[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 937 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 937

 To improve support and services for individuals with autism and their 
                               families.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 20, 2007

  Mrs. Clinton (for herself and Mr. Allard) introduced the following 
  bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, 
                     Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 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 natural part of the human experience. 
        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.
            (2) Autism is a complex developmental disability that 
        affects the functioning of the brain and lasts through a 
        person's lifetime.
            (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>