[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 190 (Tuesday, October 1, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Page 60283]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-23834]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES


Guidance for Temporary Reassignment of State and Local Personnel 
During a Public Health Emergency

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

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is accepting 
comments on proposed ``Guidance for Temporary Reassignment of State 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 provide the Secretary of HHS with discretion to 
authorize the temporary reassignment of state, tribal, and local 
personnel during a declared Federal public health emergency upon 
request by a state or tribal organization or their designee. This 
proposed guidance addresses that provision.

DATES: Public comments will be accepted for sixty days from the date 
this notice publishes in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: The guidance is available online at www.phe.gov/section201. 
Comments may be submitted via a form on that Web site. This document is 
also available in hard-copy for all those that request it from the 
point of contact listed in the ``Additional Information'' section 
below.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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 Avenue SW., Washington, DC 
20201, telephone number (202) 205-2882.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 201 of the Pandemic and All-Hazards 
Preparedness Reauthorization Act of 2013 (PAHPRA), Public Law 113-5, 
amends section 319 of the PHS Act to provide the Secretary of HHS with 
discretion to authorize the temporary reassignment of state, tribal, 
and local personnel during a declared Federal public health emergency 
upon request by a state governor or tribal organization or their 
designee. PAHPRA requires that HHS issue proposed guidance on this 
provision, to be followed by a 60-day public comment period.
    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.

    Statutory Authority: Section 201 of the Pandemic and All-Hazards 
Preparedness Reauthorization Act of 2013 (PAHPRA), Public Law 113-5

    Dated: September 23, 2013.
Kathleen Sebelius,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013-23834 Filed 9-30-13; 8:45 am]
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