[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 202 (Monday, October 20, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62643-62644]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-24838]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes of Health


 Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee Call for Nominations

SUMMARY: The Office of the Secretary of the Department of Health and 
Human Services (HHS) is seeking nominations of individuals to serve as 
non-federal public members on the Interagency Autism Coordinating 
Committee. The Office of the Secretary has directed the Office of 
Autism Research Coordination (OARC) of the National Institute of Mental 
Health, National Institutes of Health to assist the Department in 
conducting an open and transparent nomination process.

DATES: Nominations are due by Friday, November 14, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Nominations must be sent to Dr. Susan Daniels, Director, 
Office of Autism Research Coordination/NIMH/NIH, 6001 Executive 
Boulevard, Room 6184, Bethesda, MD 20892 by standard or express mail, 
or via email to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Lina Perez, Office of Autism 
Research Coordination, National Institute of Mental Health via email to 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Call for Nominations

    The Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services 
(Secretary) is seeking nominations of individuals to serve as non-
federal public members on the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee 
(IACC), established in accordance with the Combating Autism Act of 2006 
(Pub. L. 109-416) and reauthorized by the Autism Collaboration, 
Accountability, Research, Education and Support Act of 2014 (Pub. L. 
113-157). The Secretary, who will make the final selections and 
appointments of non-federal public members of the IACC, has directed 
the Office of Autism Research Coordination (OARC) of the National 
Institute of Mental Health to assist the Department in conducting an 
open and transparent nomination process.

Eligibility

    Nominations of new non-federal public members are encouraged, and 
current non-federal public members may also be re-nominated to continue 
to serve. Self-nominations and nominations of other individuals are 
both permitted. Only one nomination per individual is required. 
Multiple nominations for the same individual will not increase 
likelihood of selection. The Secretary may select non-federal public 
members from the pool of submitted nominations and other sources as 
needed to meet statutory requirements and to form a balanced committee 
that represents the diversity within the autism spectrum disorder (ASD) 
community (details below). Those eligible for nomination include 
leaders or representatives of major ASD research, advocacy and service 
organizations, parents or guardians of individuals with ASD, 
individuals on the autism spectrum, healthcare and service providers, 
educators, researchers and other individuals with professional or 
personal experience with ASD. In accordance with White House Office of 
Management and Budget guidelines (FR Doc. 2014-19140), federally-
registered lobbyists are not eligible.

Committee Responsibilities

    As specified in the Committee's authorizing statute (section 399CC 
of the Public Health Service Act, 42 U.S.C. 280i-2, as amended), the 
Committee will carry out the following responsibilities: (1) Monitor 
autism spectrum disorder research, and to the extent practicable, 
services and support activities, across all relevant Federal 
departments and agencies, including coordination of Federal activities 
with respect to autism spectrum disorder; (2) develop a summary of 
advances in autism spectrum disorder research related to causes, 
prevention, treatment, early screening, diagnosis or ruling out a 
diagnosis; interventions, including school and community-based 
interventions, and access to services and supports for individuals with 
autism spectrum disorder; (3) make recommendations to the Secretary 
regarding any appropriate changes to such activities, including with 
respect to the strategic plan; (4) make recommendations to the 
Secretary regarding public participation in decisions relating to 
autism spectrum disorder, and the process by which public feedback can 
be better integrated into such decisions; (5) develop a strategic plan 
for the conduct of, and support for, autism spectrum disorder research, 
including, as practicable, for services and supports, for individuals 
with an autism spectrum disorder and the families of such individuals, 
which shall include (A) proposed budgetary requirements; and (B) 
recommendations to ensure that autism spectrum disorder research, and 
services and support activities to the extent practicable, of the 
Department of Health and Human Services and of other Federal 
departments and agencies are not unnecessarily duplicative; and (6) 
submit to Congress and the President: (A) an annual update on the 
summary of advances; and (B) an annual update to the strategic plan, 
including any progress made in achieving the goals outlined in such 
strategic plan.

Committee Composition

    In accordance with the Committee's authorizing statute, ``Not more 
than \1/2\, but not fewer than \1/3\, of the total membership of the 
Committee shall be composed of non-Federal public members appointed by 
the Secretary.''
    All non-Federal public members are appointed as Special Government 
Employees for their service on the IACC, of which:
     At least two such members shall be individuals with a 
diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder;
     At least two such members shall be parents or legal 
guardians of an individual with an autism spectrum disorder; and
     At least two such members shall be representatives of 
leading research, advocacy, and service organizations for individuals 
with autism spectrum disorder.
    The Department strives to ensure that the membership of HHS Federal 
advisory committees is fairly balanced in terms of points of view 
represented and the committee's function. Every effort is made to 
ensure that the views of women, all ethnic and racial groups, and 
people with disabilities are represented on HHS Federal advisory 
committees and, therefore, the Department encourages nominations of 
qualified candidates from these groups. The Department also encourages 
geographic diversity in the composition of the Committee. Appointment 
to this

[[Page 62644]]

Committee shall be made without discrimination on the basis of age, 
race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability, and cultural, 
religious, or socioeconomic status. Requests for reasonable 
accommodation to enable participation on the Committee should be 
indicated in the nomination submission.

 Member Terms

    Non-Federal public members of the Committee ``shall serve for a 
term of 4 years, and may be reappointed for one or more additional 4-
year terms . . . Any member appointed to fill a vacancy for an 
unexpired term shall be appointed for the remainder of such term. A 
member may serve after the expiration of the member's term until a 
successor has been appointed.''

Meetings and Travel

    ``The Committee shall meet at the call of the chairperson or upon 
the request of the Secretary. The Committee shall meet not fewer than 2 
times each year.''
    In the years 2008-2014, the IACC held an average of 16 meetings, 
workshops and phone conferences per year, including full committee, 
subcommittee, working and planning group meetings, and workshops. 
Travel expenses are provided for non-federal public Committee members 
to facilitate attendance at in-person meetings. Members are expected to 
make every effort to attend all full committee and relevant 
subcommittee, working and planning group meetings, and workshops, 
either in person or via remote access options provided.

Submission Instructions and Deadline

    Nominations are due by Friday, November 14, 2014 and may be sent to 
Dr. Susan Daniels, Director, Office of Autism Research Coordination/
NIMH/NIH, 6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 6184, Bethesda, MD 20892 by 
standard or express mail, or via email to 
[email protected]. Nominations should include a cover 
letter of no longer than 3 pages describing the candidate's interest in 
seeking appointment to the IACC, including relevant personal and 
professional experience with ASD, as well as contact information and a 
current curriculum vitae or resume. Up to 2 letters of support are 
permitted in addition to the nomination, with a page limit of 3 pages 
per letter. Please do not include additional materials unless 
requested.
    More information about the IACC is available at www.iacc.hhs.gov.

    Dated: October 1, 2014.
Susan A. Daniels,
Director, Office of Autism Research Coordination, National Institute of 
Mental Health.
[FR Doc. 2014-24838 Filed 10-17-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140-01-P