Secure Data and Privacy for Contact Tracing Act of 2021
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (4 Feb 2021): Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
What this bill does
The Secure Data and Privacy for Contact Tracing Act of 2021, introduced in the House of Representatives, would authorize the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to award grants to state, tribal, and territorial health departments. These grants are intended to help these agencies develop and administer programs that use digital technology to assist with COVID-19 contact tracing. Funds could be used for developing, maintaining, or staffing these digital programs, as well as for outreach.
Any digital contact tracing technology developed or acquired with these grants must meet specific privacy and security requirements. These include requiring voluntary user participation through affirmative consent, limiting data collection to only what is necessary for contact tracing, deleting or de-identifying data within 30 days after the COVID-19 emergency declaration ends, and encrypting stored data. Federal privacy standards for personal health information would apply to data collected through these grant-funded programs, with an exception for data used by public health authorities. The bill also prohibits the use of this data in legal proceedings or for immigration enforcement.
The bill is currently in its introductory phase and has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. If passed, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) would be required to evaluate the grant program and report its findings to Congress. The bill also authorizes $75 million for these grants.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Secure Data and Privacy for Contact Tracing Act of 2021
This bill establishes grants for state, tribal, and territorial health departments to incorporate digital contact tracing technology in COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) contact tracing programs. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must award the grants.
Any technology developed or procured with these grants must meet privacy, security, and other conditions. Grantees that acquire technology that does not meet these conditions lose eligibility for this, and future, funding for COVID-19 contact tracing technology.
In addition, federal privacy standards for personal health information expressly apply to information transmitted or maintained by grant-funded programs. Current law restricts the use and disclosure of personal health information by health care providers, health plans, health clearinghouses, and their business associates. However, there is an exception to these standards for information used by, or disclosed to, a public health authority.
The bill also prohibits the use of data derived from the contact tracing technology in legal proceedings or for immigration enforcement.
The Government Accountability Office must evaluate this program.
Timeline
4 Feb 2021
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Common questions
- What does H.R. 778 do?
- The Secure Data and Privacy for Contact Tracing Act of 2021, introduced in the House of Representatives, would authorize the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to award grants to state, tribal, and territorial health departments. These grants are intended to help these agencies develop and administer programs that use digital technology to assist with COVID-19 contact tracing. Funds could be used for developing, maintaining, or staffing these digital programs, as well as for outreach. Any digital contact tracing technology developed or acquired with these grants must meet specific privacy and security requirements. These include requiring voluntary user participation through affirmative consent, limiting data collection to only what is necessary for contact tracing, deleting or de-identifying data within 30 days after the COVID-19 emergency declaration ends, and encrypting stored data. Federal privacy standards for personal health information would apply to data collected through these grant-funded programs, with an exception for data used by public health authorities. The bill also prohibits the use of this data in legal proceedings or for immigration enforcement. The bill is currently in its introductory phase and has been referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. If passed, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) would be required to evaluate the grant program and report its findings to Congress. The bill also authorizes $75 million for these grants.
- Has H.R. 778 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for H.R. 778. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored H.R. 778?
- H.R. 778 was sponsored by Rep. Speier, Jackie [D-CA-14] (D-CA), with 12 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on H.R. 778?
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Health. (4 Feb 2021).
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More bills from Rep. Speier, Jackie [D-CA-14]
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