Overview
Title
An Act To amend the Public Health Service Act to enhance and reauthorize activities and programs relating to autism spectrum disorder, and for other purposes.
ELI5 AI
The Autism CARES Act of 2024 is a plan to help people who have autism by giving more money to research, education, and support programs, making sure people of all backgrounds get the right help, and improving services for kids as they grow up. It wants to make sure the government keeps an eye on how well these programs are working.
Summary AI
H.R. 7213, titled the "Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support Act of 2024" or the "Autism CARES Act of 2024," aims to amend the Public Health Service Act to enhance and reauthorize programs related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The bill increases funding for research, updates the operational approach of the National Institutes of Health, and emphasizes culturally and linguistically appropriate information and tools. It also focuses on improving engagement with the community, mental health outcomes, caregiver support, and transition services for youth moving into adulthood. Additionally, it calls for more oversight and reports to Congress regarding the progress made in addressing the needs of individuals with ASD and their families.
Published
Keywords AI
Sources
Bill Statistics
Size
Language
Complexity
AnalysisAI
General Summary of the Bill
The proposed legislation, titled the "Autism CARES Act of 2024," aims to amend the Public Health Service Act to enhance and reauthorize activities and programs related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The bill seeks to expand research and intervention efforts across various disciplines, provide technical assistance to improve access to communication tools, and involve public input in shaping initiatives. It outlines budget estimates for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) initiatives related to autism and increases funding authorizations through 2029.
Summary of Significant Issues
Several noteworthy issues arise from this bill:
Budgetary Concerns: The bill proposes increased funding without providing a detailed justification, which raises concerns about potential wasteful spending. This is particularly relevant for the increased appropriations outlined in Section 3.
Ambiguity in Language: The bill's use of broad language, such as consulting "relevant Federal departments and agencies," lacks specificity, potentially leading to legal and administrative issues.
Lack of Specific Funding Allocation: Section 4's provision on technical assistance does not allocate specific funds or set budgetary limits, raising questions about financial oversight.
Transparency and Oversight: The process by which the NIH Director submits budget estimates directly to the President may reduce standard oversight, affecting political accountability.
Program Implementation: Unclear criteria for prioritizing technical assistance and repetitive amendments to terminology may cause confusion in program implementation and consistency.
Impact on the Public
The bill's potential impact on the public is multifaceted. On the one hand, it could significantly improve services and support for individuals with autism by expanding research and emphasizing a comprehensive approach to care. This expansion may lead to advancements in understanding autism spectrum disorder and better support for affected individuals and their families.
Conversely, ambiguous language and lack of detailed budget justifications might lead to inefficient use of resources, potentially diverting funds from other crucial areas. These concerns may foster public skepticism regarding the bill's execution and the effective distribution of aid.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
Individuals with Autism and Families: The bill promises enhanced support, research, and services tailored to the diverse needs of individuals with autism. Families and caregivers might benefit from this expanded focus, especially from increased research into co-occurring conditions.
Healthcare and Research Professionals: These professionals might see increased opportunities for research, intervention testing, and funding. However, they could also face challenges in managing potentially redundant research priorities unless the bill specifies clearer guidelines.
Federal and State Agencies: The requirement for more coordination and reporting could mean increased administrative work. Agencies may need to adopt new strategies to ensure efficient collaboration and public engagement, adding to their operational complexity.
Legislative and Oversight Bodies: These bodies might require more robust mechanisms to ensure compliance and accountability, especially concerning budgetary allocations and transparency issues raised by the bill.
In summary, while the Autism CARES Act of 2024 could bring significant benefits by enhancing support for those affected by autism, it also presents challenges concerning implementation, financial oversight, and the need for clearer legislative language. Addressing these issues would be critical for the bill to achieve its intended outcomes effectively.
Financial Assessment
The commentary on the Autism CARES Act of 2024 reveals several financial aspects and potential concerns regarding the allocation and use of funds detailed within the bill.
Summary of Financial Allocations
The bill outlines several budgetary allocations aimed at enhancing support for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) programs. Specifically, it proposes increases in the authorization of appropriations for various fiscal years:
- Section 3(e)(1): The allocation for certain autism-related activities is adjusted from $23,100,000 for each of the fiscal years 2020 through 2024 to $28,100,000 for each of the fiscal years 2025 through 2029.
- Section 3(e)(2): Another allocation is increased from $50,599,000 for each of the fiscal years 2020 through 2024 to $56,344,000 for each of the fiscal years 2025 through 2029.
- Section 3(e)(3): A larger appropriation is updated from $296,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2020 through 2024 to $306,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2025 through 2029.
Financial Concerns and Issues
Potential Wasteful Spending: The bill proposes increased funding without providing detailed justifications for the new amounts. As noted in the issues section, such financial decisions can be viewed as potentially wasteful if they are not justified with clear evidence of need or expected outcomes. This could lead to financial controversy as the increased allocations might be seen as unchecked or unnecessary spending.
Transparency in Budget Estimates: Section 2 provides for a new process where budget estimates are submitted directly to the President, potentially bypassing standard checks and balances. This process might concern those who value transparency as it reduces oversight and could allow for the adjustment of budget estimates without thorough review.
Lack of Defined Metrics: In Section 4, the bill outlines the provision of training and technical assistance but lacks specific metrics for evaluating their success. This absence makes it difficult to assess the effectiveness of the financial investments, raising concerns over the accountability and usefulness of these expenditures.
Repetitive Funding Increases: The bill repetitively modifies terminology and funding allocations, such as "culturally and linguistically appropriate information," without clear streamlining. While these changes aim to be inclusive, they may cause confusion in funding applications and usage, leading to possible inefficiencies and financial misallocations.
Uncontrolled Spending Risks: The bill allows for the provision of technical assistance without specified allocation limits, which could result in uncontrolled spending or underfunding. The lack of clear budgetary boundaries for these initiatives can lead to financial inefficiencies or inequitable distribution of resources.
Overall, while the bill aims to strengthen support for individuals with autism spectrum disorder through increased funding, the issues identified highlight the importance of clear justifications, transparency, and accountability in financial allocations to prevent potential inefficiencies and wasteful spending.
Issues
The budgetary increases in Section 3 without detailed justification for the increased amounts could be seen as potential wasteful spending, as outlined in subsection (e) of Section 3. These increases could lead to financial controversy if not clearly justified.
The ambiguity in language, particularly in Section 2 regarding which 'relevant Federal departments and agencies' are to be consulted, could lead to legal or administrative challenges if roles and responsibilities are not clearly defined.
The provision in Section 4 that lacks specific allocation of funds or budgetary limits could result in unrestrained spending or underfunding. This raises potential financial concerns about how resources are allocated.
The potential bypass of standard procedures in Section 2's budget estimate process, where the Director submits budget estimates directly to the President, may reduce transparency and oversight, which is a political issue concerning checks and balances.
Unclear guidelines and criteria in Section 4 for prioritizing technical assistance could lead to perceived favoritism or inequity among jurisdictions receiving help, an ethical and administrative concern.
Section 3's repetitive modifications to terminology such as 'culturally and linguistically appropriate information' could be streamlined for legal clarity and to avoid redundancy, which might otherwise cause confusion in implementation.
The expansion of fields and research activities in Section 2 might increase spending significantly, leading to financial concerns regarding the sufficiency of existing funds unless specific budget increments are specified.
In Section 4, there's a lack of defined metrics for assessing the effectiveness of the training and technical assistance provided, which could lead to difficulties in evaluating the success or failure of these programs, a financial and administrative concern.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The Autism CARES Act of 2024 is the official short title of this legislative act.
2. National Institutes of Health activities Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The amendments to Section 409C of the Public Health Service Act focus on expanding research activities related to autism spectrum disorders, including clinical, psychological, and gerontological fields, and emphasize public input and budget preparation for future initiatives. The section also highlights the importance of public engagement and comprehensive care for individuals with autism spectrum disorder and co-occurring conditions.
3. Programs relating to autism Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The text outlines updates to various sections of the Public Health Service Act related to autism programs. It includes amendments to terminology, enhancements in autism education, early detection, and intervention efforts, updates to interagency coordination and reporting, and increases in funding authorizations through 2029.
Money References
- Such report shall include activities and research related to the entire population of individuals with autism spectrum disorder, including those individuals with co-occurring conditions and the full range of needs for supports and services, including such supports and services to ensure the safety, and promote the well-being, of such individuals.”; (3) in subsection (b)— (A) in the heading of subsection (b), by striking “Health and Well-Being” and inserting “Mental Health Needs”; (B) in paragraph (1), by striking “health and well-being” and inserting “mental health needs”; and (C) by amending paragraph (2) to read as follows: “(2) CONTENTS.—The report submitted under paragraph (1) shall contain— “(A) an overview of policies and programs relevant to the mental health of individuals with autism spectrum disorder across their lifespan, including an identification of existing Federal laws, regulations, policies, research, and programs; and “(B) recommendations to improve mental health outcomes and address related disparities in mental health care for individuals with autism spectrum disorder, including prevention, care coordination, and community-based services.”; (4) 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 relevant Federal departments and agencies, as appropriate, shall prepare and 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 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 (Public Law 113–157), and in effect before the date of enactment of the Autism CARES Act of 2019 (Public Law 116–60), concerning young adults with autism spectrum disorder and the challenges related to the transition from existing school-based services to those 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 “there are authorized to be appropriated $296,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024” and inserting “there is authorized to be appropriated $306,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029”. ---
4. Technical assistance to improve access to communication tools Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The Secretary of Health and Human Services can help states, tribes, and other regions by providing training and advice on using federal funds to offer communication tools and services for people with autism or developmental disabilities. Each year, the Secretary must report to Congress on the assistance given and any progress in creating or assessing these tools.