§ 247d-3a. Improving State and local public health security

(a) In general

To enhance the security of the United States with respect to public health emergencies, the Secretary shall award cooperative agreements to eligible entities to enable such entities to conduct the activities described in subsection (d).

(b) Eligible entities

To be eligible to receive an award under subsection (a), an entity shall—

(1)

(A) be a State;

(B) be a political subdivision determined by the Secretary to be eligible for an award under this section (based on criteria described in subsection (i)(4)); or

(2) prepare and submit to the Secretary an application at such time, and in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including—

(A) an All-Hazards Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan which shall include—

(i) a description of the activities such entity will carry out under the agreement to meet the goals identified under section 300hh–1 of this title;

(ii) a pandemic influenza plan consistent with the requirements of paragraphs (2) and (5) of subsection (g);

(iii) preparedness and response strategies and capabilities that take into account the medical and public health needs of at-risk individuals in the event of a public health emergency;

(iv) a description of the mechanism the entity will implement to utilize the Emergency Management Assistance Compact or other mutual aid agreements for medical and public health mutual aid; and

(v) a description of how the entity will include the State Unit on Aging in public health emergency preparedness;

(B) an assurance that the entity will report to the Secretary on an annual basis (or more frequently as determined by the Secretary) on the evidence-based benchmarks and objective standards established by the Secretary to evaluate the preparedness and response capabilities of such entity under subsection (g);

(C) an assurance that the entity will conduct, on at least an annual basis, an exercise or drill that meets any criteria established by the Secretary to test the preparedness and response capabilities of such entity, and that the entity will report back to the Secretary within the application of the following year on the strengths and weaknesses identified through such exercise or drill, and corrective actions taken to address material weaknesses;

(D) an assurance that the entity will provide to the Secretary the data described under section 247d–4 (d)(3) of this title as determined feasible by the Secretary;

(E) an assurance that the entity will conduct activities to inform and educate the hospitals within the jurisdiction of such entity on the role of such hospitals in the plan required under subparagraph (A);

(F) an assurance that the entity, with respect to the plan described under subparagraph (A), has developed and will implement an accountability system to ensure that such entity make ^[1] satisfactory annual improvement and describe ^[2] such system in the plan under subparagraph (A);

(G) a description of the means by which to obtain public comment and input on the plan described in subparagraph (A) and on the implementation of such plan, that shall include an advisory committee or other similar mechanism for obtaining comment from the public and from other State, local, and tribal stakeholders; and

(H) as relevant, a description of the process used by the entity to consult with local departments of public health to reach consensus, approval, or concurrence on the relative distribution of amounts received under this section.

Beginning in fiscal year 2009, the Secretary may not award a cooperative agreement to a State unless such State is a participant in the Emergency System for Advance Registration of Volunteer Health Professionals described in section 247d–7b of this title.

(d) Use of funds

(1) In general

An award under subsection (a) shall be expended for activities to achieve the preparedness goals described under paragraphs (1), (2), (4), (5), and (6) of section 300hh–1 (b) of this title.

(2) Effect of section

Nothing in this subsection may be construed as establishing new regulatory authority or as modifying any existing regulatory authority.

(e) Coordination with local response capabilities

An entity shall, to the extent practicable, ensure that activities carried out under an award under subsection (a) are coordinated with activities of relevant Metropolitan Medical Response Systems, local public health departments, the Cities Readiness Initiative, and local emergency plans.

(f) Consultation with Homeland Security

In making awards under subsection (a), the Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of Homeland Security to—

(1) ensure maximum coordination of public health and medical preparedness and response activities with the Metropolitan Medical Response System, and other relevant activities;

(2) minimize duplicative funding of programs and activities;

(3) analyze activities, including exercises and drills, conducted under this section to develop recommendations and guidance on best practices for such activities; and

(4) disseminate such recommendations and guidance, including through expanding existing lessons learned information systems to create a single Internet-based point of access for sharing and distributing medical and public health best practices and lessons learned from drills, exercises, disasters, and other emergencies.

(g) Achievement of measurable evidence-based benchmarks and objective standards

(1) In general

Not later than 180 days after December 19, 2006, the Secretary shall develop or where appropriate adopt, and require the application of, measurable evidence-based benchmarks and objective standards that measure levels of preparedness with respect to the activities described in this section and with respect to activities described in section 247d–3b of this title. In developing such benchmarks and standards, the Secretary shall consult with and seek comments from State, local, and tribal officials and private entities, as appropriate. Where appropriate, the Secretary shall incorporate existing objective standards. Such benchmarks and standards shall—

(A) include outcome goals representing operational achievement of the National Preparedness Goals developed under section 300hh–1 (b) of this title; and

(B) at a minimum, require entities to—

(i) measure progress toward achieving the outcome goals; and

(ii) at least annually, test, exercise, and rigorously evaluate the public health and medical emergency preparedness and response capabilities of the entity, and report to the Secretary on such measured and tested capabilities and measured and tested progress toward achieving outcome goals, based on criteria established by the Secretary.

(2) Criteria for pandemic influenza plans

(A) In general

Not later than 180 days after December 19, 2006, the Secretary shall develop and disseminate to the chief executive officer of each State criteria for an effective State plan for responding to pandemic influenza.

(B) Rule of construction

Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the duplication of Federal efforts with respect to the development of criteria or standards, without regard to whether such efforts were carried out prior to or after December 19, 2006.^[3]

(3) Technical assistance

The Secretary shall, as determined appropriate by the Secretary, provide to a State, upon request, technical assistance in meeting the requirements of this section, including the provision of advice by experts in the development of high-quality assessments, the setting of State objectives and assessment methods, the development of measures of satisfactory annual improvement that are valid and reliable, and other relevant areas.

(4) Notification of failures

The Secretary shall develop and implement a process to notify entities that are determined by the Secretary to have failed to meet the requirements of paragraph (1) or (2). Such process shall provide such entities with the opportunity to correct such noncompliance. An entity that fails to correct such noncompliance shall be subject to paragraph (5).

(5) Withholding of amounts from entities that fail to achieve benchmarks or submit influenza plan

Beginning with fiscal year 2009, and in each succeeding fiscal year, the Secretary shall—

(A) withhold from each entity that has failed substantially to meet the benchmarks and performance measures described in paragraph (1) for the immediately preceding fiscal year (beginning with fiscal year 2008), pursuant to the process developed under paragraph (4), the amount described in paragraph (6); and

(B) withhold from each entity that has failed to submit to the Secretary a plan for responding to pandemic influenza that meets the criteria developed under paragraph (2), the amount described in paragraph (6).

(6) Amounts described

(A) In general

The amounts described in this paragraph are the following amounts that are payable to an entity for activities described in this section or section 247d–3b of this title:

(i) For the fiscal year immediately following a fiscal year in which an entity experienced a failure described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (5) by the entity, an amount equal to 10 percent of the amount the entity was eligible to receive for such fiscal year.

(ii) For the fiscal year immediately following two consecutive fiscal years in which an entity experienced such a failure, an amount equal to 15 percent of the amount the entity was eligible to receive for such fiscal year, taking into account the withholding of funds for the immediately preceding fiscal year under clause (i).

(iii) For the fiscal year immediately following three consecutive fiscal years in which an entity experienced such a failure, an amount equal to 20 percent of the amount the entity was eligible to receive for such fiscal year, taking into account the withholding of funds for the immediately preceding fiscal years under clauses (i) and (ii).

(iv) For the fiscal year immediately following four consecutive fiscal years in which an entity experienced such a failure, an amount equal to 25 percent of the amount the entity was eligible to receive for such a fiscal year, taking into account the withholding of funds for the immediately preceding fiscal years under clauses (i), (ii), and (iii).

(B) Separate accounting

Each failure described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (5) shall be treated as a separate failure for purposes of calculating amounts withheld under subparagraph (A).

(7) Reallocation of amounts withheld

(A) In general

The Secretary shall make amounts withheld under paragraph (6) available for making awards under section 247d–3b of this title to entities described in subsection (b)(1) of such section.

(B) Preference in reallocation

In making awards under section 247d–3b of this title with amounts described in subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall give preference to eligible entities (as described in section 247d–3b (b)(1) of this title) that are located in whole or in part in States from which amounts have been withheld under paragraph (6).

(8) Waive or reduce withholding

The Secretary may waive or reduce the withholding described in paragraph (6), for a single entity or for all entities in a fiscal year, if the Secretary determines that mitigating conditions exist that justify the waiver or reduction.

(h) Grants for real-time disease detection improvement

(1) In general

The Secretary may award grants to eligible entities to carry out projects described under paragraph (4).

(2) Eligible entity

For purposes of this section, the term “eligible entity” means an entity that is—

(A)

(i) a hospital, clinical laboratory, university; or

(ii) a poison control center or professional organization in the field of poison control; and

(B) a participant in the network established under subsection ^[4] 247d–4(d) of this title.

(3) Application

Each eligible entity desiring a grant under this subsection shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require.

(4) Use of funds

(A) In general

An eligible entity described in paragraph (2)(A)(i) that receives a grant under this subsection shall use the funds awarded pursuant to such grant to carry out a pilot demonstration project to purchase and implement the use of advanced diagnostic medical equipment to analyze real-time clinical specimens for pathogens of public health or bioterrorism significance and report any results from such project to State, local, and tribal public health entities and the network established under section 247d–4 (d) of this title.

(B) Other entities

An eligible entity described in paragraph (2)(A)(ii) that receives a grant under this section shall use the funds awarded pursuant to such grant to—

(i) improve the early detection, surveillance, and investigative capabilities of poison control centers for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear events by training poison information personnel to improve the accuracy of surveillance data, improving the definitions used by the poison control centers for surveillance, and enhancing timely and efficient investigation of data anomalies;

(ii) improve the capabilities of poison control centers to provide information to health care providers and the public with regard to chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear threats or exposures, in consultation with the appropriate State, local, and tribal public health entities; or

(iii) provide surge capacity in the event of a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear event through the establishment of alternative poison control center worksites and the training of nontraditional personnel.

(i) Funding

(1) Authorization of appropriations

(A) In general

For the purpose of carrying out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $824,000,000 for fiscal year 2007, of which $35,000,000 shall be used to carry out subsection (h), for awards pursuant to paragraph (3) (subject to the authority of the Secretary to make awards pursuant to paragraphs (4) and (5)), and such sums as may be necessary for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2011.

(B) Coordination

There are authorized to be appropriated, $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2007 to carry out subsection (f)(4) of this section and section 300hh–16 of this title.

Beginning in fiscal year 2009, in the case of any State or consortium of two or more States, the Secretary may not award a cooperative agreement under this section unless the State or consortium of States agree that, with respect to the amount of the cooperative agreement awarded by the Secretary, the State or consortium of States will make available (directly or through donations from public or private entities) non-Federal contributions in an amount equal to—

(i) for the first fiscal year of the cooperative agreement, not less than 5 percent of such costs ($1 for each $20 of Federal funds provided in the cooperative agreement); and

(ii) for any second fiscal year of the cooperative agreement, and for any subsequent fiscal year of such cooperative agreement, not less than 10 percent of such costs ($1 for each $10 of Federal funds provided in the cooperative agreement).

(D) Determination of amount of non-Federal contributions

As determined by the Secretary, non-Federal contributions required in subparagraph (C) may be provided directly or through donations from public or private entities and may be in cash or in kind, fairly evaluated, including plant, equipment or services. Amounts provided by the Federal government, or services assisted or subsidized to any significant extent by the Federal government, may not be included in determining the amount of such non-Federal contributions.

(2) Maintaining State funding

(A) In general

An entity that receives an award under this section shall maintain expenditures for public health security at a level that is not less than the average level of such expenditures maintained by the entity for the preceding 2 year period.

(B) Rule of construction

Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the use of awards under this section to pay salary and related expenses of public health and other professionals employed by State, local, or tribal public health agencies who are carrying out activities supported by such awards (regardless of whether the primary assignment of such personnel is to carry out such activities).

(3) Determination of amount

(A) In general

The Secretary shall award cooperative agreements under subsection (a) to each State or consortium of 2 or more States that submits to the Secretary an application that meets the criteria of the Secretary for the receipt of such an award and that meets other implementation conditions established by the Secretary for such awards.

(B) Base amount

In determining the amount of an award pursuant to subparagraph (A) for a State, the Secretary shall first determine an amount the Secretary considers appropriate for the State (referred to in this paragraph as the “base amount”), except that such amount may not be greater than the minimum amount determined under subparagraph (D).

After determining the base amount for a State under subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall increase the base amount by an amount equal to the product of—

(i) the amount appropriated under paragraph (1)(A)(i)(I) ^[5] for the fiscal year, less an amount equal to the sum of all base amounts determined for the States under subparagraph (B), and less the amount, if any, reserved by the Secretary under paragraphs (4) and (5); and

(ii) subject to paragraph (4)(C), the percentage constituted by the ratio of an amount equal to the population of the State over an amount equal to the total population of the States (as indicated by the most recent data collected by the Bureau of the Census).

(D) Minimum amount

Subject to the amount appropriated under paragraph (1)(A)(i)(I),^[5] an award pursuant to subparagraph (A) for a State shall be the greater of the base amount as increased under subparagraph (C), or the minimum amount under this subparagraph. The minimum amount under this subparagraph is—

(i) in the case of each of the several States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, an amount equal to the lesser of—

(I) $5,000,000; or

(II) if the amount appropriated under paragraph (1)(A)(i)(I) ^[5] is less than $667,000,000, an amount equal to 0.75 percent of the amount appropriated under such paragraph, less the amount, if any, reserved by the Secretary under paragraphs (4) and (5); or

(ii) in the case of each of American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands, an amount determined by the Secretary to be appropriate, except that such amount may not exceed the amount determined under clause (i).

(4) Certain political subdivisions

(A) In general

For fiscal year 2007, the Secretary may, before making awards pursuant to paragraph (3) for such year, reserve from the amount appropriated under paragraph (1) for the year an amount determined necessary by the Secretary to make awards under subsection (a) of this section to political subdivisions that have a substantial number of residents, have a substantial local infrastructure for responding to public health emergencies, and face a high degree of risk from bioterrorist attacks or other public health emergencies. Not more than three political subdivisions may receive awards pursuant to this subparagraph.

(B) Coordination with Statewide plans

An award pursuant to subparagraph (A) may not be made unless the application of the political subdivision involved is in coordination with, and consistent with, applicable Statewide plans described in subsection (c) of this section.

In the case of a State that will receive an award pursuant to paragraph (3), and in which there is located a political subdivision that will receive an award pursuant to subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall, in determining the amount under paragraph (3)(C) for the State, subtract from the population of the State an amount equal to the population of such political subdivision.

(D) Continuity of funding

In determining whether to make an award pursuant to subparagraph (A) to a political subdivision, the Secretary may consider, as a factor indicating that the award should be made, that the political subdivision received public health funding from the Secretary for fiscal year 2006.

(5) Significant unmet needs; degree of risk

(A) In general

(i) have a significant need for funds to build capacity to identify, detect, monitor, and respond to a bioterrorist or other threat to the public health, which need will not be met by awards pursuant to paragraph (3); and

(ii) face a particularly high degree of risk of such a threat.

(B) Recipients of grants

Awards pursuant to subparagraph (A) may be supplemental awards to States that receive awards pursuant to paragraph (3), or may be awards to eligible entities described in subsection (b)(1)(B) of this section within such States.

The Secretary shall consider the District of Columbia to have a significant unmet need for purposes of subparagraph (A), and to face a particularly high degree of risk for such purposes, on the basis of the concentration of entities of national significance located within the District.

(6) Funding of local entities

The Secretary shall, in making awards under this section, ensure that with respect to the cooperative agreement awarded, the entity make available appropriate portions of such award to political subdivisions and local departments of public health through a process involving the consensus, approval or concurrence with such local entities.

(j) Administrative and fiscal responsibility

(1) Annual reporting requirements

Each entity shall prepare and submit to the Secretary annual reports on its activities under this section and section 247d–3b of this title. Each such report shall be prepared by, or in consultation with, the health department. In order to properly evaluate and compare the performance of different entities assisted under this section and section 247d–3b of this title and to assure the proper expenditure of funds under this section and section 247d–3b of this title, such reports shall be in such standardized form and contain such information as the Secretary determines and describes within 180 days of December 19, 2006 (after consultation with the States) to be necessary to—

(A) secure an accurate description of those activities;

(B) secure a complete record of the purposes for which funds were spent, and of the recipients of such funds;

(C) describe the extent to which the entity has met the goals and objectives it set forth under this section or section 247d–3b of this title;

(D) determine the extent to which funds were expended consistent with the entity’s application transmitted under this section or section 247d–3b of this title; and

(E) publish such information on a Federal Internet website consistent with subsection (k).

(2) Audits; implementation

(A) In general

Each entity receiving funds under this section or section 247d–3b of this title shall, not less often than once every 2 years, audit its expenditures from amounts received under this section or section 247d–3b of this title. Such audits shall be conducted by an entity independent of the agency administering a program funded under this section or section 247d–3b of this title in accordance with the Comptroller General’s standards for auditing governmental organizations, programs, activities, and functions and generally accepted auditing standards. Within 30 days following the completion of each audit report, the entity shall submit a copy of that audit report to the Secretary.

(B) Repayment

Each entity shall repay to the United States amounts found by the Secretary, after notice and opportunity for a hearing to the entity, not to have been expended in accordance with this section or section 247d–3b of this title and, if such repayment is not made, the Secretary may offset such amounts against the amount of any allotment to which the entity is or may become entitled under this section or section 247d–3b of this title or may otherwise recover such amounts.

The Secretary may, after notice and opportunity for a hearing, withhold payment of funds to any entity which is not using its allotment under this section or section 247d–3b of this title in accordance with such section. The Secretary may withhold such funds until the Secretary finds that the reason for the withholding has been removed and there is reasonable assurance that it will not recur.

(3) Maximum carryover amount

(A) In general

For each fiscal year, the Secretary, in consultation with the States and political subdivisions, shall determine the maximum percentage amount of an award under this section that an entity may carryover to the succeeding fiscal year.

(B) Amount exceeded

For each fiscal year, if the percentage amount of an award under this section unexpended by an entity exceeds the maximum percentage permitted by the Secretary under subparagraph (A), the entity shall return to the Secretary the portion of the unexpended amount that exceeds the maximum amount permitted to be carried over by the Secretary.

The Secretary shall make amounts returned to the Secretary under subparagraph (B) available for awards under section 247d–3b (b)(1) of this title. In making awards under section 247d–3b (b)(1) of this title with amounts collected under this paragraph the Secretary shall give preference to entities that are located in whole or in part in States from which amounts have been returned under subparagraph (B).

(D) Waiver

An entity may apply to the Secretary for a waiver of the maximum percentage amount under subparagraph (A). Such an application for a waiver shall include an explanation why such requirement should not apply to the entity and the steps taken by such entity to ensure that all funds under an award under this section will be expended appropriately.

(E) Waive or reduce withholding

The Secretary may waive the application of subparagraph (B), or reduce the amount determined under such subparagraph, for a single entity pursuant to subparagraph (D) or for all entities in a fiscal year, if the Secretary determines that mitigating conditions exist that justify the waiver or reduction.

(k) Compilation and availability of data

The Secretary shall compile the data submitted under this section and make such data available in a timely manner on an appropriate Internet website in a format that is useful to the public and to other entities and that provides information on what activities are best contributing to the achievement of the outcome goals described in subsection (g).

[1] So in original. Probably should be “makes”.

[2] So in original. Probably should be “describes”.

[3] See Codification note below.

[4] So in original. Probably should be “section”.

[5] See References in Text note below.

U.S. Code

§ 247d-3a. Improving State and local public health security