S. 139 — FASD Respect Act

This section revises Part O of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 280f et seq.), renaming it the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Prevention and Services Program and expanding section 399H to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish or continue activities for FASD (fetal alcohol spectrum disorders) awareness, prevention, identification, and intervention. It broadens section 399H(a) to (1) support health professions schools in training for FASD services for pregnant women, infants, children, and youth; (2) conduct research on FASD including interventions to prevent prenatal alcohol exposure (potentially with other substances); (3) integrate FASD surveillance and diagnostic guidelines; and (4) build State and Tribal capacity through screening, interventions, training, and dissemination. The section further (1) specifies grant eligibility for States, Indian Tribes, local governments, academic institutions, and nonprofits, with applications potentially requiring an FASD coordinator and advisory committee; (2) adds a definition of "FASD-informed" support or interventions as culturally and linguistically appropriate evidence- or practice-based programs to improve quality of life; (3) strikes prior subsections (c) and (d) of section 399H; and (4) repeals sections 399I–399K while inserting a new section 399I to establish FASD Centers for Excellence through grants to expert entities for preventing FASD, building capacities, and addressing needs of affected individuals and families. (As background, FASD encompasses a range of lifelong physical, behavioral, and cognitive impairments caused by prenatal alcohol exposure.)