Autism education, early detection, and intervention

It is the purpose of this section— The Secretary shall, subject to the availability of appropriations, establish and evaluate activities to— In carrying out subsection (b)(1), the Secretary, in collaboration with the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Agriculture, shall, subject to the availability of appropriations, provide culturally and linguistically appropriate information regarding autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities, risk factors, characteristics, identification, diagnosis or rule out, and evidence-based interventions to meet the needs of individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities across their lifespan and the needs of their families through— Federal programs, including— As a condition on the provision of assistance or the conduct of activities under this section with respect to a State, the Secretary may require the Governor of the State— In designating the lead agency under subparagraph (A)(i), the Governor shall— select an agency that has demonstrated experience and expertise in— Information under subparagraph (A)(ii) shall be provided through— To promote the use of valid and reliable screening tools for autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities, the Secretary shall develop a curriculum for continuing education to assist individuals in recognizing the need for valid and reliable screening tools and the use of such tools. The Secretary, in collaboration with the Secretary of Education, shall provide for the collection, storage, coordination, and public availability of tools described in paragraph (1), educational materials and other products that are used by the Federal programs referred to in subsection (c)(1)(A), as well as— In establishing mechanisms and entities under this subsection, the Secretary, and the Secretary of Education, shall ensure the sharing of tools, materials, and products developed under this subsection among entities receiving funding under this section. The Secretary, in coordination with activities conducted under title V of the Social Security Act [42 U.S.C. 701 et seq.], shall, subject to the availability of appropriations, expand, and strengthen the capacity of, existing interdisciplinary training opportunities or opportunities to increase the number of sites able to diagnose or rule out individuals with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities across their lifespan and ensure that— trainees under such training programs— program sites— In making awards under this subsection, the Secretary may prioritize awards to applicants that are developmental-behavioral pediatrician training programs located in rural or underserved areas. In this paragraph, the term “underserved area” means— Not later than 2 years after December 23, 2024, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a report that examines the need for, and feasibility of, expanding the developmental-behavioral pediatrician training programs described in subparagraph (A). The Secretary may award one or more grants under this section to provide technical assistance to the network of interdisciplinary training programs. The Secretary shall promote research into additional valid and reliable tools for shortening the time required to confirm or rule out a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities and detecting individuals with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities at an earlier age. The Secretary shall promote research through grants or contracts, which may include grants or contracts to research centers or networks, to— This section shall not apply after September 30, 2029.