[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4762 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

<DOC>






118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 4762

  To amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize programs and 
          research relating to autism, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 24, 2024

Mr. Lujan (for himself and Ms. Collins) introduced the following bill; 
     which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, 
                     Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize programs and 
          research relating to autism, and for other purposes.

    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 ``Autism Collaboration, 
Accountability, Research, Education, and Support Act of 2024'' or the 
``Autism CARES Act of 2024''.

SEC. 2. PROGRAMS RELATING TO AUTISM.

    (a) Developmental Disabilities Surveillance and Research Program.--
Section 399AA of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280i) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(3), by striking ``tribe, or a 
        tribal'' and inserting ``Tribe, or a Tribal'';
            (2) in subsection (d)(1)--
                    (A) in the paragraph heading, by striking ``tribe; 
                tribal'' and inserting ``Tribe; tribal'';
                    (B) by striking ``tribe'' and inserting ``Tribe''; 
                and
                    (C) by striking ``tribal'' and inserting 
                ``Tribal''; and
            (3) in subsection (e), by striking ``2024'' and inserting 
        ``2029''.
    (b) Autism Education, Early Detection, and Intervention.--Section 
399BB of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280i-1) is amended--
            (1) in subsections (b)(1) and (c), by striking ``culturally 
        competent'' each place it appears and inserting ``culturally 
        and linguistically appropriate'';
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``screening'' 
                each place it appears and inserting ``screening and 
                diagnostic'';
                    (B) in paragraph (3), by striking ``higher risk'' 
                and inserting ``increased likelihood''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (7), by striking ``higher risk'' 
                and inserting ``increased likelihood'';
            (3) in subsection (e)(2), by adding at the end the 
        following:
                    ``(C) Report.--Not later than 2 years after the 
                date of enactment of the Autism CARES Act of 2024, the 
                Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Health, 
                Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the 
                Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of 
                Representatives a report that examines the need for 
                developmental-behavioral pediatricians and the 
                feasibility of expanding the developmental-behavioral 
                pediatrician training programs described in 
                subparagraph (A).'';
            (4) by amending subsection (f) to read as follows:
    ``(f) Intervention.--The Secretary shall promote research, through 
grants or contracts, which may include grants or contracts to research 
centers or networks, to--
            ``(1) develop and evaluate evidence-based practices and 
        interventions to improve outcomes for individuals with autism 
        spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities by 
        addressing physical and behavioral health and communication 
        needs of such individuals across the lifespan;
            ``(2) develop guidelines for such evidence-based 
        interventions; and
            ``(3) disseminate information related to such evidence-
        based practices and interventions and guidelines.''; and
            (5) in subsection (g), by striking ``2024'' and inserting 
        ``2029''.
    (c) Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee.--Section 399CC of 
the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280i-2) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``develop a 
                summary of'' and inserting ``summarize, on an annual 
                basis,'';
                    (B) in paragraph (5)(A), by striking ``proposed 
                budgetary requirements'' and inserting ``a professional 
                judgment of anticipated budgetary needs''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (6)(B), by striking ``an annual'' 
                and inserting ``a biennial''; and
            (2) in subsection (f), by striking ``2024'' and inserting 
        ``2029''.
    (d) Reports to Congress.--Section 399DD of the Public Health 
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280i-3) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``2019'' each place it appears and 
        inserting ``2024'';
            (2) in subsection (a)(1)--
                    (A) in the paragraph heading, by striking ``In 
                general'' and inserting ``In general'';
                    (B) by striking ``Health, Education, Labor, and 
                Pensions Committee of the Senate and the Energy and 
                Commerce Committee'' and inserting ``Committee on 
                Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate 
                and the Committee on Energy and Commerce''; and
                    (C) by striking ``Internet Web site'' and inserting 
                ``website''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
    ``(c) Update on Young Adults and Youth Transitioning to 
Adulthood.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of the 
Autism CARES Act of 2024, the Secretary, in coordination with other 
Federal departments and agencies that serve individuals with autism 
spectrum disorder, shall prepare and submit to the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee on 
Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives an update to the 
report required pursuant to subsection (b) of this section, as added by 
section 6 of the Autism CARES Act of 2014 and in effect before the date 
of enactment of the Autism CARES Act of 2019, concerning young adults 
with autism spectrum disorder and the challenges related to the 
transition from existing school-based services to services available 
during adulthood.''.
    (e) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 399EE of the Public 
Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280i-4) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``$23,100,000 for each 
        of fiscal years 2020 through 2024'' and inserting ``$28,100,000 
        for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029'';
            (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``$50,599,000 for each 
        of fiscal years 2020 through 2024'' and inserting ``$56,344,000 
        for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029''; and
            (3) in subsection (c), by striking ``$296,000,000 for each 
        of fiscal years 2020 through 2024'' and inserting 
        ``$306,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029''.

SEC. 3. EXPANSION, INTENSIFICATION, AND COORDINATION OF ACTIVITIES OF 
              NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH WITH RESPECT TO RESEARCH ON 
              AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER.

    Section 409C of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 284g) is 
amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)--
                            (i) by striking ``including pathology'' and 
                        inserting ``such as pathology''; and
                            (ii) by inserting ``psychiatry, psychology, 
                        gerontology, developmental behavioral 
                        pediatrics, audiology,'' after ``toxicology,''; 
                        and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) Considerations.--In carrying out this section, the 
        Director shall take into consideration the various needs of 
        individuals with autism spectrum disorder with respect to 
        services and supports and addressing co-occurring 
        conditions.''; and
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``gerontology,'' 
                after ``behavioral psychology,''; and
                    (B) in paragraph (5)(B), by striking ``period of'' 
                and inserting ``period''.

SEC. 4. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO COMMUNICATION TOOLS.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of Health and Human Services 
(referred to in this section as the ``Secretary'') may, at the request 
of a State, Indian Tribe or Tribal organization, locality, or 
territory, provide training and technical assistance to such 
jurisdiction on the manner in which Federal funding administered by the 
Secretary may be used to provide individuals with autism spectrum 
disorder and other developmental disabilities with access to evidence-
based services, tools, and technologies that support communication 
needs.
    (b) Annual Report.--The Secretary shall annually prepare and submit 
to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the 
Senate and the Committee on Education and the Workforce and the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives a 
report summarizing any technical assistance provided by the Secretary 
in the preceding fiscal year under subsection (a) and any advancements 
in the development or evaluation of such evidence-based services, 
tools, and technologies.
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