PUBL060.PS

PUBLIC LAW 116–60—SEPT. 30, 2019

AUTISM COLLABORATION, ACCOUNTABILITY,

RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND SUPPORT ACT

OF 2019

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133 STAT. 1110 PUBLIC LAW 116–60—SEPT. 30, 2019

Public Law 116–60

116th Congress

An Act

To amend the Public Health Service Act to enhance activities of the National

Institutes of Health with respect to research on autism spectrum disorder and

enhance programs 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, Account-

ability, Research, Education, and Support Act of 2019’’ or the

‘‘Autism CARES Act of 2019’’.

SEC. 2. EXPANSION, INTENSIFICATION, AND COORDINATION OF

ACTIVITIES OF THE NIH 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)(1)—

(A) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘and toxicology’’

and inserting ‘‘toxicology, and interventions to maximize

outcomes for individuals with autism spectrum disorder’’;

and

(B) by striking the second sentence and inserting the

following: ‘‘Such research shall investigate the causes

(including possible environmental causes), diagnosis or

ruling out, early and ongoing detection, prevention, services

across the lifespan, supports, intervention, and treatment

of autism spectrum disorder, including dissemination and

implementation of clinical care, supports, interventions,

and treatments.’’;

(2) in subsection (b)—

(A) in paragraph (2)—

(i) in the second sentence, by striking ‘‘cause’’ and

all that follows through ‘‘disorder’’ and inserting

‘‘causes, diagnosis, early and ongoing detection, preven-

tion, and treatment of autism spectrum disorder across

the lifespan’’; and

(ii) in the third sentence, by striking ‘‘neurobiology’’

and all that follows through the period and inserting

‘‘neurobiology, genetics, genomics,

psychopharmacology, developmental psychology,

behavioral psychology, and clinical psychology.’’; and

(B) in paragraph (3), by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(D) R

EDUCING DISPARITIES

.—The Director may con-

sider, as appropriate, the extent to which a center can

42 USC 201 note.

Autism

Collaboration,

Accountability,

Research,

Education, and

Support Act

of 2019.

Sept. 30, 2019

[H.R. 1058]

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133 STAT. 1111 PUBLIC LAW 116–60—SEPT. 30, 2019

demonstrate availability and access to clinical services for

youth and adults from diverse racial, ethnic, geographic,

or linguistic backgrounds in decisions about awarding

grants to applicants which meet the scientific criteria for

funding under this section.’’.

SEC. 3. PROGRAMS RELATING TO AUTISM.

(a) D

EVELOPMENTAL

ISABILITIES

URVEILLANCE AND

ESEARCH

ROGRAM

.—Section 399AA of the Public Health Service Act (42

U.S.C. 280i) is amended—

(1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ‘‘adults on autism spec-

trum disorder’’ and inserting ‘‘adults with autism spectrum

disorder’’;

(2) in subsection (a)(2)—

(A) by striking ‘‘State and local public health officials’’

and inserting ‘‘State, local, and Tribal public health offi-

cials’’;

(B) by striking ‘‘or other developmental disabilities’’

and inserting ‘‘and other developmental disabilities’’;

(3) in subsection (a)(3), by striking ‘‘a university, or any

other educational institution’’ and inserting ‘‘a university, any

other educational institution, an Indian tribe, or a tribal

organization’’;

(4) in subsection (b)(2)(A), by striking ‘‘relevant State and

local public health officials, private sector developmental dis-

ability researchers, and advocates for individuals with develop-

mental disabilities’’ and inserting ‘‘State, local, and Tribal

public health officials, private sector developmental disability

researchers, advocates for individuals with autism spectrum

disorder, and advocates for individuals with other develop-

mental disabilities’’;

(5) in subsection (d)—

(A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as para-

graphs (2) and (3), respectively; and

(B) by inserting before paragraph (2), as so redesig-

nated, the following new paragraph:

‘‘(1) I

NDIAN TRIBE

;

TRIBAL ORGANIZATION

.—The terms

‘Indian tribe’ and ‘tribal organization’ have the meanings given

such terms in section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement

Act.’’; and

(6) in subsection (e), by striking ‘‘2019’’ and inserting

‘‘2024’’.

(b) A

UTISM

DUCATION

, E

ARLY

ETECTION

AND

NTERVEN

TION

.—Section 399BB of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.

280i–1) is amended—

(1) in subsection (a)(1)—

(A) by striking ‘‘individuals with autism spectrum dis-

order or other developmental disabilities’’ and inserting

‘‘individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other

developmental disabilities’’; and

(B) by striking ‘‘children with autism spectrum dis-

order’’ and all that follows through ‘‘disabilities;’’ and

inserting ‘‘individuals with autism spectrum disorder and

other developmental disabilities across their lifespan;’’;

(2) in subsection (b)—

(A) in paragraph (2), by inserting ‘‘individuals with’’

before ‘‘autism spectrum disorder’’;

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133 STAT. 1112 PUBLIC LAW 116–60—SEPT. 30, 2019

(B) by redesignating paragraphs (4) through (6) as

paragraphs (5) through (7), respectively; and

‘‘(4) promote evidence-based screening techniques and inter-

ventions for individuals with autism spectrum disorder and

other developmental disabilities across their lifespan;’’;

(3) in subsection (c)—

(A) in paragraph (1), in the matter preceding subpara-

graph (A), by striking ‘‘the needs of individuals with autism

spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities and

their families’’ and inserting ‘‘the needs of individuals with

autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabil-

ities across their lifespan and the needs of their families’’;

and

(B) in paragraph (2)—

(i) in subparagraph (A)(ii), by striking ‘‘caregivers

of individuals with an autism spectrum disorder’’ and

inserting ‘‘caregivers of individuals with autism spec-

trum disorder or other developmental disabilities’’;

(ii) in subparagraph (B)(i)(II), by inserting ‘‘autism

spectrum disorder and’’ after ‘‘individuals with’’; and

(iii) in subparagraph (B)(ii), by inserting ‘‘autism

spectrum disorder and’’ after ‘‘individuals with’’;

(4) in subsection (e)—

(A) in paragraph (1)—

(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by

inserting ‘‘across their lifespan’’ before ‘‘and ensure’’;

and

(ii) in subparagraph (B)(iv), by inserting ‘‘across

their lifespan’’ after ‘‘other developmental disabilities’’;

(B) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as para-

graphs (3) and (4), respectively; and

‘‘(2) D

EVELOPMENTAL

BEHAVIORAL PEDIATRICIAN TRAINING

PROGRAMS

.—

‘‘(A) I

N GENERAL

.—In making awards under this sub-

section, the Secretary may prioritize awards to applicants

that are developmental-behavioral pediatrician training

programs located in rural or underserved areas.

‘‘(B) D

EFINITION OF UNDERSERVED AREA

.—In this para-

graph, the term ‘underserved area’ means—

‘‘(i) a health professional shortage area (as defined

in section 332(a)(1)(A)); and

‘‘(ii) an urban or rural area designated by the

Secretary as an area with a shortage of personal health

services (as described in section 330(b)(3)(A)).’’;

(5) in subsection (f), by inserting ‘‘across the lifespan of

such individuals’’ after ‘‘other developmental disabilities’’; and

(6) in subsection (g), by striking ‘‘2019’’ and inserting

‘‘2024’’.

NTERAGENCY

UTISM

OORDINATING

OMMITTEE

.—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 inserting ‘‘across the lifespan

of such individuals’’ before the semicolon; and

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133 STAT. 1113 PUBLIC LAW 116–60—SEPT. 30, 2019

(B) in paragraph (5), by inserting ‘‘across the lifespan

of such individuals’’ before ‘‘and the families’’;

(2) in subsection (c)—

(A) in paragraph (1)(D), by inserting ‘‘, the Department

of Labor, the Department of Justice, the Department of

Veterans Affairs, the Department of Housing and Urban

Development,’’ after ‘‘Department of Education’’;

(B) in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of paragraph

(2), by striking ‘‘at least two such members’’ each place

it appears and inserting ‘‘at least three such members’’;

tional 4-year terms’’ and inserting ‘‘one additional 4-year

term’’; and

(3) in subsection (f), by striking ‘‘2019’’ and inserting ‘‘2024’’.

(d) R

EPORTS TO

ONGRESS

.—Section 399DD of the Public Health

Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280i–3) is amended—

(1) in subsection (a)—

(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘Autism CARES Act

of 2014’’ and inserting ‘‘Autism CARES Act of 2019’’; and

(B) in paragraph (2)—

(i) in subparagraphs (A), (B), (D), and (E), by

striking ‘‘Autism CARES Act of 2014’’ each place it

appears and inserting ‘‘Autism CARES Act of 2019’’;

(ii) in subparagraph (G), by striking ‘‘age of the

child’’ and inserting ‘‘age of the individual’’;

(iii) in subparagraph (H), by striking ‘‘; and’’ and

inserting ‘‘;’’;

(iv) in subparagraph (I), by striking the period

and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and

(v) by adding at the end the following:

‘‘(J) information on how States use home- and commu-

nity-based services and other supports to ensure that

individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other

developmental disabilities are living, working, and partici-

pating in their community.’’; and

(2) in subsection (b)—

(A) in the heading, by striking ‘‘Y

OUNG

DULTS AND

RANSITIONING

OUTH

’’ and inserting ‘‘

THE

EALTH AND

ELL

-B

EING OF

NDIVIDUALS

ITH

UTISM

PECTRUM

ORDER

CROSS

HEIR

IFESPAN

’’;

(B) by amending paragraph (1) to read as follows:

‘‘(1) I

N GENERAL

.—Not later than 2 years after the date

of enactment of the Autism CARES Act of 2019, the Secretary

shall prepare and submit, to the Committee on Health, Edu-

cation, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate and the Committee

on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives,

a report concerning the health and well-being of individuals

with autism spectrum disorder.’’; and

(i) by amending subparagraph (A) to read as fol-

lows:

‘‘(A) demographic factors associated with the health

and well-being of individuals with autism spectrum dis-

order;’’;

(ii) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘young adults’’

and all that follows through the semicolon and

inserting ‘‘the health and well-being of individuals with

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133 STAT. 1114 PUBLIC LAW 116–60—SEPT. 30, 2019

autism spectrum disorder, including an identification

of existing Federal laws, regulations, policies, research,

and programs;’’; and

(iii) by amending subparagraphs (C), (D), and (E)

to read as follows:

‘‘(C) recommendations on establishing best practices

guidelines to ensure interdisciplinary coordination between

all relevant service providers receiving Federal funding;

‘‘(D) comprehensive approaches to improving health

outcomes and well-being for individuals with autism spec-

trum disorder, including—

‘‘(i) community-based behavioral supports and

interventions;

‘‘(ii) nutrition, recreational, and social activities;

and

‘‘(iii) personal safety services related to public

safety agencies or the criminal justice system for such

individuals; and

‘‘(E) recommendations that seek to improve health out-

comes for such individuals, including across their lifespan,

by addressing—

‘‘(i) screening and diagnosis of children and adults;

‘‘(ii) behavioral and other therapeutic approaches;

‘‘(iii) primary and preventative care;

‘‘(iv) communication challenges;

‘‘(v) aggression, self-injury, elopement, and other

behavioral issues;

‘‘(vi) emergency room visits and acute care hos-

pitalization;

‘‘(vii) treatment for co-occurring physical and

mental health conditions;

‘‘(viii) premature mortality;

‘‘(ix) medical practitioner training; and

‘‘(x) caregiver mental health.’’.

(e) A

UTHORIZATION OF

PPROPRIATIONS

.—Section 399EE of the

Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280i–4) is amended—

(1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘$22,000,000 for each

of fiscal years 2015 through 2019’’ and inserting ‘‘$23,100,000

for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024’’;

(2) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘$48,000,000 for each

of fiscal years 2015 through 2019’’ and inserting ‘‘$50,599,000

for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024’’; and

(3) in subsection (c), by striking ‘‘there is authorized to

be appropriated $190,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2015

Recommenda-

tions.

Recommenda-

tions.

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133 STAT. 1115 PUBLIC LAW 116–60—SEPT. 30, 2019

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 1058:

HOUSE REPORTS: No. 116–177 (Comm. on Energy and Commerce).

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 165 (2019):

July 24, considered and passed House.

Sept. 19, considered and passed Senate.

through 2019’’ and inserting ‘‘there are authorized to be appro-

priated $296,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through

2024’’.

Approved September 30, 2019.

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