Charter
Purpose
The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (Committee) shall coordinate all efforts within the Department of Health and Human Services concerning autism spectrum disorder to combat autism through research, screening, intervention and education. The Committee's primary mission is to facilitate the efficient and effective exchange of information on autism activities among the member agencies, and to coordinate autism-related programs and initiatives. The Committee will serve as a forum and assist in increasing public understanding of the member agencies' activities, programs, policies, and research, and in bringing important matters of interest forward for discussion.
Authority
42 U.S.C. 280i-2, section 399CC of the Public Health Service Act, as amended. The Committee is governed by the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended (5 U.S.C Appendix 2), which sets forth standards for the formation and use of advisory committees.
Function
The Committee shall (1) develop and annually update a summary of advances in autism spectrum disorder research related to causes, prevention, treatment, early screening, diagnosis or ruling out a diagnosis; intervention, and access to services and supports for individuals with autism spectrum disorder; (2) monitor Federal activities with respect to autism spectrum disorder; (3) make recommendations to the Secretary regarding any appropriate changes to such activities, including recommendations to the Director of NIH with respect to the strategic plan; (4) make recommendations to the Secretary regarding public participation in decisions relating to autism spectrum disorder; (5) develop and annually update a strategic plan for the conduct of, and support for, autism spectrum disorder research, including proposed budgetary requirements; and (6) submit to the Congress such strategic plan and any updates to such plan.
Structure
This Committee shall consist of Federal members listed below, or their designees, and non-Federal public members. The authority to select the Federal members of the Committee, including the chair, is delegated to the Director, National Institutes of Health (Director). The Committee shall be composed of
- the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;
- the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Directors of such national research institutes of the National Institutes of Health as the Secretary of Health and Human Services (Secretary) determines appropriate;
- the heads of such other agencies as the Secretary determines appropriate; and
- representatives of other Federal Governmental agencies that serve individuals with autism spectrum disorder such as the Department of Education.
Not fewer than six members of the Committee, or one-third of the total membership of the Committee, whichever is greater, shall be composed of non-Federal public members appointed by the Secretary. The non-Federal public members shall include
- at least one individual with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder;
- at least one parent or legal guardian of an individual with an autism spectrum disorder; and
- at least one member shall be a representative of leading research, advocacy, and service organizations for individuals with autism spectrum disorder.
A quorum for the conduct of business by the full Committee shall consist of a majority of currently appointed members. None of these members serve as Representatives.
Public members appointed to 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 taken office. Terms of more than two years are contingent upon the renewal of the Committee's Charter by appropriate action prior to its termination.
The Chair of the Committee shall serve as the principal advisor to the Secretary, the Assistant Secretary for Health, and the Director of NIH, and shall provide advice to the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and to the heads of other relevant agencies. The Director, NIH, shall select the Chair for a term not to exceed two years.
As necessary, subcommittees may be established and workshops and conferences may be convened. Special consultants and ad hoc members may be called upon to perform functions within the Committee's jurisdiction. All subcommittees shall be composed of Committee members and may hold such meetings as are necessary to enable the subcommittees to carry out their duties.
The advice/recommendations of a subcommittee must be deliberated by the parent advisory Committee. A subcommittee may not report directly to a Federal official unless there is statutory authority to do so. All subcommittee members may vote on subcommittee actions and all subcommittee members count toward the quorum for a subcommittee meeting. A quorum for each subcommittee shall be three members.
The Department Committee Management Officer will be notified upon establishment of each standing subcommittee and will be provided information on its name, membership, function, and estimated frequency of meetings.
The Director, National Institute of Mental Health, shall assign a full-time or permanent part-time employee to serve as the Executive Secretary (also known as a Designated Federal Official or government official) of the Committee. Management and support services shall be provided by the Office of the Director, National Institute of Mental Health.
Meetings
The Committee shall meet not fewer than 2 times each year at the call of the Chair with the advance approval of the Executive Secretary, or upon the request of the Secretary. A government official shall give advance approval of the agenda and be present at all meetings of the Committee and its subcommittees. All meetings of the Committee shall include appropriate time periods for questions and presentations by the public.
Meetings shall be open to the public except as determined otherwise by the Secretary, in accordance with subsection (c) of section 552b of Title 5, United States Code; notice of all meetings shall be given to the public.
Meetings shall be conducted and records of the proceedings kept, as required by applicable laws and Departmental regulations.
Reports
In the event a portion of a meeting is closed to the public, as determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in accordance with the Government in the Sunshine Act (5 U.S.C. 552b(c)) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act, a report shall be prepared which shall contain, as a minimum, a list of the members and their business addresses, the Committee's function's, dates and places of meetings, and a summary of the Committee's activities and recommendations made during the fiscal year. A copy of the report shall be provided to the Department Committee Management Officer.
Termination Date
Unless renewed by appropriate action prior to its expiration, the Charter for the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee will expire two years after the Charter is filed.
Approved
Elias A. Zerhouni
Director, NIH
July 31, 2007
