42 U.S.C. § 300dd–32: Requirement of provision…

Summary

States getting federal money for HIV testing must agree to give people counseling before the test. The counseling must cover how to avoid catching or spreading the virus that causes AIDS, how accurate the test is, what the test results mean (including chances of getting AIDS), and the benefits of getting tested. If a person tests negative, the state must go over those same points again and talk about whether the person needs more counseling, testing, or education. If a person tests positive, the state must also explain those points, discuss extra counseling and care, stress the need to avoid exposing others, tell the person about local health, mental health, and social services, and explain the benefits and possible public health help for finding and notifying people who may have been exposed. States may still use the grant money to give counseling even if testing is not done when testing is judged not appropriate. The program’s goal is to prevent and reduce spread of the virus. Everyone counseled must be told about the harms of promiscuous sex and injecting drugs and the benefits of abstaining. Grant funds may not be used to promote sexual activity or drug use. After giving the required abstinence counseling, a counselor may provide accurate, non-obscene information on how to reduce risk.

Title 42, §300dd–32

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

(a)Counseling before testing

The Secretary may not make a grant under section 300dd–31 of this title to a State unless the State agrees that, before testing an individual pursuant to such section, the State will provide to the individual appropriate counseling with respect to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (based on the most recent scientific data relating to such syndrome), including—

(1)measures for the prevention of exposure to, and the transmission of, the etiologic agent for such syndrome;

(2)the accuracy and reliability of the results of such testing;

(3)the significance of the results of such testing, including the potential for developing acquired immune deficiency syndrome; and

(4)encouraging individuals, as appropriate, to undergo testing for such etiologic agent and providing information on the benefits of such testing.

(b)Counseling of individuals with negative test results

The Secretary may not make a grant under section 300dd–31 of this title to a State unless the State agrees that, if the results of testing conducted pursuant to such section indicate that an individual is not infected with the etiologic agent for acquired immune deficiency syndrome, the State will review for the individual the information provided pursuant to subsection (a) with respect to such syndrome, including—

(1)the information described in paragraphs (1) through (3) of such subsection; and

(2)the appropriateness of further counseling, testing, and education of the individual with respect to acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

(c)Counseling of individuals with positive test results

The Secretary may not make a grant under section 300dd–31 of this title to a State unless the State agrees that, if the results of testing conducted pursuant to such section indicate that an individual is infected with the etiologic agent for acquired immune deficiency syndrome, the State will provide to the individual appropriate counseling with respect to such syndrome, including—

(1)reviewing the information described in paragraphs (1) through (3) of subsection (a);

(2)reviewing the appropriateness of further counseling, testing, and education of the individual with respect to acquired immune deficiency syndrome;

(3)the importance of not exposing others to the etiologic agent for acquired immune deficiency syndrome;

(4)the availability in the geographic area of any appropriate services with respect to health care, including mental health care and social and support services;

(5)the benefits of locating and counseling any individual by whom the infected individual may have been exposed to the etiologic agent for acquired immune deficiency syndrome and any individual whom the infected individual may have exposed to such etiologic agent; and

(6)the availability, if any, of the services of public health authorities with respect to locating and counseling any individual described in paragraph (5).

(d)Rule of construction with respect to counseling without testing

Agreements entered into pursuant to subsections (a) through (c) may not be construed to prohibit any grantee under section 300dd–31 of this title from expending the grant for the purpose of providing counseling services described in such subsections to an individual who will not undergo testing described in such section as a result of the grantee or the individual determining that such testing of the individual is not appropriate.

(e)Use of funds

(1)The purpose of this subpart is to provide for counseling and testing services to prevent and reduce exposure to, and transmission of, the etiologic agent for acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

(2)All individuals receiving counseling pursuant to this subpart 1 are to be counseled about the harmful effects of promiscuous sexual activity and intravenous substance abuse, and the benefits of abstaining from such activities.

(3)None of the fund appropriated to carry out this subpart 1 may be used to provide counseling that is designed to promote or encourage, directly, homosexual or heterosexual sexual activity or intravenous drug abuse.

(4)Paragraph (3) may not be construed to prohibit a counselor who has already performed the counseling of an individual required by paragraph (2), to provide accurate information about means to reduce an individual’s risk of exposure to, or the transmission of, the etiologic agent for acquired immune deficiency syndrome, provided that any informational materials used are not obscene.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1992—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–321, which directed the substitution of “part” for “subpart” wherever appearing in subsec. (a), could not be executed because the word “subpart” does not appear in subsec. (a). 1988—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 100–690, § 2618(i)(1), substituted “indicate that an individual” for “indicate that the individual” in introductory provisions and “paragraph (5)” for “paragraph (4)” in par. (6). Subsec. (e)(1) to (3). Pub. L. 100–690, § 2618(i)(2), substituted “subpart” for “part”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1992 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 102–321 effective Oct. 1, 1992, with provision for programs providing financial assistance, see section 801(c), (d) of Pub. L. 102–321, set out as a note under section 236 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1988 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 100–690 effective immediately after enactment of Pub. L. 100–607, which was approved Nov. 4, 1988, see section 2600 of Pub. L. 100–690, set out as a note under section 242m of this title.

§300dd–32 Requirement of Provision of Certain Counseling Services

Summary

Title 42, §300dd–32

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Effective Date

Citations & Metadata