50 U.S.C. § 3334k: Report on protocols for…

Summary

Within 180 days after March 15, 2022, the President must create uniform protocols for the intelligence community about medical testing, care, and reporting for employees, contractors, and their listed family members abroad. These protocols must be reviewed regularly and follow the law and current medical practice. They cover voluntary baseline tests (basic lab tests, vision and hearing checks, brain/injury and balance tests, medical history, and other standard exams); voluntary post-incident testing and treatment after reported unusual health events (similar tests, child-specific care, timely access to cleared medical staff and child experts, mental health options, and comparing results to any baseline); rules for collecting, storing, and protecting medical information; and a system for reporting incidents and handling complaints. No data from these tests can be used for research without the person’s written consent. The Director of National Intelligence must report to the intelligence and armed services committees within 180 days after March 15, 2022, including copies of the protocols, needed interagency rules and resources, and an implementation timeline with priorities. The Director must brief those committees within 60 days after the report and then every six months. Definitions: covered employee = intelligence community employee/detailee; covered individual = contractor; dependent = family member as set by the DNI; victim = someone affected or suspected to be affected by an anomalous health incident.

Title 50, §3334k

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(a)In general

Beginning not later than 180 days after March 15, 2022, the President shall develop, for uniform implementation across the elements of the intelligence community, each of the protocols described in subsections (c) through (f). Such protocols shall be subject to review and revision on a periodic basis, and any implementation of such protocols shall be conducted in accordance with applicable laws and current clinical and professional practices of the interagency medical community.

(b)Privacy

No data collected pursuant to any protocol under this section may be used for research or analytical purposes without the written consent of the individual from whom such data was collected with respect to such use.

(c)Protocol on baseline medical testing

The protocol described in this subsection is a protocol for conducting voluntary baseline medical testing of covered employees, covered individuals, and the dependents of covered employees who are included on the overseas travel orders of the covered employee. Such protocol shall set forth the required elements of such baseline medical testing, such as—

(1)standard lab collection and testing of relevant biofluids;

(2)the conduct of relevant visual and auditory examinations;

(3)the conduct of Acquired Brain Injury Tool assessments, or other relevant assessments for balance, eye motion, and cognition;

(4)the assessment of relevant medical histories; and

(5)the conduct of any other standard relevant medical or neurological examinations, testing, or assessments.

(d)Protocols on post-incident medical testing

The protocols described in this subsection are protocols to enable voluntary medical testing and the coordination of treatment for covered employees, covered individuals, and the dependents of covered employees, following a reported anomalous health incident, such as—

(1)a protocol that sets forth elements, similar to the elements described in subsection (c), of such testing;

(2)a protocol pertaining to the voluntary testing and treatment for victims of anomalous health incidents who are children;

(3)a protocol for ensuring that all victims of anomalous health incidents receive access to prompt and consistent medical treatment, including from medical professionals holding appropriate security clearances and medical professionals with expertise in child care;

(4)a protocol for ensuring that all victims of anomalous health incidents are offered options for psychological treatment for the effects of such incidents; and

(5)a protocol for ensuring that any testing, evaluation, or collection of biofluids or other samples following a reported anomalous health incident may be compared against the baseline for the victim of the anomalous health incident, to the extent the individual participated in the baseline medical testing, consistent with subsections (b) and (c).

(e)Protocol on information collection, storage, and safeguarding

The protocol described in this subsection is a protocol for the collection, storage, and safeguarding of information acquired as a result of the protocols described in subsections (c) and (d).

(f)Protocol on reporting mechanisms

The protocol described in this subsection is a protocol for the reporting of matters relating to anomalous health incidents by covered employees, covered individuals, and the dependents of covered employees, including the development of a system for the adjudication of complaints regarding medical treatment received by such covered employees, covered individuals, and dependents of covered employees.

(g)Report and briefings

(1)Report

Not later than 180 days after March 15, 2022, the Director of National Intelligence shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a report on the protocols described in subsections (c) through (f).

(2)Elements

Such report shall include the following elements:

(A)A copy of each protocol under this section.

(B)A description of the following:

(i)Any interagency agreements, authorities, or policies required to effectively implement the protocols under this section.

(ii)Any new facilities, medical equipment, tools, training, or other resources required to effectively implement such protocols.

(C)A timeline for the implementation of the protocols under this section, including a proposal for the prioritization of implementation with respect to various categories of covered employees and the dependents of covered employees.

(3)Briefing

Not later than 60 days following the date of submission of the report under paragraph (1), and biannually thereafter, the Director shall provide to the appropriate congressional committees a briefing regarding the implementation of the protocols under this section.

(h)Definitions

In this section: (1) Appropriate congressional committees

(2)Covered employee

The term “covered employee” means an individual who is an employee, assignee, or detailee of an element of the intelligence community.

(3)Covered individual

The term “covered individual” means a contractor to an element of the intelligence community.

(4)Dependent of a covered employee

The term “dependent of a covered employee” means, with respect to a covered employee, a family member (including a child), as defined by the Director of National Intelligence.

(5)Victim of an anomalous health incident

The term “victim of an anomalous health incident” means a covered employee, covered individual, or dependent of a covered employee, who is, or is suspected to have been, affected by an anomalous health incident.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Standard Guidelines for Intelligence Community To Report and Document Anomalous Health Incidents Pub. L. 119–60, div. F, title LXVIII, § 6806, Dec. 18, 2025, 139 Stat. 1657, provided that: “(a) Standard Guidelines.—Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 18, 2025], the Director of National Intelligence shall, in coordination with such heads of elements of the intelligence community as the Director considers appropriate, develop and issue standard guidelines for personnel of the intelligence community to report and properly document anomalous health incidents. “(b) Conformity With Department of Defense Guidelines.—In developing the standard guidelines required by subsection (a), the Director shall ensure that such standard guidelines are as similar as practicable to guidelines issued by the Secretary of Defense for personnel of the Department of Defense to report and properly document anomalous health incidents. “(c) Submission.—Not later than 10 days after the date on which the Director issues the standard guidelines required by subsection (a), the Director shall submit to the congressional intelligence committees the standard guidelines, including a statement describing the implementation of such standard guidelines, how the standard guidelines differ from those issued by the Secretary, and the justifications for such differences.” [For definitions of “intelligence community” and “congressional intelligence committees” as used in section 6806 of Pub. L. 119–60, set out above, see section 6002 of Pub. L. 119–60, set out as a note under section 3003 of this title.] Definitions For definitions of “congressional intelligence committees” and “intelligence community” as used in this section, see section 2 of div. X of Pub. L. 117–103, set out as a note under section 3003 of this title.

§3334k Report on Protocols for Certain Intelligence Community Employees and Dependents

Summary

Title 50, §3334k

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Citations & Metadata