81 FR 18865 - Temporary Reassignment of State, Tribal, and Local Personnel During a Public Health Emergency

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 63 (April 1, 2016)

Page Range		18865-18865
FR Document		2016-07404

The Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Secretary is announcing the availability of a final guidance entitled ``Guidance for Temporary Reassignment of State, Tribal, and Local Personnel during a Public Health Emergency.'' Section 201 of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act of 2013 (PAHPRA), Public Law 113-5, amends section 319 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act to allow the Secretary of HHS, when she declares a public health emergency under section 319 of the PHS Act, to authorize, upon request by a state or tribal organization or their designee, the temporary reassignment of state, tribal, and local personnel funded through programs authorized under the PHS Act to immediately address a public health emergency in the state or Indian tribe. This final guidance addresses that provision.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 63 (Friday, April 1, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 63 (Friday, April 1, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 18865]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-07404]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Temporary Reassignment of State, Tribal, and Local Personnel 
During a Public Health Emergency

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Department of Health and Human 
Services (HHS).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the 
Secretary is announcing the availability of a final guidance entitled 
``Guidance for Temporary Reassignment of State, Tribal, and Local 
Personnel during a Public Health Emergency.'' Section 201 of the 
Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act of 2013 
(PAHPRA), Public Law 113-5, amends section 319 of the Public Health 
Service (PHS) Act to allow the Secretary of HHS, when she declares a 
public health emergency under section 319 of the PHS Act, to authorize, 
upon request by a state or tribal organization or their designee, the 
temporary reassignment of state, tribal, and local personnel funded 
through programs authorized under the PHS Act to immediately address a 
public health emergency in the state or Indian tribe. This final 
guidance addresses that provision.

ADDRESSES: Copy of the final guidance may be obtained at 
www.PHE.gov!femporacyReassignment.
    Additional Information: For additional information, please contact: 
Lisa Kaplowitz, MD, MSHA, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Policy 
and Planning, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and 
Response, 200 Independence SW., Washington, DC 20004, telephone number 
(202) 205-2882.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  Section 201 of PAHPRA, Public Law 113-5, 
amends section 319 of the PHS Act to allow the Secretary of HHS, when 
she declares a public health emergency under section 319 of the PHS 
Act, to authorize, upon request by a state or tribal organization or 
their designee, the temporary reassignment of state, tribal, and local 
personnel funded though programs authorized under the PHS Act to 
immediately address a public health emergency in the state or Indian 
tribe.
    The PHS Act requires that HHS issue proposed guidance on this 
provision, to be followed by a 60-day public comment period. Consistent 
with this requirement, a notice appeared in the Federal Register on 
October 1, 2013 (78 FR 60283) notifying the public that HHS was 
accepting comments on such proposed guidance. This 60-day public 
comment period concluded in December 2013. There were nine submissions 
received in the public comment period. Five of the submissions were 
local governments, one state government, and three associations. 
Revisions made based on feedback received included setting timelines 
for HHS to review; standardizing the request template for states and 
Indian tribes, expanding the post event reporting requirements from 90 
to 120 days, and clarifications on which Public Health Service programs 
were potentially affected.
    The temporary reassignment provision is applicable to state, 
tribal, and local public health department or agency personnel whose 
positions are funded, in full or part, under PHS programs. This 
authority terminates on September 30, 2018.
    This new provision provides an important flexibility to state and 
local health departments and tribal organizations during an event 
requiring all the resources at their disposal. The temporary 
reassignment provision permits state, tribal, and local personnel to be 
voluntarily reassigned so they can immediately respond to the public 
health emergency in the affected jurisdiction.

    Dated: September 1, 2015.
Sylvia Burwell,
Secretary.

    Editorial Note: This document was received for publication by 
the Office of the Federal Register on March 29, 2016.

[FR Doc. 2016-07404 Filed 3-31-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4150-37-P

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 63 / Friday, April 1, 2016 / Notices 18865

Deficiency should be referred for a full www.hrsa.gov/advisorycommittees/ The PHS Act requires that HHS issue
evidence-based review. This vote does mchbadvisory/heritabledisorders. proposed guidance on this provision, to
not involve a proposed addition of a be followed by a 60-day public
Jackie Painter,
condition to the Recommended Uniform comment period. Consistent with this
Screening Panel. The meeting agenda Director, Division of the Executive Secretariat. requirement, a notice appeared in the
will be available two (2) days prior to [FR Doc. 2016–07321 Filed 3–31–16; 8:45 am] Federal Register on October 1, 2013 (78
the meeting on the Committee’s Web BILLING CODE 4165–15–P FR 60283) notifying the public that HHS
site: http://www.hrsa.gov/ was accepting comments on such
advisorycommittees/mchbadvisory/ proposed guidance. This 60-day public
heritabledisorders. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND comment period concluded in
Public Comments: Members of the HUMAN SERVICES December 2013. There were nine
public may present oral comments and/ submissions received in the public
or submit written comments. Comments Temporary Reassignment of State, comment period. Five of the
are part of the official Committee record. Tribal, and Local Personnel During a submissions were local governments,
The public comment period is Public Health Emergency one state government, and three
tentatively scheduled for both days of AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, associations. Revisions made based on
the meeting. Advance registration is Department of Health and Human feedback received included setting
required to present oral comments and/ Services (HHS). timelines for HHS to review;
or submit written comments. ACTION: Notice. standardizing the request template for
Registration information will be on the states and Indian tribes, expanding the
Committee Web site at http:// SUMMARY: The Department of Health and post event reporting requirements from
www.hrsa.gov/advisorycommittees/ Human Services, Office of the Secretary 90 to 120 days, and clarifications on
mchbadvisory/heritabledisorders. The is announcing the availability of a final which Public Health Service programs
registration deadline for public guidance entitled ‘‘Guidance for were potentially affected.
comments is of Friday April 29, 2016, Temporary Reassignment of State, The temporary reassignment
11:59 p.m. (Eastern Time). Written Tribal, and Local Personnel during a provision is applicable to state, tribal,
comments must be received by the Public Health Emergency.’’ Section 201 and local public health department or
deadline of Friday April 29, 2016, 11:59 of the Pandemic and All-Hazards agency personnel whose positions are
p.m. (Eastern Time) in order to be Preparedness Reauthorization Act of funded, in full or part, under PHS
included in the May meeting briefing 2013 (PAHPRA), Public Law 113–5, programs. This authority terminates on
book. Written comments should identify amends section 319 of the Public Health September 30, 2018.
the individual’s name, address, email, Service (PHS) Act to allow the Secretary This new provision provides an
telephone number, professional or of HHS, when she declares a public important flexibility to state and local
business affiliation, type of expertise health emergency under section 319 of health departments and tribal
(i.e., parent, researcher, clinician, public the PHS Act, to authorize, upon request organizations during an event requiring
health, etc.), and the topic/subject by a state or tribal organization or their all the resources at their disposal. The
matter of comments. To ensure that all designee, the temporary reassignment of temporary reassignment provision
individuals who have registered to make state, tribal, and local personnel funded permits state, tribal, and local personnel
oral comments can be accommodated, through programs authorized under the to be voluntarily reassigned so they can
the allocated time may be limited. PHS Act to immediately address a immediately respond to the public
Individuals who are associated with public health emergency in the state or health emergency in the affected
groups or have similar interests may be Indian tribe. This final guidance jurisdiction.
requested to combine their comments addresses that provision. Dated: September 1, 2015.
and present them through a single Sylvia Burwell,
ADDRESSES: Copy of the final guidance
representative. No audiovisual
presentations are permitted. Individuals may be obtained at Secretary.
who plan to attend and need special www.PHE.gov!femporacyReassignment. Editorial Note: This document was
assistance, such as sign language Additional Information: For received for publication by the Office of the
interpretation or other reasonable additional information, please contact: Federal Register on March 29, 2016.
accommodations, should notify the Lisa Kaplowitz, MD, MSHA, Deputy
[FR Doc. 2016–07404 Filed 3–31–16; 8:45 am]
contact person listed below at least 10 Assistant Secretary, Office of Policy and
BILLING CODE 4150–37–P
days prior to the meeting. For additional Planning, Office of the Assistant
information or questions on public Secretary for Preparedness and
comments, please contact Alaina Harris, Response, 200 Independence SW.,
Washington, DC 20004, telephone DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
Maternal and Child Health Bureau, SECURITY
Health Resources and Services number (202) 205–2882.
Administration; phone: (301) 443–0721; SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section U.S. Customs and Border Protection
or email: aharris@hrsa.gov. 201 of PAHPRA, Public Law 113–5,
Contact Person: Anyone interested in amends section 319 of the PHS Act to [Docket No. USCBP–2016–0016]
obtaining other relevant information allow the Secretary of HHS, when she
Termination of the Advisory
should contact Alaina Harris, Maternal declares a public health emergency
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

Committee on Commercial Operations
and Child Health Bureau, Health under section 319 of the PHS Act, to
to U.S. Customs and Border
Resources and Services Administration, authorize, upon request by a state or
Protection; Establishment of the
Room 18W66, 5600 Fishers Lane, tribal organization or their designee, the
Commercial Customs Operations
Rockville, Maryland 20857; phone: temporary reassignment of state, tribal,
Advisory Committee
(301) 443–0721; or email: aharris@ and local personnel funded though
hrsa.gov. programs authorized under the PHS Act AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border
More information on the Advisory to immediately address a public health Protection, Department of Homeland
Committee is available at http:// emergency in the state or Indian tribe. Security.

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Document Created: 2016-04-06 00:08:27
Document Modified: 2016-04-06 00:08:27

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice.
FR Citation		81 FR 18865