---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 242o"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "242o"
heading: "Health conferences; publication of health educational information"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/242o"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter II — General Powers and Duties"
  - "Part A — Research and Investigations"
---

# §242o. Health conferences; publication of health educational information

- (a) A conference of the health authorities in and among the several [States](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) shall be called annually by the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c). Whenever in his opinion the interests of the public health would be promoted by a conference, the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) may invite as many of such health authorities and officials of other [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) or local public or private [agencies](/usc/42/8262.md?p=1), institutions, or organizations to confer as he deems necessary or proper. Upon the application of health authorities of five or more [States](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) it shall be the duty of the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) to call a conference of all [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) health authorities joining in the request. Each [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) represented at any conference shall be entitled to a single vote. Whenever at any such conference matters relating to mental health are to be discussed, the mental health authorities of the respective [States](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) shall be invited to attend.
- (b) From time to time the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall issue information related to public health, in the form of publications or otherwise, for the use of the public, and shall publish weekly reports of health conditions in the United States and other countries and other pertinent health information for the use of persons and institutions concerned with health [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a).

## Source credit

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, § 310, formerly §§ 309, 310, as added Pub. L. 93–353, title I, § 107(a), July 23, 1974, 88 Stat. 371; renumbered § 310, Pub. L. 95–623, § 6(a), (b), Nov. 9, 1978, 92 Stat. 3447.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Subsec. (a) of this section consists of former section 309 of act July 1, 1944, prior to the renumbering of that section as section 310(a) by Pub. L. 95–623. Subsec. (b) of this section consists of former section 310 of act July 1, 1944, prior to the renumbering of that section as section 310(b) by Pub. L. 95–623.

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 310 of act July 1, 1944, was renumbered section 329, and was classified to section 254b of this title prior to the general amendment of subpart I (§ 254b et seq.) of part D of this subchapter by Pub. L. 104–299.

Provisions similar to those comprising subsec. (a) of this section were contained in section 312 of act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, 58 Stat. 693, as amended (formerly classified to section 244 of this title), prior to repeal by Pub. L. 93–353, § 102(a).

Provisions similar to those comprising subsec. (b) of this section were contained in section 315 of act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, 58 Stat. 695; Oct. 30, 1970, Pub. L. 91–515, title II, § 282, 84 Stat. 1308 (formerly classified to section 247 of this title), prior to repeal by Pub. L. 93–353, § 102(a).