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Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee
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IACC Amended Charter 2024

Advisory Committee's Official Designation

Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee

Authority

Required by section 42 U.S.C. 280i-2, section 399CC of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, as amended. The Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (Committee) is governed by the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), as amended (5 U.S.C. §§ 1001- 1014).

Objectives and Scope Of Activities

The Committee will coordinate all efforts within the Department of Health and Human Services concerning autism spectrum disorder. The Committee's primary mission is to provide advice to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (Secretary) on matters concerning autism spectrum disorder and to facilitate the efficient and effective exchange of information on autism activities among the member agencies in order to enhance coordination of autism- related programs and activities. In carrying out the duties stated below, the Committee will assist in increasing public understanding of the member agencies' activities, programs, policies, and research and will provide a forum for public questions and presentations.

Description Of Duties

The Committee will (1) monitor autism spectrum disorder research, and to the extent practicable services and support activities, across all relevant Federal departments and agencies, including coordination of Federal activities with respect to autism spectrum disorder; (2) develop a summary of advances in autism spectrum disorder research related to causes, prevention, treatment, early screening, diagnosis or ruling out a diagnosis; interventions, including school and community-based interventions, and access to services and supports for individuals with autism spectrum disorder across the lifespan of such individuals; (3) make recommendations to the Secretary regarding any appropriate changes to such activities, including with respect to the strategic plan; (4) make recommendations to the Secretary regarding public participation in decisions relating to autism spectrum disorder, and the process by which public feedback can be better integrated into such decisions; (5) develop a strategic plan for the conduct of, and support for, autism spectrum disorder research, including as practicable for services and supports, for individuals with an autism spectrum disorder across the lifespan of such individuals and the families of such individuals, which shall include (A) proposed budgetary requirements; and (B) recommendations to ensure that autism spectrum disorder research, and services and support activities to the extent practicable, of the Department of Health and Human Services and of other Federal departments and agencies are not unnecessarily duplicative; and (6) submit to the Congress and the President: (A) an annual update on the summary of advances described in point (2) above; and (B) an annual update to the strategic plan described in point (5) above, including any progress made in achieving the goals outlined in such strategic plan.

Agency or Federal Officer Receiving the Advisory Committee's Advice/Recommendations

The Committee will make recommendations to the Secretary and submit to the Congress and the President an annual update on the summary of advances and an annual update to the strategic plan.

Support

Management and support services will be provided by the Office of the Director, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

Estimated Annual Operating Cost And Staff Years

The estimated annual cost for operating the Committee, including compensation and travel expenses for members but excluding staff support is $1,689,930. The estimate of annual person-years of staff support required is 6.0, at an estimated annual cost of $1,052,090.

Designated Federal Officer (Dfo)

The Director, NIMH, will assign a full-time or permanent part-time National Institutes of Health (NIH) employee as the Designated Federal Officer (DFO) of the Committee. In the event that the DFO cannot fulfill the assigned duties of the committee, one or more full-time or permanent part-time NIH employees will be assigned as DFO and carryout these duties on a temporary basis. In carrying out these duties, the DFO will:

  • Ensure the Committee's activities comply with the FACA, the FACA Final Rule, agency administrative procedures, and any other applicable laws and regulations;
  • Approve or call all of the Committee's and subcommittees' meetings;
  • Approve the agenda;
  • Attend all of the Committee's and subcommittees' meetings for their duration;
  • Fulfill the requirements under § 10(b) of FACA (codified at 5 U.S.C. § 1009(b));
  • Adjourn any meeting when the DFO determines it to be in the public interest;
  • Chair any meeting when so directed by the agency head;
  • Maintain information on Committee activities and provide such information to the public, as applicable; and
  • Ensure Committee and subcommittee members, as applicable, receive the appropriate training for efficient operation and compliance with the FACA and FACA Final Rule.

Estimated Number and Frequency of Meetings

The Committee will meet not less than two times within a fiscal year. Meetings will be open to the public except as determined by the Secretary at the request of the DFO in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552b(c) and 41 C.F.R. 102-3.155 including specifying the specific exception(s) that justifies closure. Notice of all meetings will be given to the public. In the event a portion of a meeting is closed to the public, as determined by the Secretary, in accordance with the Government in the Sunshine Act (5 U.S.C. 552b(c)) and the Federal Advisory Committee Act, an annual report of closed or partially-closed meetings will be prepared which will contain, at a minimum, a list of members and their business addresses, the Committee's functions, dates and places of meetings, and a summary of the Committee's activities and recommendations made during the fiscal year.

Duration

The duration of the Committee is continuing, subject to the Termination section below.

Termination

In accordance with the Committee's statutory authority (and unless extended by statute) appropriate action, the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee will terminate on December 20, 2024.

Membership And Designation

This Committee will consist of Federal members and non-Federal public members, as described below.

Federal Membership (voting ex-officios): The Committee will be composed of the following Federal members, or their designees:

  • the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;
  • the Director, NIH, and the Directors of such national research institutes of the NIH as the Director, NIMH, by delegation, determines appropriate;
  • the heads of such other agencies of the Department of Health and Human Services as the Director, NIMH, by delegation, determines appropriate, such as the Administration for Community Living, Administration for Children and Families, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Food and Drug Administration, and the Health Resources and Services Administration; and
  • representatives of other Federal Governmental agencies that serve individuals with autism spectrum disorder such as the Department of Education, the Department of Labor, the Department of Justice, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Department of Defense.

Non-Federal Membership: Not more than one-half, but not fewer than one-third, of the total membership of the Committee will be composed of non-Federal public members appointed by the Secretary. Non-Federal public members appointed to the Committee will serve for a term of four years and may be reappointed for one additional four-year term. A member may serve after the expiration of the member's term until a successor has been appointed. All non-Federal members serve as Special Government Employees (SGEs), as defined by 18 U.S.C. § 202, of which:

  • At least three such members will be individuals with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder;
  • At least three such members will be parents or legal guardians of an individual with an autism spectrum disorder; and
  • At least three such members will be representatives of leading research, advocacy, and service organizations for individuals with autism spectrum disorder.

A vacancy on the Committee shall be filled in the manner in which the original appointment was made and shall not affect the powers or duties of the Committee. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy for an unexpired term shall be appointed for the remainder of such term. A quorum for the conduct of business by the full Committee will consist of a majority of currently appointed SGE members.

The Chair of the Committee will serve as the principal advisor to the Secretary. The Director, NIMH, by delegation, will select the Chair for a term not to exceed two years.

Subcommittees

As necessary, subcommittees and ad hoc working groups may be established by the DFO within the Committee's jurisdiction, and workshops and conferences may be convened. The advice/recommendations of a subcommittee/working group must be deliberated by the parent advisory committee. A subcommittee/workgroup may not report directly to the agency or any Federal officer.

All subcommittees will be composed of Committee members and may hold such meetings as are necessary to enable the subcommittees to carry out their duties. All subcommittee members may vote on subcommittee actions and all subcommittee members count towards the quorum for a subcommittee meeting. Ad hoc consultants are not members, do not count towards the quorum and may not vote. A quorum for a subcommittee will 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.

Recordkeeping

Committee and subcommittee records will be handled in accordance with General Records Schedule 6.2, or other approved agency records disposition schedule. These records will be available for public inspection and copying, subject to any applicable exemptions under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. 552(b) and 41 C.F.R. 102-3.170.

Filing Date

October 3, 2024

Approved

October 3, 2024

Shelli Avenevoli, Ph.D.
Acting Director, NIMH

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