Title 42The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§280b–1c Prevention of traumatic brain injury

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 6A— - PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER II— - GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES › Part Part J— - Prevention and Control of Injuries › § 280b–1c

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary, through the CDC Director, can run or fund projects to lower how often people get traumatic brain injuries. The Secretary can give grants or contracts to public or nonprofit private groups and can help them plan, build, and run those projects. Projects can include research on prevention, public education to raise awareness, and a national awareness campaign tied to the Healthy People 2020 goals. That campaign can share national data on how common TBI is, explain problems that can appear after hospital or emergency care, and give information in primary care, emergency rooms, and trauma centers about State services. The Secretary must coordinate these efforts with other Public Health Service agencies. Traumatic brain injury here means an acquired brain injury, not one from birth, congenital, or degenerative causes, though it can include loss of oxygen from trauma. The Secretary can change this definition after talking with States and relevant groups.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §280b–1c

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, may carry out projects to reduce the incidence of traumatic brain injury. Such projects may be carried out by the Secretary directly or through awards of grants or contracts to public or nonprofit private entities. The Secretary may directly or through such awards provide technical assistance with respect to the planning, development, and operation of such projects.
(b)Activities under subsection (a) may include—
(1)the conduct of research into identifying effective strategies for the prevention of traumatic brain injury;
(2)the implementation of public information and education programs for the prevention of such injury and for broadening the awareness of the public concerning the public health consequences of such injury; and
(3)the implementation of a national education and awareness campaign regarding such injury (in conjunction with the program of the Secretary regarding health-status goals for 2020, commonly referred to as Healthy People 2020), including—
(A)the national dissemination of information on—
(i)incidence and prevalence; and
(ii)information relating to traumatic brain injury and the sequelae of secondary conditions arising from traumatic brain injury upon discharge from hospitals and emergency departments; and
(B)the provision of information in primary care settings, including emergency rooms and trauma centers, concerning the availability of State level services and resources.
(c)The Secretary shall ensure that activities under this section are coordinated as appropriate with other agencies of the Public Health Service that carry out activities regarding traumatic brain injury.
(d)For purposes of this section, the term “traumatic brain injury” means an acquired injury to the brain. Such term does not include brain dysfunction caused by congenital or degenerative disorders, nor birth trauma, but may include brain injuries caused by anoxia due to trauma. The Secretary may revise the definition of such term as the Secretary determines necessary, after consultation with States and other appropriate public or nonprofit private entities.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was formerly classified to section 280b–1b of this title.

Prior Provisions

Prior section 393B of act July 1, 1944, were renumbered section 393A and 393C and are classified to section 280b–1b and 280b–1d, respectively, of this title.

Amendments

2014—Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 113–196 substituted “2020, commonly referred to as Healthy People 2020” for “2010, commonly referred to as Healthy People 2010” in introductory provisions. 2008—Subsec. (b)(3)(A)(ii). Pub. L. 110–206, § 3(a), substituted “from hospitals and emergency departments” for “from hospitals and trauma centers”. 2000—Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 106–310, § 1301(a)(1), added par. (3). Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 106–310, § 1301(a)(2), substituted “anoxia due to trauma” for “anoxia due to near drowning” and inserted “, after consultation with States and other appropriate public or nonprofit private entities” after “Secretary determines necessary”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 280b–1c

Title 42The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73