[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 843 Engrossed in Senate (ES)]


  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
109th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                 S. 843

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
    To amend the Public Health Service Act to combat autism through 
            research, screening, intervention and education.

    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 ``Combating Autism Act of 2006''.

SEC. 2. ACTIVITIES TO IMPROVE AUTISM-RELATED RESEARCH.

    Section 409C of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 284g) is 
amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 409C. AUTHORITY OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF 
              HEALTH RELATING TO AUTISM.

    ``(a) Strategic Plan for Autism Research.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the 
        Director, shall develop and implement a strategic plan for the 
        conduct and support of research related to autism spectrum 
        disorder.
            ``(2) Requirements.--The strategic plan developed under 
        paragraph (1)--
                    ``(A) shall--
                            ``(i) be updated annually;
                            ``(ii) take into account the research 
                        recommendations of the Interagency Autism 
                        Coordinating Committee under section 399CC; and
                            ``(iii) using professional judgment, 
                        outline the proposed budgetary requirements of 
                        the strategic plan, including specific funding 
                        expectations for continued multi-year program 
                        activities, as well as new and complementary 
                        program activities, subject to the availability 
                        of appropriations; and
                    ``(B) may include investigator-initiated research.
            ``(3) Report.--Not later than April 1, 2008, and annually 
        thereafter, the Secretary, acting through the Director, shall 
        prepare and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a 
        report that contains--
                    ``(A) the strategic plan under paragraph (1) that 
                will be applicable to the upcoming fiscal year; and
                    ``(B) a description of the actual dollar 
                expenditures for autism spectrum disorder during the 
                previous fiscal year.
    ``(b) Expansion, Intensification, and Coordination of Activities.--
The Secretary, acting through the Director, shall, subject to the 
availability of appropriations, expand, intensify, and coordinate the 
activities of the National Institutes of Health with respect to autism 
spectrum disorder.
    ``(c) Centers of Excellence.--
            ``(1) Autism centers of excellence.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Secretary, acting through 
                the Director, shall, subject to the availability of 
                appropriations, award grants or contracts to public or 
                nonprofit private entities to assist such entities in 
                paying all or part of the costs of planning, 
                establishing, improving, and providing basic operating 
                support for centers of excellence concerning research 
                on autism spectrum disorder.
                    ``(B) Research activities.--A center of excellence 
                that receives funding under this paragraph shall 
                conduct basic and clinical research into autism 
                spectrum disorder. Such research shall--
                            ``(i) be conducted in the fields of 
                        developmental neurobiology, genetics, 
                        epigenetics, pharmacology, nutrition, 
                        immunology, neuroimmunology, neurobehavioral 
                        development, endocrinology, gastroenterology, 
                        psychopharmacology, or toxicology; and
                            ``(ii) include investigations into the 
                        causation, diagnosis or rule out, early 
                        detection, prevention, services, supports, or 
                        intervention of autism spectrum disorder.
                    ``(C) Services.--
                            ``(i) In general.--A center of excellence 
                        that receives funding under this paragraph may 
                        expend amounts provided under a grant or 
                        contract under such paragraph to carry out a 
                        program to make individuals aware of 
                        opportunities to participate as subjects in 
                        research conducted by the center.
                            ``(ii) Referrals and costs.--A program 
                        carried out under clause (i) may, in accordance 
                        with such criteria as the Director may 
                        establish, provide to the subjects described in 
                        such clause, referrals for health and other 
                        services and reimbursement of care for 
                        individuals as are required for such research.
                            ``(iii) Availability and access.--The 
                        extent to which a center of excellence that 
                        receives funding under this paragraph can 
                        demonstrate the availability of and access to 
                        clinical services shall be considered by the 
                        Director in making decisions concerning the 
                        awarding of grants or contracts to applicants 
                        that meet the scientific criteria for funding 
                        under this section.
                    ``(D) Coordination of centers of excellence.--The 
                Director shall provide for the appropriate coordination 
                of information among centers of excellence that receive 
                funding under this paragraph and ensure regular 
                communication between such centers.
                    ``(E) Organization.--A center of excellence that 
                receives funding under this paragraph shall use the 
                facilities of a single institution, or be formed 
                through a consortium of cooperating institutions, that 
                meets such requirements as may be required by the 
                Director.
                    ``(F) Duration.--The term of a grant or contract 
                awarded under this paragraph shall not exceed a period 
                of 5 years. Such period may be extended for 1 or more 
                additional periods not exceeding 5 years if the 
                operations of the center of excellence involved have 
                been reviewed by an appropriate technical and 
                scientific peer review group established by the 
                Director and the group has recommended to the Director 
                the extension of such period.
                    ``(G) Geographic diversity.--The Director shall 
                consider geographic diversity in awarding centers of 
                excellence.
            ``(2) Centers of excellence in environmental health and 
        autism.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The Director shall, subject to 
                the availability of appropriations, award grants or 
                contracts to public or nonprofit private entities to 
                pay all or part of the cost of planning, establishing, 
                improving, and providing basic operating support for 
                centers of excellence regarding environmental health 
                and autism spectrum disorder.
                    ``(B) Research.--A center of excellence established 
                under this paragraph shall conduct basic and clinical 
                research of a broad array of environmental factors that 
                may have a possible role in autism spectrum disorder.
                    ``(C) Coordination and organization.--The 
                Secretary, acting through the Director of NIH, shall 
                apply to the centers under this paragraph the same 
                requirements concerning coordination, reporting, and 
                organization as the requirements applied to the centers 
                of excellence under subparagraphs (D), (E), (F), and 
                (G) of paragraph (1).
    ``(d) Collection and Storage of Data.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the 
        Director and in coordination with the Director of the Centers 
        for Disease Control and Prevention, shall, subject to the 
        availability of appropriations, establish and provide funding 
        for mechanisms and entities that provide for the collection, 
        storage, coordination, and public availability of data that is 
        collected by the centers of excellence under this section, 
        under section 399AA(b), and under section 409C(c) and, to the 
        extent possible, data generated from public and private 
        research partnerships. In establishing such mechanisms and 
        entities, the Secretary--
                    ``(A) shall ensure that there is data sharing among 
                autism spectrum disorder researchers; and
                    ``(B) may utilize existing facilities.
            ``(2) Facilitation of research.--
                    ``(A) Establishment of program.--The Secretary 
                shall establish a program under which samples of 
                tissues and genetic and other biological materials that 
                are of use in research on autism spectrum disorder are 
                donated, collected, preserved, and made available for 
                such research.
                    ``(B) Accepted scientific standards.--The program 
                established under paragraph (1) shall be--
                            ``(i) carried out in accordance with 
                        accepted scientific and medical standards for 
                        the donation, collection, and preservation of 
                        such samples; and
                            ``(ii) conducted so that the tissues and 
                        other materials saved, as well as any database 
                        compiled from such tissues and materials, are 
                        available to researchers at a reasonable cost 
                        and on an expedited basis.
    ``(e) Consolidation.--The Secretary, acting through the Director, 
may consolidate program activities under this section if such 
consolidation would improve program efficiencies and outcomes.
    ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            ``(1) In general.--There is authorized to be appropriated--
                    ``(A) $68,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, $74,500,000 
                for fiscal year 2008, $81,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, 
                $87,500,000, for fiscal year 2010, and $94,000,000 for 
                fiscal year 2011, to carry out subsections (a), (b), 
                and (d);
                    ``(B) $24,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, $30,500,000 
                for fiscal year 2008, $37,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, 
                $43,500,000 for fiscal year 2010, and $50,000,000 for 
                fiscal year 2011, to carry out subsection (c)(1); and
                    ``(C) $6,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, $7,500,000 
                for fiscal year 2008, $9,000,000 for fiscal year 2009, 
                $10,500,000 for fiscal year 2010, and $12,000,000 for 
                fiscal year 2011, to carry out subsection (c)(2).
            ``(2) General usage.--Of the amounts appropriated under 
        subparagraphs (B) and (C) of paragraph (1), not to exceed 5 
        percent of such amounts may be utilized by the National 
        Institutes of Health for administrative and other expenses.
    ``(g) Sunset.--This section shall not apply after September 30, 
2011.''.

SEC. 3. DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES SURVEILLANCE AND RESEARCH PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 
U.S.C. 241 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:

                 ``PART R--PROGRAMS RELATING TO AUTISM

``SEC. 399AA. DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES SURVEILLANCE AND RESEARCH 
              PROGRAM.

    ``(a) Autism Spectrum Disorder and Other Developmental 
Disabilities.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the 
        Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, may 
        award grants or cooperative agreements to eligible entities for 
        the collection, analysis, and reporting of State 
        epidemiological data on autism spectrum disorder and other 
        developmental disabilities. An eligible entity shall assist 
        with the development and coordination of State autism spectrum 
        disorder and other developmental disability surveillance 
        efforts within a region. In making such awards, the Secretary 
        may provide direct technical assistance in lieu of cash.
            ``(2) Data standards.--In submitting epidemiological data 
        to the Secretary pursuant to subsection (a), an eligible entity 
        shall report data according to guidelines prescribed by the 
        Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 
        after consultation with relevant State and local public health 
        officials, private sector developmental disability researchers, 
        and advocates for individuals with autism spectrum disorder or 
        other developmental disabilities.
            ``(3) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive an award 
        under paragraph (1), an entity shall be a public or nonprofit 
        private entity (including a health department of a State or a 
        political subdivision of a State, a university, or any other 
        educational institution), and submit to the Secretary an 
        application at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
        information as the Secretary may require.
    ``(b) Centers of Excellence in Autism Spectrum Disorder 
Epidemiology.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary, acting through the 
        Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 
        shall, subject to the availability of appropriations, award 
        grants or cooperative agreements for the establishment of 
        regional centers of excellence in autism spectrum disorder and 
        other developmental disabilities epidemiology for the purpose 
        of collecting and analyzing information on the number, 
        incidence, correlates and causes of autism spectrum disorder 
        and other developmental disabilities.
            ``(2) Requirements.--To be eligible to receive a grant or 
        cooperative agreement under paragraph (1), an entity shall 
        submit to the Secretary an application containing such 
        agreements and information as the Secretary may require, 
        including an agreement that the center to be established under 
        the grant or cooperative agreement shall operate in accordance 
        with the following:
                    ``(A) The center will collect, analyze, and report 
                autism spectrum disorder and other developmental 
                disability data according to guidelines prescribed by 
                the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and 
                Prevention, after consultation with relevant State and 
                local public health officials, private sector 
                developmental disability researchers, and advocates for 
                individuals with developmental disabilities.
                    ``(B) The center will develop or extend an area of 
                special research expertise (including genetics, 
                epigenetics, epidemiological research related to 
                environmental exposures), immunology, and other 
                relevant research specialty areas.
                    ``(C) The center will identify eligible cases and 
                controls through its surveillance system and conduct 
                research into factors which may cause or increase the 
                risk of autism spectrum disorder and other 
                developmental disabilities.
    ``(c) Federal Response.--The Secretary shall coordinate the Federal 
response to requests for assistance from State health, mental health, 
and education department officials regarding potential or alleged 
autism spectrum disorder or developmental disability clusters.
    ``(d) Definitions.--In this part:
            ``(1) Other developmental disabilities.--The term `other 
        developmental disabilities' has the meaning given the term 
        `developmental disability' in section 102(8) of the 
        Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 
        2000 (42 U.S.C. 15002(8)).
            ``(2) State.--The term `State' means each of the several 
        States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
        Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern 
        Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, and the Trust Territory of 
        the Pacific Islands.
    ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section, 
there is authorized to be appropriated, $15,000,000 for fiscal year 
2007, and such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2008 
through 2011.
    ``(f) Sunset.--This section shall not apply after September 30, 
2011.

``SEC. 399BB. AUTISM EDUCATION, EARLY DETECTION, AND INTERVENTION .

    ``(a) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this section--
            ``(1) to increase awareness, reduce barriers to screening 
        and diagnosis, promote evidence-based interventions for 
        individuals with autism spectrum disorder or other 
        developmental disabilities, and train professionals to utilize 
        valid and reliable screening tools to diagnose or rule out and 
        provide evidence-based interventions for children with autism 
        spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities; and
            ``(2) to conduct activities under this section with a focus 
        on an interdisciplinary approach (as defined in programs 
        developed under section 501(a)(2) of the Social Security Act) 
        that will also focus on specific issues for children who are 
        not receiving an early diagnosis and subsequent interventions.
    ``(b) In General.--The Secretary shall, subject to the availability 
of appropriations, establish and evaluate activities to--
            ``(1) provide information and education on autism spectrum 
        disorder and other developmental disabilities to increase 
        public awareness of developmental milestones;
            ``(2) promote research into the development and validation 
        of reliable screening tools for autism spectrum disorder and 
        other developmental disabilities and disseminate information 
        regarding those screening tools;
            ``(3) promote early screening of individuals at higher risk 
        for autism spectrum disorder and other developmental 
        disabilities as early as practicable, given evidence-based 
        screening techniques and interventions;
            ``(4) increase the number of individuals who are able to 
        confirm or rule out a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and 
        other developmental disabilities;
            ``(5) increase the number of individuals able to provide 
        evidence-based interventions for individuals diagnosed with 
        autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities; 
        and
            ``(6) promote the use of evidence-based interventions for 
        individuals at higher risk for autism spectrum disorder and 
        other developmental disabilities as early as practicable.
    ``(c) Information and Education.--
            ``(1) In general.--In carrying out subsection (b)(1), the 
        Secretary, in collaboration with the Secretary of Education and 
        the Secretary of Agriculture, shall, subject to the 
        availability of appropriations, provide culturally competent 
        information regarding autism spectrum disorder and other 
        developmental disabilities, risk factors, characteristics, 
        identification, diagnosis or rule out, and evidence-based 
        interventions to meet the needs of individuals with autism 
        spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities and their 
        families through--
                    ``(A) Federal programs, including--
                            ``(i) the Head Start program;
                            ``(ii) the Early Start program;
                            ``(iii) the Healthy Start program;
                            ``(iv) programs under the Child Care and 
                        Development Block Grant Act of 1990;
                            ``(v) programs under title XIX of the 
                        Social Security Act (particularly the Medicaid 
                        Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and 
                        Treatment Program);
                            ``(vi) the program under title XXI of the 
                        Social Security Act (the State Children's 
                        Health Insurance Program);
                            ``(vii) the program under title V of the 
                        Social Security Act (Maternal and Child Health 
                        Block Grant Program);
                            ``(viii) the program under parts B and C of 
                        the Individuals with Disabilities Education 
                        Act;
                            ``(ix) the special supplemental nutrition 
                        program for women, infants, and children 
                        established under section 17 of the Child 
                        Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C. 1786); and
                            ``(x) the State grant program under the 
                        Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
                    ``(B) State licensed child care facilities; and
                    ``(C) other community-based organizations or points 
                of entry for individuals with autism spectrum disorder 
                and other developmental disabilities to receive 
                services.
            ``(2) Lead agency.--
                    ``(A) Designation.--The governor of a State shall 
                designate a public agency as a lead agency to 
                coordinate the activities provided for under paragraph 
                (1) in the State at the State level.
                    ``(B) Information.--The Governor or a State, acting 
                through the lead agency under subparagraph (A), shall 
                make available to individuals and their family members, 
                guardians, advocates, or authorized representatives, 
                providers, and other appropriate individuals in the 
                State, comprehensive culturally competent information 
                about State and local resources regarding autism 
                spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities, 
                risk factors, characteristics, identification, 
                diagnosis or rule out, available services and supports, 
                and evidence-based interventions. Such information 
                shall be provided through--
                            ``(i) toll-free telephone numbers;
                            ``(ii) Internet websites;
                            ``(iii) mailings; or
                            ``(iv) other means as the Governor may 
                        require.
                    ``(C) Requirements of agency.--In designating the 
                lead agency under subparagraph (A), the Governor 
                shall--
                            ``(i) select an agency that has 
                        demonstrated experience and expertise in--
                                    ``(I) autism spectrum disorder and 
                                other developmental disability issues; 
                                and
                                    ``(II) developing, implementing, 
                                conducting, and administering programs 
                                and delivering education, information, 
                                and referral services (including 
                                technology-based curriculum-development 
                                services) to individuals with 
                                developmental disabilities and their 
                                family members, guardians, advocates or 
                                authorized representatives, providers, 
                                and other appropriate individuals 
                                locally and across the State; and
                            ``(ii) consider input from individuals with 
                        developmental disabilities and their family 
                        members, guardians, advocates or authorized 
                        representatives, providers, and other 
                        appropriate individuals.
    ``(d) Tools.--
            ``(1) In general.--To promote the use of valid and reliable 
        screening tools for autism spectrum disorder and other 
        developmental disabilities, the Secretary shall develop a 
        curriculum for continuing education to assist individuals in 
        recognizing the need for valid and reliable screening tools and 
        the use of such tools.
            ``(2) Collection, storage, coordination, and 
        availability.--The Secretary, in collaboration with the 
        Secretary of Education, shall provide for the collection, 
        storage, coordination, and public availability of tools 
        described in paragraph (1), educational materials and other 
        products that are used by the Federal programs referred to in 
        subsection (c)(1)(A), as well as--
                    ``(A) programs authorized under the Developmental 
                Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000;
                    ``(B) early intervention programs or interagency 
                coordinating council's authorized under part C of the 
                Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; and
                    ``(C) children with special health care needs 
                programs authorized under title V of the Social 
                Security Act.
            ``(3) Required sharing.--In establishing mechanisms and 
        entities under this subsection, the Secretary, and the 
        Secretary of Education, shall ensure the sharing of tools, 
        materials, and products developed under this subsection among 
        entities receiving funding under this section.
    ``(e) Diagnosis.--
            ``(1) Training.--The Secretary, in coordination with 
        activities conducted under title V of the Social Security Act, 
        shall, subject to the availability of appropriations, expand 
        existing interdisciplinary training opportunities or 
        opportunities to increase the number of sites able to diagnose 
        or rule out individuals with autism spectrum disorder or other 
        developmental disabilities and ensure that--
                    ``(A) competitive grants or cooperative agreements 
                are awarded to public or non-profit agencies, including 
                institutions of higher education, to expanding existing 
                or develop new maternal and child health 
                interdisciplinary leadership education in 
                neurodevelopmental and related disabilities programs 
                (similar to the programs developed under section 
                501(a)(2) of the Social Security Act) in States that do 
                not have such a program;
                    ``(B) trainees under such training programs--
                            ``(i) receive an appropriate balance of 
                        academic, clinical, and community 
                        opportunities;
                            ``(ii) are culturally competent;
                            ``(iii) are ethnically diverse;
                            ``(iv) demonstrate a capacity to evaluate, 
                        diagnose or rule out, develop, and provide 
                        evidence-based interventions to individuals 
                        with autism spectrum disorder and other 
                        developmental disabilities; and
                            ``(v) demonstrate an ability to use a 
                        family-centered approach; and
                    ``(C) program sites provide culturally competent 
                services.
            ``(2) Technical assistance.--The Secretary may award one or 
        more grants under this section to provide technical assistance 
        to the network of interdisciplinary training programs.
            ``(3) Best practices.--The Secretary shall promote research 
        into additional valid and reliable tools for shortening the 
        time required to confirm or rule out a diagnosis of autism 
        spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities and 
        detecting individuals with autism spectrum disorder or other 
        developmental disabilities at an earlier age.
    ``(f) Intervention.--The Secretary shall promote research, through 
grants or contracts, to determine the evidence-based practices for 
interventions for individuals with autism spectrum disorder or other 
developmental disabilities, develop guidelines for those interventions, 
and disseminate information related to such research and guidelines.
    ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section, 
there is authorized to be appropriated, $32,000,000 for fiscal year 
2007, $37,000,000 for fiscal year 2008, $42,000,000 for fiscal year 
2009, $47,000,000 for fiscal year 2010, and $52,000,000 for fiscal year 
2011, of which--
            ``(1) $5,000,000 shall be made available in each fiscal 
        year for activities described in subsection (c); and
            ``(2) $3,000,000 shall be made available in fiscal year 
        2007, $6,000,000 in fiscal year 2008, $9,000,000 in fiscal year 
        2009, $12,000,000 in fiscal year 2010, and $15,000,000 in 
        fiscal year 2011, for activities described in subsection (f).
    ``(h) Sunset.--This section shall not apply after September 30, 
2011.

``SEC. 399CC. INTERAGENCY AUTISM COORDINATING COMMITTEE.

    ``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a committee, to 
be known as the `Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee' (in this 
section referred to as the `Committee'), to coordinate all efforts 
within the Department of Health and Human Services concerning autism 
spectrum disorder.
    ``(b) Responsibilities.--In carrying out its duties under this 
section, the Committee shall--
            ``(1) make recommendations concerning the strategic plan 
        described in section 409C(a);
            ``(2) develop and annually update advances in autism 
        spectrum disorder research related to causes, early screening, 
        diagnosis or rule out, intervention, and access to services and 
        supports for individuals with autism spectrum disorder; and
            ``(3) make recommendations to the Secretary regarding the 
        public participation in decisions relating to autism spectrum 
        disorder.
    ``(c) Membership.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Committee shall be composed of--
                    ``(A) the Director of the Centers for Disease 
                Control and Prevention;
                    ``(B) the Director of the National Institutes of 
                Health, and the Directors of such national research 
                institutes of the National Institutes of Health as the 
                Secretary determines appropriate;
                    ``(C) the heads of such other agencies as the 
                Secretary determines appropriate;
                    ``(D) representatives of other Federal Governmental 
                agencies that serve individuals with autism spectrum 
                disorder such as the Department of Education; and
                    ``(E) the additional members appointed under 
                paragraph (2).
            ``(2) Additional members.--Not fewer than 6 members of the 
        Committee, or 1/3 of the total membership of the Committee, 
        whichever is greater, shall be composed of non-federal public 
        members to be appointed by the Secretary, of which--
                    ``(A) at least one such member shall be an 
                individual with a diagnosis of autism spectrum 
                disorder;
                    ``(B) at least one such member shall be a parent or 
                legal guardian of an individual with an autism spectrum 
                disorder; and
                    ``(C) at least one such member shall be a 
                representative of leading research, advocacy, and 
                service organizations for individuals with autism 
                spectrum disorder.
    ``(d) Administrative Support; Terms of Service; Other Provisions.--
The following provisions shall apply with respect to the Committee:
            ``(1) The Committee shall receive necessary and appropriate 
        administrative support from the Secretary.
            ``(2) Members of the Committee appointed under subsection 
        (c)(2) shall serve for a term of 4 years, and may be 
        reappointed for one or more additional 4 year term. 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 
        taken office.
            ``(3) The Committee shall meet at the call of the 
        chairperson or upon the request of the Secretary. The Committee 
        shall meet not fewer than 2 times each year.
            ``(4) All meetings of the Committee shall be public and 
        shall include appropriate time periods for questions and 
        presentations by the public.
    ``(e) Compensation and Expenses.--Members of the Committee who are 
officers or employees of the Federal Government shall serve as members 
of the Committee without compensation in addition to that received in 
their regular government employment. Other members of the Committee 
shall receive compensation at rates not to exceed the daily equivalent 
of the annual rate in effect for grade GS-18 of the General Schedule 
for each day (including travel time) they are engaged in the 
performance of their duties as members of the Committee.
    ``(f) Subcommittees; Establishment and Membership.--In carrying out 
its functions, the Committee may establish subcommittees and convene 
workshops and conferences. Such subcommittees shall be composed of 
Committee members and may hold such meetings as are necessary to enable 
the subcommittees to carry out their duties.
    ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--To carry out this section, 
there is authorized to be appropriated, such sums as may be necessary 
for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2011.
    ``(h) Sunset.--This section shall not apply after September 30, 
2011 and the Committee shall be terminated on such date.

``SEC. 399DD. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

    ``(a) In General.--Not later than 4 years after the date of 
enactment of the Combating Autism Act of 2006, the Secretary, in 
coordination with the Secretary of Education, shall prepare and submit 
to the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee of the Senate 
and the Energy and Commerce Committee of the House of Representatives a 
progress report on activities related to autism spectrum disorder and 
other developmental disabilities.
    ``(b) Contents.--The report submitted under subsection (a) shall 
contain--
            ``(1) a description of the progress made in implementing 
        the provisions of the Combating Autism Act of 2006;
            ``(2) a description of the amounts expended on the 
        implementation of the particular provisions of Combating Autism 
        Act of 2006;
            ``(3) information on the incidence of autism spectrum 
        disorder and trend data of such incidence since the date of 
        enactment of the Combating Autism Act of 2006;
            ``(4) information on the average age of diagnosis for 
        children with autism spectrum disorder and other disabilities, 
        including how that age may have changed over the 4-year period 
        beginning on the date of enactment of this Act;
            ``(5) information on the average age for intervention for 
        individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and other 
        developmental disabilities, including how that age may have 
        changed over the 4-year period beginning on the date of 
        enactment of this Act;
            ``(6) information on the average time between initial 
        screening and then diagnosis or rule out for individuals with 
        autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities, 
        as well as information on the average time between diagnosis 
        and evidence-based intervention for individuals with autism 
        spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities;
            ``(7) information on the effectiveness and outcomes of 
        interventions for individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum 
        disorder, including by various subtypes, and other 
        developmental disabilities and how the age of the child may 
        affect such effectiveness;
            ``(8) information on the effectiveness and outcomes of 
        innovative and newly developed intervention strategies for 
        individuals with autism spectrum disorder or other 
        developmental disabilities; and
            ``(9) information on services and supports provided to 
        individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other 
        developmental disabilities who have reached the age of majority 
        (as defined for purposes of section 615(m) of the Individuals 
        with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1415(m)).''.
    (b) Repeals.--The following sections of the Children's Health Act 
of 2000 (Public Law 106-310) are repealed:
            (1) Section 101 (42 U.S.C. 247b-4a) relating to research 
        activities at the National Institutes of Health.
            (2) Section 102 (42 U.S.C. 247b-4b) relating to the 
        Developmental Disabilities Surveillance and Research Program.
            (3) Section 103 (42 U.S.C. 247b-4c) relating to information 
        and education.
            (4) Section 104 (42 U.S.C. 247b-4d) relating to the Inter-
        Agency Autism Coordinating Committee.
            (5) Section 105 (42 U.S.C. 247b-4e) relating to reports.

            Passed the Senate August 3, 2006.

            Attest:

                                                             Secretary.
109th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                                 S. 843

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT

    To amend the Public Health Service Act to combat autism through 
            research, screening, intervention and education.