US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

42 U.S.C. § 243

General grant of authority for cooperation

(a)

Enforcement of quarantine regulations; prevention of communicable diseases

The Secretary is authorized to accept from State and local authorities any assistance in the enforcement of quarantine regulations made pursuant to this chapter which such authorities may be able and willing to provide. The Secretary shall also assist States and their political subdivisions in the prevention and suppression of communicable diseases and with respect to other public health matters, shall cooperate with and aid State and local authorities in the enforcement of their quarantine and other health regulations, and shall advise the several States on matters relating to the preservation and improvement of the public health.

(b)

Comprehensive and continuing planning; training of personnel for State and local health work; fees

The Secretary shall encourage cooperative activities between the States with respect to comprehensive and continuing planning as to their current and future health needs, the establishment and maintenance of adequate public health services, and otherwise carrying out public health activities. The Secretary is also authorized to train personnel for State and local health work. The Secretary may charge only private entities reasonable fees for the training of their personnel under the preceding sentence.

(c)

Development of plan to control epidemics and meet emergencies or problems resulting from disasters; cooperative planning; temporary assistance; reimbursement of United States

(1)
The Secretary is authorized to develop (and may take such action as may be necessary to implement) a plan under which personnel, equipment, medical supplies, and other resources of the Service and other agencies under the jurisdiction of the Secretary may be effectively used to control epidemics of any disease or condition and to meet other health emergencies or problems. The Secretary may enter into agreements providing for the cooperative planning between the Service and public and private community health programs and agencies to cope with health problems (including epidemics and health emergencies).
(2)
The Secretary may, at the request of the appropriate State or local authority, extend temporary (not in excess of six months) assistance to States or localities in meeting health emergencies of such a nature as to warrant Federal assistance. The Secretary may require such reimbursement of the United States for assistance provided under this paragraph as he may determine to be reasonable under the circumstances. Any reimbursement so paid shall be credited to the applicable appropriation for the Service for the year in which such reimbursement is received.

July 1, 1944, ch. 37358 Stat. 693Pub. L. 89–749, § 580 Stat. 1190Pub. L. 90–174, § 481 Stat. 536Pub. L. 91–515, title II, § 28284 Stat. 1308Pub. L. 94–317, title II, § 202(b)90 Stat. 703Pub. L. 97–35, title IX, § 902(c)95 Stat. 559Pub. L. 97–414, § 8(d)96 Stat. 2060Pub. L. 99–117, § 11(a)99 Stat. 494(, title III, § 311, ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , (c), , ; , , ; , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 99–117section 247b(f) of this titlesection 247b(f) of this title1985—Subsec. (c)(1). struck out “referred to in ” after “epidemics of any disease or condition”, “involving or resulting from disasters or any such disease” after “health emergencies or problems” in first sentence, and struck out “resulting from disasters or any disease or condition referred to in ” after “(including epidemics and health emergencies)” in second sentence.

Pub. L. 97–4141983—Subsec. (c)(2). substituted “six months” for “forty-five days” after “not in excess of”.

Pub. L. 97–35, § 902(c)(1)section 246 of this title1981—Subsec. (a). , inserted applicability to other public health matters, and struck out reference to .

Pub. L. 97–35, § 902(c)(2)section 246 of this titleSubsec. (b). , substituted “public health activities” for “the purposes of ”.

Pub. L. 94–317, § 202(c)1976—Subsec. (b). , inserted provision authorizing Secretary to charge only private entities reasonable fees for training of their personnel.

Pub. L. 94–317, § 202(b)section 247b of this titleSubsec. (c). , made changes in phraseology and restructured provisions into pars. (1) and (2) and, in par. (1), as so restructured, inserted provisions authorizing Secretary to develop a plan utilizing Public Health Service personnel, equipment, medical supplies and other resources to control epidemics of any disease referred to in .

Pub. L. 91–5151970—Subsecs. (a), (b). substituted “Secretary” for “Surgeon General” wherever appearing.

Pub. L. 90–1741967—Subsec. (c). added subsec. (c).

Pub. L. 89–7491966— designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), added subsec. (b), and amended subsec. (b) to permit Surgeon General to train personnel for State and local health work.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1981 Amendment

Pub. L. 97–35section 902(h) of Pub. L. 97–35lAmendment by effective , see , set out as a note under section 238 of this title.

Effective Date of 1966 Amendment

Pub. L. 89–749, § 5(a)80 Stat. 1190, , , provided that subsec. (b) of this section is effective .

Pub. L. 89–749, § 5(b)80 Stat. 1190, , , provided that the amendment of subsec. (b) of this section, permitting the Surgeon General to train personnel for State and local health work, is effective .

Food Allergens in the Food Code

Pub. L. 108–282, title II, § 209118 Stat. 910

42 U.S.C. 243“The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall, in the Conference for Food Protection, as part of its efforts to encourage cooperative activities between the States under section 311 of the Public Health Service Act (), pursue revision of the Food Code to provide guidelines for preparing allergen-free foods in food establishments, including in restaurants, grocery store delicatessens and bakeries, and elementary and secondary school cafeterias. The Secretary shall consider guidelines and recommendations developed by public and private entities for public and private food establishments for preparing allergen-free foods in pursuing this revision.”
, , , provided that:

Training of Private Persons Subject to Reimbursement or Advances to Appropriations

Pub. L. 103–333, title II108 Stat. 2550

“That for fiscal year 1995 and subsequent fiscal years training of private persons shall be made subject to reimbursement or advances to this appropriation for not in excess of the full cost of such training”.
, , , provided in part: