§300hh–10b National Advisory Committee on Children and Disasters

Summary

The Secretary of Health, working with the Secretary of Homeland Security, must create the National Advisory Committee on Children and Disasters. The Committee must give advice on emergency preparedness, response, and recovery for children. It will look at children’s medical, mental, behavioral, developmental, and public health needs in all-hazards emergencies, advise on state emergency planning and drills, and help with keeping children’s health care and education going while supporting parents and caregivers. It can also advise about medical and public health grants and cooperative agreements related to preparedness and response. The Committee will have no more than 25 members and the total must be an odd number. At least 13 members must be non-Federal and include specific groups: at least 2 pediatric disaster experts, at least 2 state/local/Tribal/territorial representatives, at least 4 health care professionals, and at least 4 members from child care, education, disability experts, or parents. Other required non-Federal members must include at least one children’s hospital representative, one expert on children with special health care needs, and one expert on parents or family caregivers (including caregivers of children with disabilities). Federal members or their designees will include leaders such as the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, the BARDA Director, the CDC Director, the FDA Commissioner, the NIH Director, the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families, the HRSA Administrator, the FEMA Administrator, the Administrator for Community Living, and the Secretary of Education, plus other agencies as needed. Non-Federal members serve 3-year terms, may serve up to 3 terms (no more than two in a row), and the Secretary may stagger terms. The Committee must meet at least twice a year, with at least one in-person meeting each year, coordinate under section 300hh–10e, and will end on December 31, 2026.