42 U.S.C. § 280i–3. Reports to Congress

1. (a)
   (a)

   Progress report

   1. (1)
      (a)(1)

      In general

      Not later than 4 years after August 8, 2014, the Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Education and the Secretary of Defense, shall prepare and submit to the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee of the Senate and the Energy and Commerce Committee of the House of Representatives, and make publicly available, including through posting on the Internet Web site of the Department of Health and Human Services, a progress report on activities related to autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities.
   2. (2)
      (a)(2)

      Contents

      The report submitted under subsection (a) shall contain—

      1. (A)
         (a)(2)(A)a description of the progress made in implementing the provisions of the Autism CARES Act of 2014;
      2. (B)
         (a)(2)(B)a description of the amounts expended on the implementation of the amendments made by the Autism CARES Act of 2014;
      3. (C)
         (a)(2)(C)information on the incidence and prevalence of autism spectrum disorder, including available information on the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder among children and adults, and identification of any changes over time with respect to the incidence and prevalence of autism spectrum disorder;
      4. (D)
         (a)(2)(D)information on the average age of diagnosis for children with autism spectrum disorder and other disabilities, including how that age may have changed over the 4-year period beginning on August 8, 2014, and, as appropriate, how this age varies across population subgroups;
      5. (E)
         (a)(2)(E)information on the average age for intervention for individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities, including how that age may have changed over the 4-year period beginning on August 8, 2014, and, as appropriate, how this age varies across population subgroups;
      6. (F)
         (a)(2)(F)information on the average time between initial screening and then diagnosis or rule out for individuals with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities, as well as information on the average time between diagnosis and evidence-based intervention for individuals with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities and, as appropriate, on how such average time varies across population subgroups;
      7. (G)
         (a)(2)(G)information on the effectiveness and outcomes of interventions for individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, including by severity level as practicable, and other developmental disabilities and how the age of the child or other factors, such as demographic characteristics, may affect such effectiveness;
      8. (H)
         (a)(2)(H)information on the effectiveness and outcomes of innovative and newly developed intervention strategies for individuals with autism spectrum disorder or other developmental disabilities; and
      9. (I)
         (a)(2)(I)a description of the actions taken to implement and the progress made on implementation of the strategic plan developed by the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee under section 280i–2(b) of this title.
2. (b)
   (b)

   Report on young adults and transitioning youth

   1. (1)
      (b)(1)

      In general

      Not later than 2 years after August 8, 2014, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in coordination with the Secretary of Education and in collaboration with the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of Labor, the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, and the Attorney General, 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, a report 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.
   2. (2)
      (b)(2)

      Contents

      The report submitted under paragraph (1) shall contain—

      1. (A)
         (b)(2)(A)demographic characteristics of youth transitioning from school-based to community-based supports;
      2. (B)
         (b)(2)(B)an overview of policies and programs relevant to young adults with autism spectrum disorder relating to post-secondary school transitional services, including an identification of existing Federal laws, regulations, policies, research, and programs;
      3. (C)
         (b)(2)(C)

         proposals on establishing best practices guidelines to ensure—

         1. (i)
            (b)(2)(C)(i)interdisciplinary coordination between all relevant service providers receiving Federal funding;
         2. (ii)
            (b)(2)(C)(ii)coordination with transitioning youth and the family of such transitioning youth; and
         3. (iii)
            (b)(2)(C)(iii)inclusion of the individualized education program for the transitioning youth, as prescribed in section 1414 of title 20;
      4. (D)
         (b)(2)(D)

         comprehensive approaches to transitioning from existing school-based services to those services available during adulthood, including—

         1. (i)
            (b)(2)(D)(i)services that increase access to, and improve integration and completion of, post-secondary education, peer support, vocational training (as defined in section 723 of title 29), rehabilitation, self-advocacy skills, and competitive, integrated employment;
         2. (ii)
            (b)(2)(D)(ii)community-based behavioral supports and interventions;
         3. (iii)
            (b)(2)(D)(iii)community-based integrated residential services, housing, and transportation;
         4. (iv)
            (b)(2)(D)(iv)nutrition, health and wellness, recreational, and social activities;
         5. (v)
            (b)(2)(D)(v)personal safety services for individuals with autism spectrum disorder related to public safety agencies or the criminal justice system; and
         6. (vi)
            (b)(2)(D)(vi)evidence-based approaches for coordination of resources and services once individuals have aged out of post-secondary education; and
      5. (E)
         (b)(2)(E)

         proposals that seek to improve outcomes for adults with autism spectrum disorder making the transition from a school-based support system to adulthood by—

         1. (i)
            (b)(2)(E)(i)increasing the effectiveness of programs that provide transition services;
         2. (ii)
            (b)(2)(E)(ii)increasing the ability of the relevant service providers described in subparagraph (C) to provide supports and services to underserved populations and regions;
         3. (iii)
            (b)(2)(E)(iii)increasing the efficiency of service delivery to maximize resources and outcomes, including with respect to the integration of and collaboration among services for transitioning youth;
         4. (iv)
            (b)(2)(E)(iv)ensuring access to all services necessary to transitioning youth of all capabilities; and
         5. (v)
            (b)(2)(E)(v)encouraging transitioning youth to utilize all available transition services to maximize independence, equal opportunity, full participation, and self-sufficiency.