---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 300hh–13"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "300hh–13"
heading: "Evaluation of new and emerging technologies regarding bioterrorist attack and other public health emergencies"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/300hh-13"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter XXVI — National All-Hazards Preparedness for Public Health Emergencies"
  - "Part B — All-Hazards Emergency Preparedness and Response"
---

# §300hh–13. Evaluation of new and emerging technologies regarding bioterrorist attack and other public health emergencies

- (a) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) of Health and Human [Services](/usc/42/201.md?p=a) (referred to in this section as the “[Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c)”) shall promptly carry out a [program](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) to periodically evaluate new and emerging technologies that, in the determination of the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c), are designed to improve or enhance the ability of public health or safety officials to conduct public health surveillance activities relating to a bioterrorist attack or other public health emergency.
- (b) **Certain activities—** In carrying out this subsection, the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall, to the extent practicable—
  - (1) survey existing technology [programs](/usc/42/274l–1.md?p=4) funded by the Federal Government for potentially useful technologies;
  - (2) promptly issue a request, as necessary, for information from non-Federal public and private entities for ongoing activities in this area; and
  - (3) evaluate technologies identified under paragraphs [(1)](#b-1) and [(2)](#b-2) pursuant to [subsection (c)](#c).
- (c) **Consultation and evaluation—** In carrying out [subsection (b)(3)](#b-3), the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall consult with the working group under [section 247d–6(a)](/usc/42/247d–6.md?p=a)[^1] of this title, as well as other appropriate public, [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3), and private entities, to develop criteria for the evaluation of such technologies and to conduct such evaluations.
- (d) **Report—** Not later than 180 days after June 12, 2002, and periodically thereafter, the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall submit to the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, a report on the activities under this section.

## Footnotes

[^1]: See References in Text note below.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 107–188, title I, § 126, June 12, 2002, 116 Stat. 615.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Section 247d–6 of this title, referred to in subsec. (c), was amended by Pub. L. 109–417, title III, § 304, Dec. 19, 2006, 120 Stat. 2859, and as so amended, subsec. (a) of section 247d–6 no longer relates to a working group.

### Codification

Section was enacted as part of the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002, and not as part of the Public Health Service Act which comprises this chapter.