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Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-102

§242o Health Conferences; Publication of Health Educational Information

Title 42 › CHAPTER 6A — PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE › SUBCHAPTER II — GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES › Part A — Research and Investigations › § 242o

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary must hold a meeting of state health leaders every year. The Secretary can also invite other state or local officials or groups when needed. If health officials from five or more states ask for a meeting, the Secretary must call one for the states that asked. Each state at a meeting gets one vote. If mental health is on the agenda, state mental health officials must be invited. The Secretary must also share public health information from time to time. That includes weekly reports on health conditions in the United States and other countries and other health data for people and organizations involved in health services.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §242o

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

(a)A conference of the health authorities in and among the several States shall be called annually by the Secretary. Whenever in his opinion the interests of the public health would be promoted by a conference, the Secretary may invite as many of such health authorities and officials of other State or local public or private agencies, institutions, or organizations to confer as he deems necessary or proper. Upon the application of health authorities of five or more States it shall be the duty of the Secretary to call a conference of all State health authorities joining in the request. Each State represented at any conference shall be entitled to a single vote. Whenever at any such conference matters relating to mental health are to be discussed, the mental health authorities of the respective States shall be invited to attend.
(b)From time to time the Secretary shall issue information related to public health, in the form of publications or otherwise, for the use of the public, and shall publish weekly reports of health conditions in the United States and other countries and other pertinent health information for the use of persons and institutions concerned with health services.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Subsec. (a) of this section consists of former section 309 of act
July 1, 1944, prior to the renumbering of that section as section 310(a) by Pub. L. 95–623. Subsec. (b) of this section consists of former section 310 of act
July 1, 1944, prior to the renumbering of that section as section 310(b) by Pub. L. 95–623.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 310 of act
July 1, 1944, was renumbered section 329, and was classified to section 254b of this title prior to the general amendment of subpart I (§ 254b et seq.) of part D of this subchapter by Pub. L. 104–299. Provisions similar to those comprising subsec. (a) of this section were contained in section 312 of act
July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, 58 Stat. 693, as amended (formerly classified to section 244 of this title), prior to repeal by Pub. L. 93–353, § 102(a). Provisions similar to those comprising subsec. (b) of this section were contained in section 315 of act
July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, 58 Stat. 695; Oct. 30, 1970, Pub. L. 91–515, title II, § 282, 84 Stat. 1308 (formerly classified to section 247 of this title), prior to repeal by Pub. L. 93–353, § 102(a).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 242o

Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102