[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 850 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 850

To provide for enhanced treatment, support, services, and research for 
     individuals with autism spectrum disorders and their families.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 14, 2011

 Mr. Durbin (for himself, Mr. Casey, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Lautenberg, and 
 Mrs. Gillibrand) introduced the following bill; which was read twice 
and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To provide for enhanced treatment, support, services, and research for 
     individuals with autism spectrum disorders 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Autism Services 
and Workforce Acceleration Act of 2011''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

                              Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
                              Sec. 2. Findings.
                              Sec. 3. Parental rights rule of 
                                        construction.
                              Sec. 4. Definitions; technical amendment 
                                        to the Public Health Service 
                                        Act.
                              Sec. 5. Autism Care Programs 
                                        Demonstration Project.
                              Sec. 6. Planning and demonstration grants 
                                        for services for transitioning 
                                        youth and adults.
                              Sec. 7. Multimedia campaign.
                              Sec. 8. National training initiatives on 
                                        autism spectrum disorders.
                              Sec. 9. Authorization of appropriations.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress makes the following findings:
            (1) Autism (sometimes called ``classical autism'') is the 
        most common condition in a group of developmental disorders 
        known as autism spectrum disorders.
            (2) Autism spectrum disorders include autism as well as 
        Asperger syndrome, Retts syndrome, childhood disintegrative 
        disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise 
        specified (usually referred to as PDD-NOS), as well as other 
        related developmental disorders.
            (3) Individuals with autism spectrum disorders have the 
        same rights as other individuals to exert control and choice 
        over their own lives, to live independently, and to participate 
        fully in, and contribute to, their communities and society 
        through full integration and inclusion in the economic, 
        political, social, cultural, and educational mainstream of 
        society. Individuals with autism spectrum disorders have the 
        right to a life with dignity and purpose.
            (4) While there is no uniform prevalence or severity of 
        symptoms associated with autism spectrum disorders, the 
        National Institutes of Health has determined that autism 
        spectrum disorders are characterized by 3 distinctive 
        behaviors: impaired social interaction, problems with verbal 
        and nonverbal communication, and unusual, repetitive, or 
        severely limited activities and interests.
            (5) Both children and adults with autism spectrum disorders 
        can show difficulties in verbal and nonverbal communication, 
        social interactions, and sensory processing. Individuals with 
        autism spectrum disorders exhibit different symptoms or 
        behaviors, which may range from mild to significant, and 
        require varying degrees of support from friends, families, 
        service providers, and communities.
            (6) Individuals with autism spectrum disorders often need 
        assistance in the areas of comprehensive early intervention, 
        health, recreation, job training, employment, housing, 
        transportation, and early, primary, and secondary education. 
        Greater coordination and streamlining within the service 
        delivery system will enable individuals with autism spectrum 
        disorders and their families to access assistance from all 
        sectors throughout an individual's lifespan.
            (7) A 2009 report from the Centers for Disease Control and 
        Prevention found that the prevalence of autism spectrum 
        disorders is estimated to be 1 in 110 people in the United 
        States.
            (8) The Harvard School of Public Health reported that the 
        cost of caring for and treating individuals with autism 
        spectrum disorders in the United States is more than 
        $35,000,000,000 annually (an estimated $3,200,000 over an 
        individual's lifetime).
            (9) Although the overall incidence of autism is consistent 
        around the globe, researchers with the Journal of Paediatrics 
        and Child Health have found that males are 4 times more likely 
        to develop an autism spectrum disorder than females. Autism 
        spectrum disorders know no racial, ethnic, or social 
        boundaries, nor differences in family income, lifestyle, or 
        educational levels, and can affect any child.
            (10) Individuals with autism spectrum disorders from low-
        income, rural, and minority communities often face significant 
        obstacles to accurate diagnosis and necessary specialized 
        services, supports, and education.
            (11) There is strong consensus within the research 
        community that intensive treatment as soon as possible 
        following diagnosis not only can reduce the cost of lifelong 
        care by two-thirds, but also yields the most positive life 
        outcomes for children with autism spectrum disorders.
            (12) Individuals with autism spectrum disorders and their 
        families experience a wide range of medical issues. Few common 
        standards exist for the diagnosis and management of many 
        aspects of clinical care. Behavioral difficulties may be 
        attributed to the overarching disorder rather than to the pain 
        and discomfort of a medical condition, which may go undetected 
        and untreated. The health care and other treatments available 
        in different communities can vary widely. Many families, 
        lacking access to comprehensive and coordinated health care, 
        must fend for themselves to find the best health care, 
        treatments, and services in a complex clinical world.
            (13) Effective health care, treatment, and services for 
        individuals with autism spectrum disorders depends upon a 
        continuous exchange among researchers and caregivers. Evidence-
        based and promising autism practices should move quickly into 
        communities, allowing individuals with autism spectrum 
        disorders and their families to benefit from the newest 
        research and enabling researchers to learn from the life 
        experiences of the people whom their work most directly 
        affects.
            (14) There is a critical shortage of appropriately trained 
        personnel across numerous important disciplines who can assess, 
        diagnose, treat, and support children and adults with autism 
        spectrum disorders and their families. Practicing 
        professionals, as well as those in training to become 
        professionals, need the most up-to-date practices informed by 
        the most current research findings.
            (15) The appropriate goals of the Nation regarding 
        individuals with autism spectrum disorder are the same as the 
        appropriate goals of the Nation regarding individuals with 
        disabilities in general, as established in the Americans with 
        Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.): to assure 
        equality of opportunity, full participation, independent 
        living, and economic self-sufficiency for such individuals.
            (16) Finally, individuals with autism spectrum disorders 
        are often denied health care benefits solely because of their 
        diagnosis, even though proven, effective treatments for autism 
        spectrum disorders do exist.

SEC. 3. PARENTAL RIGHTS RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.

    Nothing in this Act shall be construed to modify the legal rights 
of parents or legal guardians under Federal, State, or local law 
regarding the care of their children.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS; TECHNICAL 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--Surveillance and Research Program; Education, Early 
             Detection, and Intervention; and Reporting'';

            (2) in section 399AA(d), by striking ``part'' and inserting 
        ``subpart''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:

  ``Subpart 2--Care for People With Autism Spectrum Disorders; Public 
                               Education

``SEC. 399GG. DEFINITIONS.

    ``Except as otherwise provided, in this subpart:
            ``(1) Adult with autism spectrum disorder.--The term `adult 
        with autism spectrum disorder' means an individual with an 
        autism spectrum disorder who has attained 22 years of age.
            ``(2) Affected individual.--The term `affected individual' 
        means an individual with an autism spectrum disorder.
            ``(3) Autism.--The term `autism' means an autism spectrum 
        disorder or a related developmental disability.
            ``(4) Autism care program.--In this subpart, the term 
        `autism care program' means a program that is directed by a 
        care coordinator who is an expert in autism spectrum disorder 
        treatment and practice and provides an array of medical, 
        psychological, behavioral, educational, and family services to 
        individuals with autism and their families. Such a program 
        shall--
                    ``(A) incorporate the attributes of the care 
                management model;
                    ``(B) offer, through an array of services or 
                through detailed referral and coordinated care 
                arrangements, an autism management team of appropriate 
                providers, including behavioral specialists, 
                physicians, psychologists, social workers, family 
                therapists, nurse practitioners, nurses, educators, and 
                other appropriate personnel; and
                    ``(C) have the capability to achieve improvements 
                in the management and coordination of care for targeted 
                beneficiaries.
            ``(5) Autism management team.--The term `autism management 
        team' means a group of autism care providers, including 
        behavioral specialists, physicians, psychologists, social 
        workers, family therapists, nurse practitioners, nurses, 
        educators, other appropriate personnel, and family members who 
        work in a coordinated manner to treat individuals with autism 
        spectrum disorders and their families. Such team shall 
        determine the specific structure and operational model of its 
        specific autism care program, taking into consideration 
        cultural, regional, and geographical factors.
            ``(6) Autism spectrum disorder.--The term `autism spectrum 
        disorder' means a developmental disability that causes 
        substantial impairments in the areas of social interaction, 
        emotional regulation, communication, and the integration of 
        higher-order cognitive processes and which may be characterized 
        by the presence of unusual behaviors and interests. Such term 
        includes autistic disorder, pervasive developmental disorder 
        (not otherwise specified), Asperger syndrome, Retts disorder, 
        childhood disintegrative disorder, and other related 
        developmental disorders.
            ``(7) Care management model.--The term `care management 
        model' means a model of care that with respect to autism--
                    ``(A) is centered on the relationship between an 
                individual with an autism spectrum disorder and his or 
                her family and their personal autism care coordinator;
                    ``(B) provides services to individuals with autism 
                spectrum disorders to improve the management and 
                coordination of care provided to individuals and their 
                families; and
                    ``(C) has established, where practicable, effective 
                referral relationships between the autism care 
                coordinator and the major medical, educational, and 
                behavioral specialties and ancillary services in the 
                region.
            ``(8) Child with autism spectrum disorder.--The term `child 
        with autism spectrum disorder' means an individual with an 
        autism spectrum disorder who has not attained 22 years of age.
            ``(9) Interventions.--The term `interventions' means the 
        educational methods and positive behavioral support strategies 
        designed to improve or ameliorate symptoms associated with 
        autism spectrum disorders.
            ``(10) Personal care coordinator.--The term `personal care 
        coordinator' means a physician, nurse, nurse practitioner, 
        psychologist, social worker, family therapist, educator, or 
        other appropriate personnel (as determined by the Secretary) 
        who has extensive expertise in treatment and services for 
        individuals with autism spectrum disorders, who--
                    ``(A) practices in an autism care program; and
                    ``(B) has been trained to coordinate and manage 
                comprehensive autism care for the whole person.
            ``(11) Project.--The term `project' means the autism care 
        program demonstration project established under section 399GG-
        1.
            ``(12) Services.--The term `services' means services to 
        assist individuals with autism spectrum disorders to live more 
        independently in their communities and to improve their quality 
        of life.
            ``(13) Treatments.--The term `treatments' means the health 
        services, including mental health and behavioral therapy 
        services, designed to improve or ameliorate symptoms associated 
        with autism spectrum disorders.''.

SEC. 5. AUTISM CARE PROGRAMS DEMONSTRATION PROJECT.

    Part R of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
280i), as amended by section 4, is further amended by adding at the end 
the following:

``SEC. 399GG-1. AUTISM CARE PROGRAMS DEMONSTRATION PROJECT.

    ``(a) In General.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
enactment of the Autism Services and Workforce Acceleration Act of 
2011, the Secretary, acting through the Administrator of the Health 
Resources and Services Administration, shall establish a demonstration 
project for the implementation of an Autism Care Program (referred to 
in this section as the `Program') to provide grants and other 
assistance to improve the effectiveness and efficiency in providing 
comprehensive care to individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum 
disorders and their families.
    ``(b) Goals.--The Program shall be designed--
            ``(1) to increase--
                    ``(A) comprehensive autism spectrum disorder care 
                delivery;
                    ``(B) access to appropriate health care services, 
                especially wellness and prevention care, at times 
                convenient for individuals;
                    ``(C) satisfaction of individuals with autism 
                spectrum disorders;
                    ``(D) communication among autism spectrum disorder 
                health care providers, behaviorists, educators, 
                specialists, hospitals, and other autism spectrum 
                disorder care providers;
                    ``(E) academic progress of students with autism 
                spectrum disorders;
                    ``(F) successful transition to postsecondary 
                education, vocational or job training and placement, 
                and comprehensive adult services for individuals with 
                autism spectrum disorders, focusing in particular upon 
                the transitional period for individuals between the 
                ages of 18 and 25;
                    ``(G) the quality of health care services, taking 
                into account nationally developed standards and 
                measures;
                    ``(H) development, review, and promulgation of 
                common clinical standards and guidelines for medical 
                care to individuals with autism spectrum disorders;
                    ``(I) development of clinical research projects to 
                support clinical findings in a search for recommended 
                practices; and
                    ``(J) the quality of life of individuals with 
                autism spectrum disorders, including communication 
                abilities, social skills, community integration, self-
                determination, and employment and other related 
                services; and
            ``(2) to decrease--
                    ``(A) inappropriate emergency room utilization;
                    ``(B) avoidable hospitalizations;
                    ``(C) the duplication of health care services;
                    ``(D) the inconvenience of multiple provider 
                locations;
                    ``(E) health disparities and inequalities that 
                individuals with autism spectrum disorders face; and
                    ``(F) preventable and inappropriate involvement 
                with the juvenile and criminal justice systems.
    ``(c) Eligible Entities.--To be eligible to receive assistance 
under the Program, an entity shall--
            ``(1) be a State or a public or private nonprofit entity;
            ``(2) coordinate activities with the applicable University 
        Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, the 
        Council on Developmental Disabilities, and the Protection and 
        Advocacy System;
            ``(3) demonstrate a capacity to provide services to 
        individuals with developmental disabilities and autism spectrum 
        disorder;
            ``(4) agree to establish and implement treatments, 
        interventions, and services that--
                    ``(A) enable targeted beneficiaries to designate a 
                personal care coordinator to be their source of first 
                contact and to recommend comprehensive and coordinated 
                care for the whole of the individual;
                    ``(B) provide for the establishment of a 
                coordination of care committee that is composed of 
                clinicians and practitioners trained in and working in 
                autism spectrum disorder intervention;
                    ``(C) establish a network of physicians, 
                psychologists, family therapists, behavioral 
                specialists, social workers, educators, and health 
                centers that have volunteered to participate as 
                consultants to patient-centered autism care programs to 
                provide high-quality care, focusing on autism spectrum 
                disorder care, at the appropriate times and places and 
                in a cost-effective manner;
                    ``(D) work in cooperation with hospitals, local 
                public health departments, and the network of patient-
                centered autism care programs, to coordinate and 
                provide health care;
                    ``(E) utilize health information technology to 
                facilitate the provision and coordination of health 
                care by network participants; and
                    ``(F) collaborate with other entities to further 
                the goals of the program, particularly by collaborating 
                with entities that provide transitional adult services 
                to individuals between the ages of 18 and 25 with 
                autism spectrum disorder, to ensure successful 
                transition of such individuals to adulthood; and
            ``(5) submit to the Secretary an application, at such time, 
        in such manner, and containing such information as the 
        Secretary may require, including--
                    ``(A) a description of the treatments, 
                interventions, or services that the eligible entity 
                proposes to provide under the Program;
                    ``(B) a demonstration of the capacity of the 
                eligible entity to provide or establish such 
                treatments, interventions, and services within such 
                entity;
                    ``(C) a description of the treatments, 
                interventions, or services that are available to 
                individuals with autism in the State;
                    ``(D) a description of the gaps in services that 
                exist in different geographic segments of the State;
                    ``(E) a demonstration of the capacity of the 
                eligible entity to monitor and evaluate the outcomes of 
                the treatments, interventions, and services described 
                in subparagraph (A);
                    ``(F) estimates of the number of individuals and 
                families who will be served by the eligible entity 
                under the Program, including an estimate of the number 
                of such individuals and families in medically 
                underserved areas;
                    ``(G) a description of the ability of the eligible 
                entity to enter into partnerships with community-based 
                or nonprofit providers of treatments, interventions, 
                and services, which may include providers that act as 
                advocates for individuals with autism spectrum 
                disorders and local governments that provide services 
                for individuals with autism spectrum disorders at the 
                community level;
                    ``(H) a description of the ways in which access to 
                such treatments and services may be sustained following 
                the Program period;
                    ``(I) a description of the ways in which the 
                eligible entity plans to collaborate with other 
                entities to develop and sustain an effective protocol 
                for successful transition from children's services to 
                adult services for individuals with autism spectrum 
                disorder, particularly for individuals between the ages 
                of 18 and 25; and
                    ``(J) a description of the compliance of the 
                eligible entity with the integration requirement 
                provided under section 302 of the Americans with 
                Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12182).
    ``(d) Grants.--The Secretary shall award 3-year grants to eligible 
entities whose applications are approved under subsection (c). Such 
grants shall be used to--
            ``(1) carry out a program designed to meet the goals 
        described in subsection (b) and the requirements described in 
        subsection (c); and
            ``(2) facilitate coordination with local communities to be 
        better prepared and positioned to understand and meet the needs 
        of the communities served by autism care programs.
    ``(e) Advisory Councils.--
            ``(1) In general.--Each recipient of a grant under this 
        section shall establish an autism care program advisory 
        council, which shall advise the autism care program regarding 
        policies, priorities, and services.
            ``(2) Membership.--Each recipient of a grant shall appoint 
        members of the recipient's advisory council, which shall 
        include a variety of autism care program service providers, 
        individuals from the public who are knowledgeable about autism 
        spectrum disorders, individuals receiving services through the 
        Program, and family members of such individuals. At least 60 
        percent of the membership shall be comprised of individuals who 
        have received, or are receiving, services through the Program 
        or who are family members of such individuals.
            ``(3) Chairperson.--The recipient of a grant shall appoint 
        a chairperson to the advisory council of the recipient's autism 
        care program who shall be--
                    ``(A) an individual with autism spectrum disorder 
                who has received, or is receiving, services through the 
                Program; or
                    ``(B) a family member of such an individual.
    ``(f) Evaluation.--The Secretary shall enter into a contract with 
an independent third-party organization with expertise in evaluation 
activities to conduct an evaluation and, not later than 180 days after 
the conclusion of the 3-year grant program under this section, submit a 
report to the Secretary, which may include measures such as whether and 
to what degree the treatments, interventions, and services provided 
through the Program have resulted in improved health, educational, 
employment, and community integration outcomes for individuals with 
autism spectrum disorders, or other measures, as the Secretary 
determines appropriate.
    ``(g) Administrative Expenses.--Of the amounts appropriated to 
carry out this section, the Secretary shall allocate not more than 7 
percent for administrative expenses, including the expenses related to 
carrying out the evaluation described in subsection (f).
    ``(h) Supplement Not Supplant.--Amounts provided to an entity under 
this section shall be used to supplement, not supplant, amounts 
otherwise expended for existing treatments, interventions, and services 
for individuals with autism spectrum disorders.''.

SEC. 6. PLANNING AND DEMONSTRATION GRANTS FOR SERVICES FOR 
              TRANSITIONING YOUTH AND ADULTS.

    Part R of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
280i), as amended by section 5, is further amended by adding at the end 
the following:

``SEC. 399GG-2. PLANNING AND DEMONSTRATION GRANTS FOR SERVICES FOR 
              TRANSITIONING YOUTH AND ADULTS.

    ``(a) In General.--
            ``(1) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish the 
        grants described in paragraph (2) in order to enable selected 
        eligible entities to provide appropriate services--
                    ``(A) to youth with autism spectrum disorders who 
                are transitioning from secondary education to careers 
                or postsecondary education (referred to in this section 
                as `transitioning youth'); and
                    ``(B) to adults with autism spectrum disorders, 
                including individuals who are typically underserved, to 
                enable such individuals to be as independent as 
                possible.
            ``(2) Grants.--The grants described in this paragraph are--
                    ``(A) a one-time, single-year planning grant 
                program for eligible entities; and
                    ``(B) a multiyear service provision demonstration 
                grant program for selected eligible entities.
    ``(b) Purpose of Grants.--Grants shall be awarded to eligible 
entities to provide all or part of the funding needed to carry out 
programs that focus on critical aspects of life for transitioning youth 
and adults with autism spectrum disorders, such as--
            ``(1) postsecondary education, vocational training, self-
        advocacy skills, and employment;
            ``(2) residential services and supports, housing, and 
        transportation;
            ``(3) nutrition, health and wellness, recreational and 
        social activities; and
            ``(4) personal safety and the needs of individuals with 
        autism spectrum disorders who become involved with the criminal 
        justice system.
    ``(c) Eligible Entity.--An eligible entity desiring to receive a 
grant under this section shall be a State or other public or private 
nonprofit organization, including an autism care program.
    ``(d) Planning Grants.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall award one-time 
        grants to eligible entities to support the planning and 
        development of initiatives that will expand and enhance service 
        delivery systems for transitioning youth and adults with autism 
        spectrum disorders.
            ``(2) Application.--In order to receive such a grant, an 
        eligible entity shall--
                    ``(A) submit an application at such time and 
                containing such information as the Secretary may 
                require; and
                    ``(B) demonstrate the ability to carry out such 
                planning grant in coordination with the State 
                Developmental Disabilities Council and organizations 
                representing or serving individuals with autism 
                spectrum disorders and their families.
    ``(e) Implementation Grants.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall award grants to 
        eligible entities that have received a planning grant under 
        subsection (d) to enable such entities to provide appropriate 
        services to transitioning youth and adults with autism spectrum 
        disorders.
            ``(2) Application.--In order to receive a grant under 
        paragraph (1), the eligible entity shall submit an application 
        at such time and containing such information as the Secretary 
        may require, including--
                    ``(A) the services that the eligible entity 
                proposes to provide and the expected outcomes for 
                individuals with autism spectrum disorders who receive 
                such services;
                    ``(B) the number of individuals and families who 
                will be served by such grant, including an estimate of 
                the individuals 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 transitioning youth and adults with 
                disabilities, including community-based services;
                    ``(D) where applicable, the process through which 
                the eligible entity will distribute funds to a range of 
                community-based or nonprofit providers of services, 
                including local governments, and such entity's capacity 
                to provide such services;
                    ``(E) the process through which the eligible entity 
                will monitor and evaluate the outcome of activities 
                funded through the grant, including the effect of the 
                activities upon adults with autism spectrum disorders 
                who receive such services;
                    ``(F) the plans of the eligible entity to 
                coordinate and streamline transitions from youth to 
                adult services;
                    ``(G) the process by which the eligible entity 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
                    ``(H) a description of how such services may be 
                sustained following the grant period.
    ``(f) Evaluation.--The Secretary shall contract with a third-party 
organization with expertise in evaluation to evaluate such 
demonstration grant program and, not later than 180 days after the 
conclusion of the grant program under subsection (e), submit a report 
to the Secretary. The evaluation and report may include an analysis of 
whether and to what extent the services provided through the grant 
program described in this section resulted in improved health, 
education, employment, and community integration outcomes for adults 
with autism spectrum disorders, or other measures, as the Secretary 
determines appropriate.
    ``(g) Administrative Expenses.--Of the amounts appropriated to 
carry out this section, the Secretary shall set aside not more than 7 
percent for administrative expenses, including the expenses related to 
carrying out the evaluation described in subsection (f).
    ``(h) Supplement, Not Supplant.--Demonstration grant funds provided 
under this section shall supplement, not supplant, existing treatments, 
interventions, and services for individuals with autism spectrum 
disorders.''.

SEC. 7. MULTIMEDIA CAMPAIGN.

    Part R of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
280i), as amended by section 6, is further amended by adding at the end 
the following:

``SEC. 399GG-3. MULTIMEDIA CAMPAIGN.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary, in order to enhance existing 
awareness campaigns and provide for the implementation of new 
campaigns, shall award grants to public and nonprofit private entities 
for the purpose of carrying out multimedia campaigns to increase public 
education and awareness and reduce stigma concerning--
            ``(1) healthy developmental milestones for infants and 
        children that may assist in the early identification of the 
        signs and symptoms of autism spectrum disorders; and
            ``(2) autism spectrum disorders through the lifespan and 
        the challenges that individuals with autism spectrum disorders 
        face, which may include transitioning into adulthood, securing 
        appropriate job training or postsecondary education, securing 
        and holding jobs, finding suitable housing, interacting with 
        the correctional system, increasing independence, and attaining 
        a good quality of life.
    ``(b) Eligibility.--To be eligible to receive a grant under 
subsection (a), an entity shall--
            ``(1) submit to the Secretary an application at such time, 
        in such manner, and containing such information as the 
        Secretary may require; and
            ``(2) provide assurance that the multimedia campaign 
        implemented under such grant will provide information that is 
        tailored to the intended audience, which may be a diverse 
        public audience or a specific audience, such as health 
        professionals, criminal justice professionals, or emergency 
        response professionals.''.

SEC. 8. NATIONAL TRAINING INITIATIVES ON AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS.

    Part R of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 
280i), as amended by section 7, is further amended by adding at the end 
the following:

``SEC. 399GG-4. NATIONAL TRAINING INITIATIVES ON AUTISM SPECTRUM 
              DISORDERS.

    ``(a) National Training Initiative Supplemental Grants.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall award multiyear 
        national training initiative supplemental grants to eligible 
        entities so that such entities may provide training and 
        technical assistance and to disseminate information, in order 
        to enable such entities to address the unmet needs of 
        individuals with autism spectrum disorders and their families.
            ``(2) Eligible entity.--To be eligible to receive 
        assistance under this section an entity shall--
                    ``(A) be a public or private nonprofit entity, 
                including University Centers for Excellence in 
                Developmental Disabilities and other service, training, 
                and academic entities; and
                    ``(B) submit an application as described in 
                paragraph (3).
            ``(3) Requirements.--An eligible entity 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--
                    ``(A) provide training and technical assistance in 
                evidence-based practices of effective interventions, 
                services, treatments, and supports to children and 
                adults on the autism spectrum and their families, and 
                evaluate the implementation of such practices;
                    ``(B) provide trainees with an appropriate balance 
                of interdisciplinary academic and community-based 
                experiences;
                    ``(C) have a demonstrated capacity to include 
                individuals with autism spectrum disorders, parents, 
                and family members as part of the training program to 
                ensure that a person and family-centered approach is 
                used;
                    ``(D) provide to the Secretary, in the manner 
                prescribed by the Secretary, data regarding the 
                outcomes of the provision of training and technical 
                assistance;
                    ``(E) demonstrate a capacity to share and 
                disseminate materials and practices that are developed 
                and evaluated to be effective in the provision of 
                training and technical assistance; and
                    ``(F) provide assurances that training, technical 
                assistance, and information dissemination 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.
            ``(4) Activities.--An entity that receives a grant under 
        this section shall expand and develop interdisciplinary 
        training and continuing education initiatives for health, 
        allied health, and educational professionals by engaging in the 
        following activities:
                    ``(A) Promoting and engaging in training for 
                health, allied health, and educational professionals to 
                identify, diagnose, and develop interventions for 
                individuals with, or at risk of developing, autism 
                spectrum disorders.
                    ``(B) Expanding the availability of training and 
                dissemination of information regarding effective, 
                lifelong interventions, educational services, and 
                community supports.
                    ``(C) Providing training and technical assistance 
                in collaboration with relevant State, regional, or 
                national agencies, institutions of higher education, 
                and advocacy groups or community-based service 
                providers, including health and allied health 
                professionals, employment providers, direct support 
                professionals, emergency first responder personnel, and 
                law enforcement officials.
                    ``(D) 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.
                    ``(E) Collecting data on the outcomes of training 
                and technical assistance programs to meet statewide 
                needs for the expansion of services to children with 
                autism spectrum disorders and adults with autism 
                spectrum disorders.
    ``(b) 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 the entities receiving grants under subsection (a) to 
enable such entities to--
            ``(1) assist in national dissemination of specific 
        information, including evidence-based and promising best 
        practices, from interdisciplinary training programs, and when 
        appropriate, other entities whose findings would inform the 
        work performed by entities awarded grants;
            ``(2) 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 programs;
            ``(3) assist in the coordination of activities of grantees 
        under this section;
            ``(4) develop an Internet 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;
            ``(5) convene experts from multiple interdisciplinary 
        training programs and individuals with autism spectrum 
        disorders 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 and adults with autism spectrum disorders; and
            ``(6) undertake any other functions that the Secretary 
        determines to be appropriate.
    ``(c) Supplement Not Supplant.--Amounts provided under this section 
shall be used to supplement, not supplant, amounts otherwise expended 
for existing network or organizational structures.''.

SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated for fiscal years 2012 
through 2016 such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act.
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