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

Summary

The Secretary of Health and Human Services must set up a group called the National Advisory Committee on Children and Disasters, working with the Secretary of Homeland Security. The group must give advice on work under section 300hh–16 and on how to care for children’s medical, mental, behavioral, developmental, and public health needs before, during, and after all kinds of emergencies. It must also advise on State emergency plans, drills, keeping children’s health care and schooling going, and helping parents and caregivers. The committee may also advise about preparedness and response grants. The committee can have up to 25 members and the total number must be odd. At least 13 must be non‑Federal people, including experts in pediatric disaster planning, State/local/Tribal/territorial representatives, health care professionals (several pediatric specialties), and people from child care, education, disability services, and parents. Other non‑Federal members must include at least one from a children’s hospital, one with special health care needs expertise, and one with caregiver expertise. Federal members or their designees must include leaders from ASPR, BARDA, CDC, FDA, NIH, ACF, HRSA, FEMA, ACL, and the Department of Education, plus others as needed; they may be nonvoting. Non‑Federal appointees serve 3‑year terms (the Secretary may stagger terms for those serving on or appointed after June 24, 2019). A member may serve no more than 3 terms and no more than 2 in a row. The committee must meet at least twice a year, with at least one in person, coordinate with section 300hh–10e, and ends on December 31, 2026.