§300c–13 — Title 42 The Public Health and Welfare | U.S. Code

§300c–13 Continuing activities related to stillbirth, sudden unexpected infant death and sudden unexplained death in childhood

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 6A— - PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER IX— - GENETIC DISEASES, HEMOPHILIA PROGRAMS, AND SUDDEN INFANT DEATH SYNDROME › Part Part B— - Sudden Unexpected Infant Death, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, and Sudden Unexpected Death in Childhood › § 300c–13

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of Health and Human Services must keep working on stillbirth, sudden unexpected infant death, and sudden unexplained death in childhood. This work includes gathering better data (like family background, what happened at the death scene, medical history, and autopsy results) using current tracking systems and helping States improve data quality. The Secretary must also share clear information to teach families, doctors, and others. The Secretary must work with the Attorney General, state and local health departments, and experts so examiners, police, and medical staff follow consistent steps at death scenes and report causes of death the same way. No later than 2 years after December 18, 2014, the Secretary must send Congress a report that describes activities by HHS agencies, including the CDC and NIH, on these deaths, including the work described above.

Title 42, §300c–13

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

(a)The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall continue activities related to still birth, sudden unexpected infant death, and sudden unexplained death in childhood, including, as appropriate—

(1)collecting information, such as socio-demographic, death scene investigation, clinical history, and autopsy information, on stillbirth, sudden unexpected infant death, and sudden unexplained death in childhood through the utilization of existing surveillance systems and collaborating with States to improve the quality, consistency, and collection of such data;

(2)disseminating information to educate the public, health care providers, and other stakeholders on stillbirth, sudden unexpected infant death and sudden unexplained death in childhood; and

(3)collaborating with the Attorney General, State and local departments of health, and other experts, as appropriate, to provide consistent information for medical examiners and coroners, law enforcement personnel, and health care providers related to death scene investigations and autopsies for sudden unexpected infant death and sudden unexplained death in childhood, in order to improve the quality and consistency of the data collected at such death scenes and to promote consistent reporting on the cause of death after autopsy to inform prevention, intervention, and other activities.

(b)Not later than 2 years after December 18, 2014, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall submit to Congress a report that includes a description of any activities that are being carried out by agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health, related to stillbirth, sudden unexpected infant death, and sudden unexplained death in childhood, including those activities identified under subsection (a).

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was enacted as part of the Sudden Unexpected Death Data Enhancement and Awareness Act, and not as part of the Public Health Service Act which comprises this chapter.

§300c–13 Continuing activities related to stillbirth, sudden unexpected infant death and sudden unexplained death in childhood

Summary

Title 42, §300c–13

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

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