUATION TASK
FORCE.
``(a) In General.--Not later than 60 days after the date of
enactment of the Expanding the Promise for Individuals With Autism Act
of 2007, the Secretary, on behalf of the Interagency Autism
Coordinating Committee (established in section 399CC), shall convene a
Treatments, Interventions, and Services Evaluation Task Force (referred
to in this subpart as the `Task Force') to evaluate evidence-based
biomedical and behavioral treatments and services, including the
following:
``(1) Treatments, interventions, and services that are
effective in reducing the impact of symptoms associated with
autism upon the quality of life outcomes for children with
autism and adults with autism.
``(2) Treatments, interventions, and services that are
effective in reducing the long-term costs of treatments
associated with autism.
``(3) Treatments, interventions, and services that are
effective in assisting individuals with autism to live
independently in their communities.
``(4) Treatments, interventions, and services that can be
widely replicated across States and communities during the 2-
year period after the date of enactment of the Expanding the
Promise for Individuals With Autism Act of 2007.
``(5) Gaps in applied research on treatments,
interventions, and services that should be addressed by future
research.
``(6) The cost effectiveness of such treatments,
interventions, and services.
``(7) The availability of such treatments, interventions,
and services in each of the States.
``(8) Successful State- and community-based models that
organize, integrate, and deliver comprehensive services,
interventions, and treatments across the lifespan of
individuals with autism.
``(9) Other relevant concerns regarding the availability of
such treatments, interventions, and services, as designated by
the Secretary.
``(b) Membership.--The Secretary shall ensure that the Task Force
membership shall consist of the following:
``(1) Health care providers with expertise in treating
children or adults with autism in hospitals or other health
care settings where comprehensive health care is available.
``(2) Licensed mental health professionals with experience
in treatments of autism or other related behavioral therapies
and interventions.
``(3) Developmental pediatricians with expertise in autism.
``(4) Researchers with an expertise in neurology,
gastroenterology, behavioral sciences, endocrinology, special
education, vocational services, and other specialties that
pertain to treatments, interventions, and services as
designated by the Secretary.
``(5) Health economists or other individuals with expertise
in cost-benefit analysis and health policy.
``(6) Service providers with an expertise in assisting
individuals with autism to access housing, employment, and
other services necessary to live in such individuals'
communities.
``(7) Educators with expertise in early interventions,
special education, and transition services for children with
autism, and education or training for adults with autism.
``(8) A representative of the National Council on
Disability.
``(9) A liaison from the National Institutes of Health
involved with the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee.
``(10) Representatives of State agencies managing services
to individuals with autism.
``(11) Individuals with autism, families affected by
autism, and members of organizations that advocate for
individuals with autism and their families, whose
representation on the Task Force shall be not less than one-
third of all members.
``(12) Other individuals, as designated by the Secretary.
``(c) Report.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after first
convening, the Task Force shall deliver a report to the
Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee, the Director of the
National Institutes of Health, the Secretary, the heads of
other agencies represented on the Interagency Autism
Coordinating Committee, and the relevant committees of Congress
containing the evaluation as detailed in subsection (a).
``(2) Response.--Not later than 90 days after receiving the
report described in paragraph (1), the Interagency Autism
Coordinating Committee shall provide to the Director of the
National Institutes of Health, the Secretary, and the relevant
committees of Congress a response to the Task Force report.
Such report shall be posted on the Internet and shall be
available and easily accessible to the public.
``SEC. 399II. DEMONSTRATION GRANTS FOR COVERAGE OF TREATMENTS,
INTERVENTIONS, AND SERVICES.
``(a) In General.--Not later than 24 months after the date of
enactment of the Expanding the Promise for Individuals With Autism Act
of 2007, the Secretary shall establish a demonstration grant program
awarding multiyear grants to enable selected States to provide
evidence-based autism treatments, interventions, and services, as
identified by the Task Force under section 399HH.
``(b) Application.--A State that desires to receive a grant under
subsection (a), shall submit an application, in consultation with the
State Developmental Disabilities Council and organizations representing
or serving individuals with autism and their families, that contains
the following information:
``(1) The treatments, interventions, or services that the
State proposes to provide.
``(2) Demonstrated capacity to provide or establish such
treatments, interventions, and services within the State.
``(3) Demonstrated capacity to monitor and evaluate the
outcomes of such treatments, interventions, and services upon
individuals with autism.
``(4) Demonstrated ability to develop a process for
distributing funds to a range of community-based or nonprofit
providers of treatments, interventions, and services, as well
as local governments that provide services for individuals with
autism at the community level.
``(5) Estimates of the number of individuals and families
who will be served by such grant, including an estimate of the
number of individuals and families in medically underserved
areas who will be served by such grants.
``(6) Documented ability to administer such grants in
partnership with community-based or nonprofit providers of
treatments, interventions, and services, including those that
act as advocates for individuals with autism, and local
governments that provide services for individuals with autism
at the community level.
``(7) A description of the ways in which access to such
treatments and services may be sustained following the grant
period.
``(8) Compliance with the integration requirement provided
under section 302 of the Americans With Disabilities Act of
1990 (42 U.S.C. 12182).
``(c) Evaluation.--The Secretary shall contract, 36 months after
establishing the demonstration grant program under this section, with a
third-party organization with expertise in evaluation to evaluate such
demonstration grant program and release a report not later than 4 years
after the date of enactment of the Expanding the Promise for
Individuals With Autism Act of 2007, on the ways in which the
treatments, interventions, and services provided through the
demonstration grant program have resulted in improved health,
educational, employment, and community integration outcomes for
individuals with autism.
``(d) Supplement, Not Supplant.--Demonstration grant funds provided
under this section shall supplement, not supplant, existing treatments,
interventions, and services for individuals with autism.
``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000 for each of the
fiscal years 2009 through 2012. Amounts not expended in 1 fiscal year
shall be carried over to the next fiscal year.
``SEC. 399JJ. PLANNING AND DEMONSTRATION GRANT FOR SERVICES FOR ADULTS.
``(a) Purpose.--In order to enable States to provide appropriate
services to adults with autism, thus enabling such adults to be as
independent as possible, the Secretary shall establish--
``(1) a 1-time, single year planning grant program for
selected States; and
``(2) a multiyear service provision demonstration grant
program for selected States.
``(b) Planning Grants.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall award 1-time grants
to selected States to support the planning and development of
initiatives that will expand and enhance service delivery
systems for adults with autism.
``(2) Application.--In order to receive such a grant, a
State shall submit an application at such time and containing
such information as the Secretary may require, including a
demonstrated ability to carry out such planning grant in
partnership with the State Developmental Disabilities Council
and organizations representing or serving individuals with
autism and their families.
``(3) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $5,000,000 for
fiscal year 2008.
``(c) Implementation Grants.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall award grants to
States that have received a planning grant under subsection (b)
to enable such State to provide appropriate services to adults
with autism.
``(2) Application.--In order to receive a grant under
paragraph (1), the State shall submit an application at such
time and containing such information as the Secretary may
require, including--
``(A) the services that the State proposes to
provide and the expected outcomes for adults with
autism who receive such services;
``(B) the number of adults and families who will be
served by such grant, including an estimate of the
adults and families in underserved areas who will be
served by such grant;
``(C) the ways in which services will be
coordinated among both public and nonprofit providers
of services for adults with disabilities, including
community-based services;
``(D) the process through which the States will
distribute funds to a range of community-based or
nonprofit providers of services, including local
governments, and their capacity to provide such
services;
``(E) the process through which the States will
monitor and evaluate the outcome of activities funded
through the grant upon adults with autism who receive
such services;
``(F) the process by which the State will ensure
compliance with the integration requirement provided
under section 302 of the Americans With Disabilities
Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12182); and
``(G) a description of how such services may be
sustained following the grant period.
``(d) Evaluation.--The Secretary shall contract, 36 months after
establishing the demonstration grant program under this section, with a
third-party organization with expertise in evaluation to evaluate such
demonstration grant program and release a report, not later than 4
years after the date of enactment of the Expanding the Promise for
Individuals With Autism Act of 2007, as to whether the services
provided through this grant program have resulted in improved health,
education, employment, and community integration outcomes for adults
with autism.
``(e) Supplement, Not Supplant.--Demonstration grant funds provided
under this section shall supplement, not supplant, existing treatments,
interventions, and services for individuals with autism.
``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $20,000,000 for each of the
fiscal years 2008 through 2012. Any amounts not expended in 1 fiscal
year shall be carried over to the next fiscal year
``SEC. 399KK. EXPANDING ACCESS TO POSTDIAGNOSIS CARE.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall award grants to States to
enable the States to assist with the provision of treatments,
interventions, and services to children with autism, with the goal of--
``(1) providing multi-agency, intensive, and comprehensive,
evidence-based treatments, interventions, and services;
``(2) coordinating supplementary health care, behavioral
support services, and individual and family-support services
through Federal and State-funded programs; and
``(3) supplementing, not supplanting, Federal and State
funds supporting early interventions, education, and health and
long-term care services to increase treatments, interventions,
and services, and eliminate delays in access to such
treatments, interventions, and services.
``(b) Guidance to States.--Not later than 6 months after the date
of enactment of the Expanding the Promise for Individuals With Autism
Act of 2007, the Secretary, in conjunction with the heads of other
relevant agencies, shall develop a guidance to States, with the purpose
of increasing the amount and quality of postdiagnosis treatments,
interventions, and services, and eliminating delays in access to
supplementary health care, behavioral support services, and individual
and family-support services through Federal and State funded programs.
``(c) Timelines.--Following the release of the guidance described
in subsection (b), the Secretary shall develop an implementation
timeline for States to establish programs that reduce the amount of
time between diagnosis of autism in children and the point when
children with autism receive evidence-based treatment, interventions,
and services.
``(d) Application and Grants.--Not later than 12 months after the
date of enactment of the Expanding the Promise for Individuals With
Autism Act of 2007, the Secretary shall award grants to States to
enable the States to carry out the guidance established in subsection
(b). States that desire to receive a grant under this subsection shall
submit an application at such time and containing such information as
the Secretary may require.
``(e) Supplement, Not Supplant.--Grant funds provided under this
section shall supplement, not supplant, existing treatments,
interventions, and services for individuals with autism.
``(f) Evaluation.--The Secretary shall contract, 36 months after
establishing the demonstration grant program under this section, with a
third-party organization with expertise in evaluation to evaluate such
demonstration grant program and release a report not later than 4 years
after the date of enactment of the Expanding the Promise for
Individuals With Autism Act of 2007 on the following topics:
``(1) Whether such grant program has resulted in increased
and improved provision of multi-agency, intensive, and
comprehensive, evidence-based treatments and interventions, and
elimination of delays in access to Federal and State-funded
programs.
``(2) The best practices in States to increase and improve
services and eliminate delays in access to such services.
``(3) Additional actions that may be required in order to
ensure increases and improvement in postdiagnosis treatments,
interventions, and services, and eliminating delays in access
to Federal and State-funded programs.
``(4) Other information, as required by the Secretary.
``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section--
``(1) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
``(2) $13,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;
``(3) $17,000,000 for fiscal year 2011; and
``(4) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2012.
``SEC. 399LL. NATIONAL TRAINING INITIATIVES ON AUTISM.
``(a) National Training Initiative Supplemental Grants and
Technical Assistance.--
``(1) Supplemental grants.--
``(A) In general.--The Secretary shall award, in
consultation with the Interagency Autism Coordinating
Committee, multiyear national training initiative
supplemental grants to University Centers of Excellence
for Developmental Disabilities in order to allow each
such center to provide training, technical assistance,
dissemination, and services, and address the unmet
needs of individuals with autism and their families.
``(B) Requirements.--A University Center of
Excellence for Developmental Disabilities that desires
to receive a grant under this paragraph shall submit to
the Secretary an application containing such agreements
and information as the Secretary may require, including
agreements that the training program shall--
``(i) provide trainees with an appropriate
balance of interdisciplinary academic and
community-based experiences;
``(ii) have a demonstrated capacity to
provide training and technical assistance in
evidence-based practices to evaluate and
provide effective treatments, interventions,
and services to children with autism, adults
with autism, and their families;
``(iii) have a demonstrated capacity to
include individuals with autism, parents, and
family members as part of the training program
to ensure that a person and family-centered
approach is used;
``(iv) provide to the Secretary, in the
manner prescribed by the Secretary, data
regarding the outcomes of the provision of
training and technical assistance;
``(v) demonstrate a willingness to share
and disseminate materials and practices that
are developed and evaluated to be effective in
the provision of training and technical
assistance; and
``(vi) provide assurances that training,
technical assistance, and service demonstration
performed under grants made pursuant to this
paragraph shall be consistent with the goals
established under already existing disability
programs authorized under Federal law and
conducted in coordination with other relevant
State agencies and service providers.
``(C) Activities.--A University Center of
Excellence for Developmental Disabilities that receives
a grant under this paragraph shall expand and develop
interdisciplinary training and continuing education
initiatives for health, allied health, and educational
professionals and develop model services that
demonstrate evidence-based practices, by engaging in
the following activities:
``(i) Training health, allied health, and
educational professionals to identify,
diagnose, and develop interventions for
individuals with, or at risk of developing,
autism.
``(ii) Working to expand the availability
of effective, lifelong interventions,
educational services, and community supports.
``(iii) Providing statewide technical
assistance in collaboration with relevant State
agencies, autism advocacy groups, and
community-based service providers.
``(iv) Working to develop comprehensive
systems of supports and services for
individuals with autism and their families.
``(v) Promoting and engaging in training,
technical assistance, dissemination, and
evidence-based supports and services.
``(vi) Developing mechanisms to provide
training and technical assistance, including
for-credit courses, intensive summer
institutes, continuing education programs,
distance-based programs, and web-based
information dissemination strategies.
``(vii) Promoting activities that support
community-based family and individual services
and enable individuals with autism to
participate in society and achieve good quality
of life outcomes.
``(viii) Collecting data on the outcomes of
training and technical assistance programs to
meet statewide needs for the expansion of
services to children with autism and adults
with autism.
``(2) Technical assistance.--The Secretary shall reserve 2
percent of the appropriated funds to make a grant to a national
organization with demonstrated capacity for providing training
and technical assistance to University Centers of Excellence
for Developmental Disabilities to--
``(A) assist in national dissemination of specific
information, including evidence-based best practices,
from interdisciplinary training programs, and when
appropriate, other entities whose findings would inform
the work performed by entities awarded grants;
``(B) compile and disseminate strategies and
materials that prove to be effective in the provision
of training and technical assistance so that the entire
network can benefit from the models, materials, and
practices developed in individual centers;
``(C) assist in the coordination of activities of
grantees under this section;
``(D) develop a web portal that will provide
linkages to each of the individual training initiatives
and provide access to training modules, promising
training, and technical assistance practices and other
materials developed by grantees;
``(E) serve as a research-based resource for
Federal and State policymakers on information
concerning the provision of training and technical
assistance for the assessment, diagnosis of, and
provisions for supports and services for children with
autism and adults with autism;
``(F) convene experts from multiple
interdisciplinary training programs and individuals
with autism and their families to discuss and make
recommendations with regard to training issues related
to the assessment, diagnosis of, treatment,
interventions and services for, children with autism
and adults with autism; and
``(G) undertake any other functions that the
Secretary determines to be appropriate.
``(3) Authorization of appropriations.--
``(A) Fiscal year 2008.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this subsection $13,400,000
for fiscal year 2008--
``(i) to award supplemental grants, in
equal amounts, to University Centers of
Excellence for Developmental Disabilities; and
``(ii) in the case of University Centers of
Excellence for Developmental Disabilities
located in American Samoa or the Commonwealth
of the Northern Mariana Islands, to award
supplemental grants of not less than $100,000
each.
``(B) Fiscal year 2009 through 2012.--There is
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this
subsection such sums as may be necessary for each of
the fiscal years 2009 through 2012--
``(i) to award supplemental grants, in
equal amounts, to University Centers of
Excellence for Developmental Disabilities; and
``(ii) in the case of University Centers of
Excellence for Developmental Disabilities
located in American Samoa or the Commonwealth
of the Northern Mariana Islands, to award
supplemental grants of not less than $100,000
per individual grant.
``(C) Appropriations less than $13,400,000.--
Notwithstanding subparagraphs (A) and (B), with respect
to any fiscal year for which the amount appropriated
under this paragraph to carry out this section is less
than $13,400,000, the Secretary shall--
``(i) award supplemental grants, on a
competitive basis, from such amount to
individual University Centers for Excellence in
Developmental Disabilities of not less than
$200,000 per individual grant; and
``(ii) in the case of University Centers of
Excellence for Developmental Disabilities
located in American Samoa or the Commonwealth
of the Northern Mariana Islands, award
supplemental grants, on a competitive basis, of
not less than $100,000 per individual grant.
``(D) Reservation.--Not more than 2 percent of the
amount appropriated under this paragraph for a fiscal
year may be reserved to carry out paragraph (2) for
such fiscal year.
``(b) Expansion of the Number of University Centers for Excellence
in Developmental Disabilities Research, Education, and Services.--
``(1) Purpose.--The Secretary shall award not more than 4
additional grants for the University Centers for Excellence in
Developmental Disabilities for the purpose of expanding the
capacity of existing national networks and enhancing the number
of training facilities with a primary focus on autism. Such
Centers shall--
``(A) train health, allied health, and educational
professionals to identify, diagnose, treat, and provide
services for individuals with autism;
``(B) provide services to individual with autism;
and
``(C) provide other training and technical
assistance, as necessary.
``(2) Priority.--The Secretary shall give priority in
awarding grants to Centers in--
``(A) minority-serving institutions that have
demonstrated the capacity to meet the requirements to
qualify as a University Center for Excellence in
Developmental Disabilities and provide services to
individuals with autism; or
``(B) States with underserved populations.
``(3) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized
to be appropriated to carry out this subsection $5,000,000 for
each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2012.
``SEC. 399MM. GAO STUDY ON SERVICE PROVISION AND FINANCING.
``Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the
Expanding the Promise for Individuals With Autism Act of 2007, the
Comptroller General of the United States shall release a report that
examines the following issues:
``(1) The ways in which autism services and treatments are
currently financed in the United States.
``(2) Current policies for public and private health
insurance coverage of autism treatments, interventions, and
services.
``(3) Geographic and regional disparities in provision of
services across the lifespan of individuals with autism, levels
of community-based versus institutional services, and coverage
for such services.
``(4) Ways in which to improve financing of autism
treatments, interventions, and services, so as to ensure a
minimum level of coverage across the United States.
``SEC. 399NN. EMERGING NEEDS PROTECTION AND ADVOCACY PROGRAM.
``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall make grants to protection
and advocacy systems for the purpose of enabling such systems to
address the needs of individuals with autism and other emerging
populations of individuals with disabilities.
``(b) Services Provided.--Services provided under this section may
include the provision of--
``(1) information, referrals, and advice;
``(2) individual and family advocacy;
``(3) legal representation; and
``(4) specific assistance in self-advocacy.
``(c) Application.--To be eligible to receive a grant under this
section, a protection and advocacy system shall submit an application
to the Secretary at such time, in such form and manner, and accompanied
by such information and assurances as the Secretary may require.
``(d) Appropriations Less Than $6,000,000.--
``(1) In general.--With respect to any fiscal year in which
the amount appropriated under subsection (i) to carry out this
section is less than $6,000,000, the Secretary shall make
grants from such amount to individual protection and advocacy
systems within States to enable such systems to plan for,
develop outreach strategies for, and carry out services
authorized under this section for emerging populations of
individuals with disabilities.
``(2) Amount of grant.--The amount of a grant under
paragraph (1) shall be based on the size of the State in which
the individual protection and advocacy system is located but be
not less than $100,000 for individual protection and advocacy
systems located in States and not less than $50,000 for
individual protection and advocacy systems located in
territories and the American Indian consortium.
``(e) Appropriations of $6,000,000 or More.--The Secretary shall
make grants during each fiscal year not later than October 1 to States
as follows:
``(1) Population basis.--Except as provided in paragraph
(2), with respect to each fiscal year in which the amount
appropriated under subsection (i) to carry out this section is
$6,000,000 or more, the Secretary shall make a grant to a
protection and advocacy system within each State.
``(2) Amount.--The amount of a grant provided to a system
under paragraph (1) shall be equal to an amount bearing the
same ratio to the total amount appropriated for the fiscal year
involved under subsection (i) as the population of the State in
which the grantee is located bears to the population of all
States.
``(3) Minimums.--Subject to the availability of
appropriations, the amount of a grant to a protection and
advocacy system under paragraph (1) for a fiscal year shall
be--
``(A) in the case of a protection and advocacy
system located in American Samoa, Guam, the United
States Virgin Islands, or the Commonwealth of the
Northern Mariana Islands, and the protection and
advocacy system serving the American Indian consortium,
not less than $50,000; and
``(B) in the case of a protection and advocacy
system in a State not described in subparagraph (A),
not less than $100,000.
``(4) Inflation adjustment.--For each fiscal year in which
the total amount appropriated under subsection (i) to carry out
this section is $7,000,000 or more, and such appropriated
amount exceeds the total amount appropriated to carry out this
section in the preceding fiscal year, the Secretary shall
increase each of the minimum grant amounts described in
subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (3) by a percentage
equal to the percentage increase in the total amount
appropriated under subsection (i) to carry out this section
between the preceding fiscal year and the fiscal year involved.
``(f) Carryover.--Any amount paid to a protection and advocacy
system that serves a State or the American Indian consortium for a
fiscal year under this section that remains unobligated at the end of
such fiscal year shall remain available to such system for obligation
during the next fiscal year for the purposes for which such amount was
originally provided.
``(g) Direct Payment.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
the Secretary shall pay directly to any protection and advocacy system
that complies with the provisions of this section, the total amount of
the grant for such system, unless the system provides otherwise for
such payment.
``(h) Annual Report.--Each protection and advocacy system that
receives a payment under this section shall submit an annual report to
the Secretary concerning the services provided to emerging populations
of individuals with disabilities by such system.
``(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $8,000,000 for fiscal year 2008,
and such sums as may be necessary for each the fiscal years 2009
through 2013.
``(j) Definitions.--In this section:
``(1) American indian consortium.--The term `American
Indian consortium' has the meaning given the term in section
102 of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of
Rights Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 15002).
``(2) Protection and advocacy system.--The term `protection
and advocacy system' means a protection and advocacy system
established under section 143 of the Developmental Disabilities
Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. 15043).
``(3) State.--The term `State', unless otherwise specified,
means the several States of the United States, the District of
Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States
Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of
the Northern Mariana Islands.
``(k) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary shall reserve 2 percent
of appropriated funds to make a grant to an eligible national
organization for providing training and technical assistance to
protection and advocacy systems.
``SEC. 399OO. NATIONAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER FOR AUTISM
TREATMENT, INTERVENTION, AND SERVICES.
``(a) National Technical Assistance Center for Autism Treatments,
Interventions, and Services.--
``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall award a grant to
a national nonprofit organization for the establishment and
maintenance of a national technical assistance center.
``(2) Eligibility.--An organization shall be eligible to
receive a grant under paragraph (1) if the organization--
``(A) has demonstrated knowledge and expertise in
serving children with autism and adults with autism and
their families;
``(B) has demonstrated knowledge of how to
translate research to practice, and present information
in a way that is easily accessible and understandable
to the family members of individuals with autism;
``(C) has demonstrated capacity of training
educators, health care providers, family members, and
others to support the needs of individuals with autism
or other developmental disabilities;
``(D) has demonstrated capacity of disseminating
information throughout the United States; and
``(E) has demonstrated capacity to establish and
maintain a website through which to disseminate
information in an easily accessible manner.
``(3) Use of funds.--The national technical assistance
center established under this section shall--
``(A) gather and disseminate information on
evidence-based treatments, interventions, and services
for children with autism and adults with autism,
including best practices in delivering such treatments,
interventions, and services, and make this information
available to State agencies with responsibilities under
section 399BB(c)(2), local communities, and
individuals;
``(B) gather and disseminate information on
activities of the Interagency Autism Coordinating
Committee and the Task Force;
``(C) provide analysis of activities funded under
this Act, including--
``(i) the effectiveness of State and
community-based models for delivering
comprehensive services to individuals with
autism;
``(ii) identification and dissemination of
best practices emerging from States, community-
based organizations, nonprofit providers, and
local governments receiving demonstration
grants under this subpart;
``(iii) the State-by-State availability of
and gaps in services for individuals with
autism, including information on services or
service gaps in rural areas; and
``(iv) levels of funding and funding
sources of services for individuals with autism
in States;
``(D) provide technical assistance to States and
organizations funded under this subpart;
``(E) gather and disseminate information about
autism;
``(F) establish and maintain a website through
which to disseminate the information gathered under
this section in an easily accessible manner; and
``(G) gather and disseminate other information as
determined appropriate by the Secretary.
``(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $2,000,000 for each of the
fiscal years 2008 through 2012.''.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
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