---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 12373"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "12373"
heading: "Conference administration"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/12373"
units:
  - "Chapter 127 — Coordinated Services for Children, Youth, and Families"
  - "Subchapter II — White House Conference on Children, Youth, and Families"
---

# §12373. Conference administration

- (a) **Administration—** For purposes of carrying out this subchapter, the [Secretary](/usc/42/12302.md?p=4) shall—
  - (1) request the cooperation and assistance of the heads of such other Federal departments and [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1) as may be appropriate;
  - (2) furnish all reasonable assistance to [State agencies](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=12) administering programs related to children, [youth](/usc/42/12376.md?p=2) and families, and to other appropriate organizations, to enable them to organize and conduct [conferences](/usc/42/12376.md?p=1) in conjunction with the [Conference](/usc/42/12376.md?p=1);
  - (3) prepare and make available for public comment a proposed agenda for the [Conference](/usc/42/12376.md?p=1) which reflects, to the greatest extent possible, the major issues facing children, [youth](/usc/42/12376.md?p=2), and families consistent with [subsection (a)](#a);
  - (4) prepare and make available background materials which the [Secretary](/usc/42/12302.md?p=4) deems necessary for the use of delegates to the [Conference](/usc/42/12376.md?p=1); and
  - (5) engage such additional personnel as may be necessary to carry out this section without regard to provisions of [title 5](/usc/5.md) governing appointments in the competitive service, and without regard to [chapter 51](/usc/42/chch51.md) and subchapter III of [chapter 53](/usc/42/chch53.md) of such title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates.
- (b) **Duties—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/12302.md?p=4) shall, in carrying out the [Secretary](/usc/42/12302.md?p=4)’s responsibilities and functions under this section, ensure that—
  - (1) the [conferences](/usc/42/12376.md?p=1) under [subsection (a)(2)](#a-2) will be conducted so as to ensure broad participation of [young individuals](/usc/42/12376.md?p=2);
  - (2) the proposed agenda for the [Conference](/usc/42/12376.md?p=1) under [subsection (a)(3)](#a-3) is published in the Federal Register not less than 180 days before the beginning of the [Conference](/usc/42/12376.md?p=1) and the proposed agenda is open for public comment for a period of not less than 60 days;
  - (3) the final agenda for the [Conference](/usc/42/12376.md?p=1), taking into consideration the comments received under [paragraph (2)](#b-2), is published in the Federal Register and transmitted to the chief executive officers of the [States](/usc/42/12302.md?p=5) not later than 30 days after the close of the public comment period provided for under [paragraph (2)](#b-2);
  - (4) the personnel engaged under [subsection (a)(5)](#a-5) shall be fairly balanced in terms of points of views represented and shall be appointed without regard to political affiliation or previous partisan activities;
  - (5) the recommendations of the [Conference](/usc/42/12376.md?p=1) are not inappropriately influenced by any appointing authority or by any special interest, but will instead be the result of the independent judgment of the [Conference](/usc/42/12376.md?p=1); and
  - (6) to the extent practicable, current and adequate statistical data (including decennial census data) and other information on the well-being of [young individuals](/usc/42/12376.md?p=2) in the United States are readily available, in advance of the [Conference](/usc/42/12376.md?p=1), to the delegates of the [Conference](/usc/42/12376.md?p=1), together with such information as may be necessary to evaluate Federal programs and policies relating to children and [youth](/usc/42/12376.md?p=2). In carrying out this subparagraph, the [Secretary](/usc/42/12302.md?p=4) may make grants to, and enter into contracts with, [public agencies](/usc/42/11851.md?p=8) and [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) private organizations.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 101–501, title IX, § 984, Nov. 3, 1990, 104 Stat. 1281.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective Oct. 1, 1990, see section 1001(a) of Pub. L. 101–501, set out as an Effective Date of 1990 Amendment note under section 8621 of this title.