---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 300d–81"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "300d–81"
heading: "Grants to States"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/300d-81"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter X — Trauma Care"
  - "Part H — Trauma Service Availability"
---

# §300d–81. Grants to States

- (a) **Establishment—** To promote universal access to [trauma](/usc/42/300d–31.md?p=4) [care services](/usc/42/300z–1.md?p=a-7) provided by [trauma](/usc/42/300d–31.md?p=4) centers and [trauma](/usc/42/300d–31.md?p=4)-related physician specialties, the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall provide funding to [States](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) to enable such [States](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) to award grants to eligible entities for the purposes described in this section.
- (b) **Awarding of grants by States—** Each [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) may award grants to eligible entities within the [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) for the purposes described in subparagraph (d).
- (c) **Eligibility—**
  - (1) **In general—** To be eligible to receive a grant under [subsection (b)](#b) an entity shall—
    - (A) be—
      - (i) a public or [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) [trauma](/usc/42/300d–31.md?p=4) center or [consortium](/usc/42/17061.md?p=4) thereof that meets that[^1] requirements of paragraphs (1), (2), and (5) of [section 300d–41(b) of this title](/usc/42/300d–41.md?p=b);
      - (ii) a safety net public or [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) [trauma](/usc/42/300d–31.md?p=4) center that meets the requirements of paragraphs (1) through (5) of [section 300d–41(b) of this title](/usc/42/300d–41.md?p=b); or
      - (iii) a [hospital](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=1) in an underserved area (as defined by the [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f)) that seeks to establish new [trauma](/usc/42/300d–31.md?p=4) [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a); and
    - (B) submit to the [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) may require.
  - (2) **Limitation—** A [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) shall use at least 40 percent of the amount available to the [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) under this part for a fiscal year to award grants to safety net [trauma](/usc/42/300d–31.md?p=4) centers described in [paragraph (1)(A)(ii)](#c-1-A-ii).
- (d) **Use of funds—** The recipient of a grant under [subsection (b)](#b) shall carry out 1 or more of the following activities consistent with [subsection (b)](#b):
  - (1) Providing [trauma](/usc/42/300d–31.md?p=4) centers with funding to support physician compensation in [trauma](/usc/42/300d–31.md?p=4)-related physician specialties where shortages exist in the region involved, with priority provided to safety net [trauma](/usc/42/300d–31.md?p=4) centers described in [subsection (c)(1)(A)(ii)](#c-1-A-ii).
  - (2) Providing for individual safety net [trauma](/usc/42/300d–31.md?p=4) center fiscal stability and costs related to having [service](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) that is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with priority provided to safety net [trauma](/usc/42/300d–31.md?p=4) centers described in [subsection (c)(1)(A)(ii)](#c-1-A-ii) located in urban, border, and rural areas.
  - (3) Reducing [trauma](/usc/42/300d–31.md?p=4) center overcrowding at specific [trauma](/usc/42/300d–31.md?p=4) centers related to throughput of [trauma](/usc/42/300d–31.md?p=4) patients.
  - (4) Establishing new [trauma](/usc/42/300d–31.md?p=4) [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) in underserved areas as defined by the [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f).
  - (5) Enhancing collaboration between [trauma](/usc/42/300d–31.md?p=4) centers and other [hospitals](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=1) and emergency medical [services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) personnel related to [trauma](/usc/42/300d–31.md?p=4) [service](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) availability.
  - (6) Making capital improvements to enhance access and expedite [trauma](/usc/42/300d–31.md?p=4) care, including providing helipads and associated safety infrastructure.
  - (7) Enhancing [trauma](/usc/42/300d–31.md?p=4) surge capacity at specific [trauma](/usc/42/300d–31.md?p=4) centers.
  - (8) Ensuring expedient receipt of [trauma](/usc/42/300d–31.md?p=4) patients transported by ground or air to the appropriate [trauma](/usc/42/300d–31.md?p=4) center.
  - (9) Enhancing interstate [trauma](/usc/42/300d–31.md?p=4) center collaboration.
- (e) **Limitation—**
  - (1) **In general—** A [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) may use not more than 20 percent of the amount available to the [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) under this part for a fiscal year for administrative costs associated with awarding grants and related costs.
  - (2) **Maintenance of effort—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) may not provide funding to a [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) under this part unless the [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) agrees that such funds will be used to supplement and not supplant [State](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) funding otherwise available for the activities and costs described in this part.
- (f) **Distribution of funds—** The following shall apply with respect to grants provided in this part:
  - (1) **Less than $10,000,000—** If the amount of appropriations for this part in a fiscal year is less than $10,000,000, the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall divide such funding evenly among only those [States](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) that have 1 or more [trauma](/usc/42/300d–31.md?p=4) centers eligible for funding under [section 300d–41(b)(3)(A) of this title](/usc/42/300d–41.md?p=b-3-A).
  - (2) **Less than $20,000,000—** If the amount of appropriations in a fiscal year is less than $20,000,000, the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall divide such funding evenly among only those [States](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) that have 1 or more [trauma](/usc/42/300d–31.md?p=4) centers eligible for funding under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of [section 300d–41(b)(3) of this title](/usc/42/300d–41.md?p=b-3).
  - (3) **Less than $30,000,000—** If the amount of appropriations for this part in a fiscal year is less than $30,000,000, the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall divide such funding evenly among only those [States](/usc/42/201.md?p=f) that have 1 or more [trauma](/usc/42/300d–31.md?p=4) centers eligible for funding under [section 300d–41(b)(3) of this title](/usc/42/300d–41.md?p=b-3).
  - (4) **$30,000,000 or more—** If the amount of appropriations for this part in a fiscal year is $30,000,000 or more, the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall divide such funding evenly among all [States](/usc/42/201.md?p=f).

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. Probably should be “the”.

## Source credit

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title XII, § 1281, as added Pub. L. 111–148, title III, § 3505(b), Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 525.)