Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110

§280b–1c Prevention of Traumatic Brain Injury

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

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary, working through the CDC director, can run or fund projects to lower traumatic brain injuries. The Department can give grants or contracts to public or nonprofit groups and help them plan, build, and run these projects. It can pay for research on prevention, run public education and awareness programs, and lead a national campaign (including under Healthy People 2020) that shares data on how often these injuries happen and information about problems that appear after hospital discharge. The campaign must also 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: an acquired brain injury (not from birth, genetic, or degenerative conditions; may include brain injury from lack of oxygen caused by trauma). The Secretary can update that definition after talking with states and other groups.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §280b–1c

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

(a)In general
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)Certain activities
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)Coordination of activities
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)“Traumatic brain injury” defined
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 42, The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110