Biosurveillance Enhancement Act of 2007
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (5 Mar 2007): Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
What this bill does
H.R. 1290, the Biosurveillance Enhancement Act of 2007, would direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a National Biosurveillance Integration Center (NBIC). This center would integrate and analyze data from human health, animal, plant, food, and environmental sources to improve the government's ability to quickly identify, understand, and locate biological events. These events could include bioterrorism or significant natural outbreaks of infectious diseases.
The NBIC would be responsible for developing and maintaining a network to detect biological events posing a risk to the U.S. It would also create procedures for government and private entities to report suspicious events and would continuously evaluate data, integrating it with homeland security information for real-time communication with the National Operations Center. The bill requires the Secretary to seek agreements with other federal agencies to integrate their biosurveillance capabilities and ensure the NBIC receives timely information. The NBIC would be designated as a public health authority and must comply with privacy regulations like HIPAA.
This bill was introduced in the House of Representatives in March 2007 and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on Energy and Commerce. The legislation requires the NBIC to be fully operational by September 30, 2008, and directs the Secretary to submit an annual report to Congress on the center's activities and participation.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Biosurveillance Enhancement Act of 2007 - Amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a National Biosurveillance Integration Center (NBIC) to enhance the government's capability to rapidly identify, characterize, and localize a biological event (a terrorist act involving biological agents or toxins or a naturally occurring outbreak of infectious disease of potential national significance) by integrating and analyzing data related to human health, animals, plants, food, and the environment.
Requires the Director of NBIC to develop, operate, and maintain an integrated network to detect a biological event that presents a risk to the United States or its infrastructure or key assets. Includes among the Director's responsibilities establishment of a procedure to enable government and private sector entities to report suspicious events. Requires the Director to continuously evaluate data, integrate homeland security information with NBIC data, and establish a mechanism for real-time communication with the National Operations Center.
Directs the Secretary to: (1) seek agreements for appropriate federal agency heads to integrate biosurveillance information capabilities through NBIC and to provide timely, evaluated information; (2) ensure that the Director is notified of homeland security information regarding significant biological threats and receives timely reports; (3) designate NBIC as a public health authority; and (4) ensure that NBIC complies with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and applicable privacy regulations.
Requires: (1) the Director to establish an interagency working group; and (2) the Secretary to report annually to Congress.
Timeline
5 Mar 2007
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Common questions
- What does H.R. 1290 do?
- H.R. 1290, the Biosurveillance Enhancement Act of 2007, would direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish a National Biosurveillance Integration Center (NBIC). This center would integrate and analyze data from human health, animal, plant, food, and environmental sources to improve the government's ability to quickly identify, understand, and locate biological events. These events could include bioterrorism or significant natural outbreaks of infectious diseases. The NBIC would be responsible for developing and maintaining a network to detect biological events posing a risk to the U.S. It would also create procedures for government and private entities to report suspicious events and would continuously evaluate data, integrating it with homeland security information for real-time communication with the National Operations Center. The bill requires the Secretary to seek agreements with other federal agencies to integrate their biosurveillance capabilities and ensure the NBIC receives timely information. The NBIC would be designated as a public health authority and must comply with privacy regulations like HIPAA. This bill was introduced in the House of Representatives in March 2007 and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on Energy and Commerce. The legislation requires the NBIC to be fully operational by September 30, 2008, and directs the Secretary to submit an annual report to Congress on the center's activities and participation.
- Has H.R. 1290 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for H.R. 1290. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored H.R. 1290?
- H.R. 1290 was sponsored by Rep. Langevin, James R. [D-RI-2] (D-RI), with 8 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 1290?
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. (5 Mar 2007).
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