§247d–7g National Biodefense Science Board and working groups

Summary

The Secretary must create the National Biodefense Science Board to give expert advice to the Secretary and the Department of Health and Human Services on science and technical issues about chemical, biological, nuclear, and radiological agents, whether natural, accidental, or deliberate. The Board must include such federal officials as needed, four people from the pharmaceutical/biotech/device industries, four from academia, and five other members that must include a practicing healthcare professional, a consumer-organization representative, a pediatric expert, and a State/tribal/territorial/local public health official. Non‑federal members serve 3‑year terms (the Secretary can stagger the first terms), may serve no more than 3 terms and no more than 2 consecutive terms, and the Secretary must pick a chair. The Board must meet at least twice a year, hold its first meeting not later than one year after December 19, 2006, and advise the Secretary on trends, threats, and research needs; review working‑group findings when asked; make R&D recommendations when asked; and send its recommendations to the appropriate congressional committees. The Secretary may set up or use working groups to identify promising countermeasure research and pandemic products, accepted animal models and ways to speed their development, and advice on work that affects children, pregnant people, and other vulnerable groups. Federal Board members get no extra pay. Non‑federal members may be paid up to the daily equivalent of the annual rate for Executive Schedule level IV under section 5315 of title 5 and receive travel expenses under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5. Federal employees may be detailed to the Board without reimbursement and without losing their civil service status. There is authority to appropriate $1,000,000 to carry out the Board for fiscal year 2007 and each fiscal year thereafter.