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108th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1422
To provide assistance to train teachers of children with autism
spectrum disorders, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 17, 2003
Mr. Corzine (for himself and Mr. Lautenberg) introduced the following
bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health,
Education, Labor, and Pensions
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A BILL
To provide assistance to train teachers of children with autism
spectrum disorders, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Teacher Education for Autistic
Children Act of 2003'' or the ``TEACH Act of 2003''.
SEC. 2. TRAINING OF SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS WITH EXPERTISE IN AUTISM
SPECTRUM DISORDERS.
(a) Authorization of Appropriations.--In addition to such sums as
are otherwise authorized to be appropriated for ``Special Education--
Personnel Preparation to Improve Services and Results for Children with
Disabilities'', there are authorized to be appropriated for ``Special
Education--Personnel Preparation to Improve Services and Results for
Children with Disabilities'', for each of the fiscal year 2004 through
2008, $15,000,000--
(1) to provide technical assistance grants to develop
standards for training teachers with respect to the provision
of education for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD)
and to integrate such standards into the existing training
infrastructure;
(2) to train special education teachers with an expertise
in autism spectrum disorders; and
(3) to provide preservice or professional development
training of personnel to be special education teachers, aides
of such teachers or other paraprofessionals providing teaching
assistance, special education administrators, or staff
specialists (such as speech-language pathologists and school
psychologists) with an expertise in autism spectrum disorders.
(b) Availability.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to the
authorization of appropriations under subsection (a) are authorized to
remain available until expended.
SEC. 3. IMPROVING RESULTS FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS.
(a) Authorization of Appropriations.--In addition to such sums as
are otherwise authorized to be appropriated to carry out subpart 1 of
part D of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, there are
authorized to be appropriated for each of the fiscal years 2004 through
2008 $5,000,000 for competitive grants under subpart 1 of part D of
such Act to assist State educational agencies, in cooperation with
other appropriate entities, to improve results for children with autism
spectrum disorders (ASD).
(b) Availability.--Amounts appropriated pursuant to the
authorization of appropriations under subsection (a) are authorized to
remain available until expended.
SEC. 4. EXPANDED LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM FOR TEACHERS OF AUTISTIC
CHILDREN.
(a) Program.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Education (in this
section referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall carry out a
program of assuming the obligation to repay, pursuant to
subsection (c), a loan made, insured, or guaranteed under part
B of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 or part D of
such title (excluding loans made under sections 428B and 428C
of such Act or comparable loans made under part D of such
title) for any borrower who--
(A) is employed, for 3 consecutive complete school
years, as a full-time special education teacher of
autistic children;
(B) satisfies the requirements of subsection (d);
and
(C) is not in default on a loan for which the
borrower seeks forgiveness.
(2) Award basis; priority.--
(A) Award basis.--Subject to subparagraph (B), loan
repayment under this section shall be on a first-come,
first-serve basis and subject to the availability of
appropriations.
(B) Priority.--The Secretary shall give priority in
providing loan repayment under this section for a
fiscal year to student borrowers who received loan
repayment under this section for the preceding fiscal
year.
(3) Regulations.--The Secretary is authorized to prescribe
such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the
provisions of this section.
(b) Loan Repayment.--
(1) Eligible amount.--The amount the Secretary may repay on
behalf of any individual under this section shall not exceed--
(A) the sum of the principal amounts outstanding
(not to exceed $5,000) of the individual's qualifying
loans at the end of 3 consecutive complete school years
of service described in subsection (a)(1)(B);
(B) an additional portion of such sum (not to
exceed $5,000) at the end of each of the next 2
consecutive complete school years of such service; and
(C) a total of not more than $20,000.
(2) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be
construed to authorize the refunding of any repayment of a loan
made under part B or D of title IV of the Higher Education Act
of 1965.
(3) Interest.--If a portion of a loan is repaid by the
Secretary under this section for any year, the proportionate
amount of interest on such loan which accrues for such year
shall be repaid by the Secretary.
(c) Repayment to Eligible Lenders.--The Secretary shall pay to each
eligible lender or holder for each fiscal year an amount equal to the
aggregate amount of loans which are subject to repayment pursuant to
this section for such year.
(d) Application for Repayment.--
(1) In general.--Each eligible individual desiring loan
repayment under this section shall submit a complete and
accurate application to the Secretary at such time, in such
manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may
require.
(2) Years of service.--An eligible individual may apply for
loan repayment under this section after completing the required
number of years of qualifying employment.
(3) Fully qualified teachers in public elementary or
secondary schools.--An application for loan repayment under
this section shall include such information as is necessary to
demonstrate that the applicant--
(A) if teaching in a public pre-kindergarten,
kindergarten, elementary, middle, or secondary school
(other than as a teacher in a public charter school),
has obtained State certification as a teacher
(including certification obtained through alternative
routes to certification) or passed the State teacher
licensing exam and holds a license to teach in such
State; and
(B) if teaching in--
(i) a public pre-kindergarten,
kindergarten, or elementary school, holds a
bachelor's degree and demonstrates knowledge
and skills for teaching children with autism
spectrum disorders; or
(ii) a public middle or secondary school,
holds a bachelor's degree and demonstrates a
high level of competency for teaching children
with autism spectrum disorders, through--
(I) a high level of performance on
a rigorous State or local academic
subject areas test; or
(II) completion of an academic
major specializing in autism or severe
disabilities with a concentration in
autism spectrum disorders.
(4) Teachers in nonprofit private elementary or secondary
schools or charter schools.--In the case of an applicant who is
teaching in a nonprofit private pre-kindergarten, kindergarten,
elementary, or secondary school, or in a public charter school,
an application for loan repayment under this section shall
include such information as is necessary to demonstrate that
the applicant has knowledge and skills for teaching children
with autism spectrum disorders, as certified by the chief
administrative officer of the school.
(e) Treatment of Consolidation Loans.--A loan amount for a
consolidation loan made under section 428C of the Higher Education Act
of 1965, or a Federal Direct Consolidation Loan made under part D of
title IV of such Act, may be a qualified loan amount for the purpose of
this section only to the extent that such loan amount was used by a
borrower who otherwise meets the requirements of this section to
repay--
(1) a loan made under section 428 or 428H of such Act; or
(2) a Federal Direct Stafford Loan, or a Federal Direct
Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, made under part D of title IV of
such Act.
(f) Additional Provisions.--
(1) Prevention of double benefits.--No borrower may, for
the same service, receive a benefit under both this section and
subtitle D of title I of the National and Community Service Act
of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12571 et seq.).
(2) Definition of teacher of autistic children.--The term
``teacher of autistic children'' means an individual who
provides instruction to children who have been diagnosed by a
physician or a psychologist as having an autism spectrum
disorder.
(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary
for each of the fiscal years 2004 through 2008.
SEC. 5. REPORT ON AUTISM EARLY INTERVENTION ACTIVITIES.
(a) Report.--Section 613 of the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1413) is amended by adding at the end the
following:
``(k) Report on Autism Early Intervention Activities.--
``(1) In general.--A local educational agency that receives
assistance under this part for a fiscal year shall prepare and
submit to the Secretary a report that contains a description of
the activities referred to in paragraph (2) carried out in the
preceding fiscal year.
``(2) Information.--The activities referred to in this
paragraph are the following:
``(A) Activities carried out by the agency to
ensure that students who exhibit symptoms of autism
spectrum disorders (ASD) are referred to appropriate
experts for diagnosis.
``(B) Appropriate training provided by the agency,
or on behalf of the agency, of personnel of the agency
and schools of the agency to carry out the activities
described in subparagraph (A).
``(3) Definition.--In this subsection, the term `autism
spectrum disorders' has the meaning given the term in section 9
of the Teacher Education for Autistic Children Act of 2003.''.
(b) Technical Assistance.--The Secretary of Education shall provide
technical assistance to local educational agencies that receive
assistance under part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act to assist such agencies comply with the reporting requirement under
section 613(k) of such Act (as added by subsection (a)).
SEC. 6. TASK FORCE ON AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS.
(a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Education, acting through the
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services,
shall establish and provide administrative support for a Task Force on
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) (in this section referred to as the
``Task Force'').
(b) Duties.--The Task Force shall--
(1) conduct a review of minimum standards relating to the
provision of special education for children with autism
spectrum disorders and provide recommendations to improve or
otherwise strengthen such standards;
(2) conduct a review of the effectiveness of existing
educational models used with respect to the provision of
special education for children with autism spectrum disorders;
and
(3) conduct an evaluation of programs carried out by State
and local educational agencies to train teachers with respect
to the provision of special education for children with autism
spectrum disorders and provide recommendations to improve and
expand such programs.
(c) Composition.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Education, acting through
the Assistant Secretary for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services and in consultation with the Director
of the National Research Council (or the Director's designee),
shall appoint members of the Task Force as follows:
(A) Not less than two members shall be
representatives from national autism organizations.
(B) Not less than one member shall be an individual
with an autism spectrum disorder or a parent (or legal
guardian) of such an individual.
(C) Not less than two members shall be teachers
with experience in working with children with autism.
(D) Not less than two members shall be appropriate
officers or employees of the Department of Education.
(E) Not less than two members shall be appropriate
officers or employees of the Department of Health and
Human Services (to be appointed in consultation with
the Secretary of Health and Human Services).
(2) Compensation.--
(A) Rates of pay.--Except as provided in
subparagraph (B), members of the Task Force shall be
paid at the maximum rate of basic pay for GS-14 of the
General Schedule for each day during which they are
engaged in the actual performance of duties of the Task
Force.
(B) Prohibition of compensation of federal
employees.--Members of the Task Force who are full-time
officers or employees of the United States may not
receive additional pay, allowances, or benefits by
reason of their service on the Task Force.
(C) Travel expenses.--Each member of the Task Force
shall receive travel expenses, including per diem in
lieu of subsistence, in accordance with applicable
provisions under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5,
United States Code.
(d) Report.--Not later than one year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for each of the
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