US Code

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

42 U.S.C. § 290aa–1

Advisory councils

(a)

Appointment

(1)

In general

The Secretary shall appoint an advisory council for—
(A)
the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration;
(B)
the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment;
(C)
the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention; and
(D)
the Center for Mental Health Services.
Each such advisory council shall advise, consult with, and make recommendations to the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary or Director of the Administration or Center for which the advisory council is established concerning matters relating to the activities carried out by and through the Administration or Center and the policies respecting such activities.
(2)

Function and activities

An advisory council—
(A)
(i)
may on the basis of the materials provided by the organization respecting activities conducted at the organization, make recommendations to the Assistant Secretary or Director of the Administration or Center for which it was established respecting such activities;
(ii)
section 290aa–3(d)(2) of this title shall review applications submitted for grants and cooperative agreements for activities for which advisory council approval is required under and recommend for approval applications for projects that show promise of making valuable contributions to the Administration’s mission; and
(iii)
may review any grant, contract, or cooperative agreement proposed to be made or entered into by the organization;
(B)
may collect, by correspondence or by personal investigation, information as to studies and services that are being carried on in the United States or any other country as to the diseases, disorders, or other aspects of human health with respect to which the organization was established and with the approval of the Assistant Secretary or Director, whichever is appropriate, make such information available through appropriate publications for the benefit of public and private health entities and health professions personnel and for the information of the general public; and
(C)
may appoint subcommittees and convene workshops and conferences.
(b)

Membership

(1)

In general

Each advisory council shall consist of nonvoting ex officio members and not more than 12 members to be appointed by the Secretary under paragraph (3).

(2)

Ex officio members

The ex officio members of an advisory council shall consist of—
(A)
the Secretary;
(B)
the Assistant Secretary;
(C)
the Director of the Center for which the council is established;
(D)
the Under Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans Affairs;
(E)
the Assistant Secretary for Defense for Health Affairs (or the designates of such officers);
(F)
section 290aa(g) of this title the Chief Medical Officer, appointed under ;
(G)
the Director of the National Institute of Mental Health for the advisory councils appointed under subsections (a)(1)(A) and (a)(1)(D);
(H)
the Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse for the advisory councils appointed under subsections (a)(1)(A), (a)(1)(B), and (a)(1)(C);
(I)
the Director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism for the advisory councils appointed under subsections (a)(1)(A), (a)(1)(B), and (a)(1)(C); and
(J)
such additional officers or employees of the United States as the Secretary determines necessary for the advisory council to effectively carry out its functions.
(3)

Appointed members

Individuals shall be appointed to an advisory council under paragraph (1) as follows:
(A)
Nine of the members shall be appointed by the Secretary from among the leading representatives of the health disciplines (including public health and behavioral and social sciences) relevant to the activities of the Administration or Center for which the advisory council is established.
(B)
Three of the members shall be appointed by the Secretary from the general public and shall include leaders in fields of public policy, public relations, law, health policy economics, or management.
(C)
Not less than half of the members of the advisory council appointed under subsection (a)(1)(D)—
(i)
shall—
(I)
have a medical degree;
(II)
have a doctoral degree in psychology; or
(III)
have an advanced degree in nursing or social work from an accredited graduate school or be a certified physician assistant; and
(ii)
shall specialize in the mental health field.
(D)
Not less than half of the members of the advisory councils appointed under subsections (a)(1)(B) and (a)(1)(C)—
(i)
shall—
(I)
have a medical degree;
(II)
have a doctoral degree; or
(III)
have an advanced degree in nursing, public health, behavioral or social sciences, or social work from an accredited graduate school or be a certified physician assistant; and
(ii)
shall have experience in the provision of substance use disorder services or the development and implementation of programs to prevent substance misuse.
(4)

Compensation

Members of an advisory council who are officers or employees of the United States shall not receive any compensation for service on the advisory council. The remaining members of an advisory council shall receive, for each day (including travel time) they are engaged in the performance of the functions of the advisory council, compensation at rates not to exceed the daily equivalent to the annual rate in effect for grade GS–18 of the General Schedule.

(c)

Terms of office

(1)

In general

The term of office of a member of an advisory council appointed under subsection (b) shall be 4 years, except that any member appointed to fill a vacancy for an unexpired term shall serve for the remainder of such term. The Secretary shall make appointments to an advisory council in such a manner as to ensure that the terms of the members not all expire in the same year. A member of an advisory council may serve after the expiration of such member’s term until a successor has been appointed and taken office.

(2)

Reappointments

A member who has been appointed to an advisory council for a term of 4 years may not be reappointed to an advisory council during the 2-year period beginning on the date on which such 4-year term expired.

(3)

Time for appointment

If a vacancy occurs in an advisory council among the members under subsection (b), the Secretary shall make an appointment to fill such vacancy within 90 days from the date the vacancy occurs.

(d)

Chair

The Secretary shall select a member of an advisory council to serve as the chair of the council. The Secretary may so select an individual from among the appointed members, or may select the Assistant Secretary or the Director of the Center involved. The term of office of the chair shall be 2 years.

(e)

Meetings

An advisory council shall meet at the call of the chairperson or upon the request of the Assistant Secretary or Director of the Administration or Center for which the advisory council is established, but in no event less than 2 times during each fiscal year. The location of the meetings of each advisory council shall be subject to the approval of the Assistant Secretary or Director of Administration or Center for which the council was established.

(f)

Executive Secretary and staff

The Assistant Secretary or Director of the Administration or Center for which the advisory council is established shall designate a member of the staff of the Administration or Center for which the advisory council is established to serve as the Executive Secretary of the advisory council. The Assistant Secretary or Director shall make available to the advisory council such staff, information, and other assistance as it may require to carry out its functions. The Assistant Secretary or Director shall provide orientation and training for new members of the advisory council to provide for their effective participation in the functions of the advisory council.

July 1, 1944, ch. 373Pub. L. 99–570, title IV, § 4004(a)100 Stat. 3207–109Pub. L. 100–527, § 10(4)102 Stat. 2641Pub. L. 101–381, title I, § 102(6)104 Stat. 586Pub. L. 102–321, title I, § 102106 Stat. 331Pub. L. 102–352, § 2(a)(6)106 Stat. 938Pub. L. 103–446, title XII, § 1203(a)(1)108 Stat. 4689Pub. L. 106–310, div. B, title XXXIV, § 3402114 Stat. 1219Pub. L. 114–255, div. B, title VI130 Stat. 1203(, title V, § 502, formerly § 505, as added , , ; amended , , ; , , ; renumbered § 502 and amended , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , §§ 6001(c)(2), 6008, , , 1214.)

Editorial Notes

Codification

section 290aa–3a of this titlePub. L. 102–321Section was formerly classified to prior to renumbering by .

Prior Provisions

act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title V, § 502Pub. L. 91–616, title I, § 10184 Stat. 1848Pub. L. 93–282, title II, § 203(a)88 Stat. 135Pub. L. 96–180, § 393 Stat. 1302Pub. L. 97–35, title IX, § 966(a)95 Stat. 595Pub. L. 98–24, § 2(b)(3)97 Stat. 177Pub. L. 98–509, title II, § 205(b)(2)98 Stat. 2361Pub. L. 99–570, title IV, § 4005(b)(1)100 Stat. 3207–114Pub. L. 102–321, title I, § 101(b)106 Stat. 331section 285n of this titleA prior section 290aa–1, , formerly , , , as amended , , ; , , ; , , ; renumbered § 502 of act , and amended , , ; , , ; , , , related to National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, prior to repeal by , , . See .

section 220 of this titlesection 238a of this titleA prior section 502 of act , which was classified to , was successively renumbered by subsequent acts and transferred, see .

Amendments

Pub. L. 114–255, § 6001(c)(2)2016—Subsec. (a)(1). , substituted “Assistant Secretary” for “Administrator” in concluding provisions.

Pub. L. 114–255, § 6001(c)(2)Subsec. (a)(2)(A)(i), (B). , substituted “Assistant Secretary” for “Administrator”.

Pub. L. 114–255, § 6001(c)(2)Subsec. (b)(2)(B). , substituted “Assistant Secretary” for “Administrator”.

Pub. L. 114–255, § 6008(1)Subsec. (b)(2)(F) to (J). , added subpars. (F) to (I) and redesignated former subpar. (F) as (J).

Pub. L. 114–255, § 6008(2)Subsec. (b)(3)(C), (D). , added subpars. (C) and (D).

Pub. L. 114–255, § 6001(c)(2)Subsecs. (d) to (f). , substituted “Assistant Secretary” for “Administrator” wherever appearing.

Pub. L. 106–3102000—Subsec. (e). substituted “2 times during each fiscal year” for “3 times during each fiscal year”.

Pub. L. 103–4461994—Subsec. (b)(2)(D). amended subpar. (D) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (D) read as follows: “the Chief Medical Director of the Veterans Administration; and”.

Pub. L. 102–3521992— substituted “or management” for “and management” in subsec. (b)(3)(B).

Pub. L. 102–321 amended section generally, substituting provisions relating to appointment of advisory councils to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, Center for Substance Abuse Prevention, and Center for Mental Health Services for provisions appointing advisory councils for National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Institute on Drug Abuse, and National Institute of Mental Health.

Pub. L. 101–381section 300aaa of this title1990—Subsec. (a)(2). made technical amendment to reference to to reflect renumbering of corresponding section of original act.

Pub. L. 100–5271988—Subsec. (b)(2)(A). substituted “Chief Medical Director of the Department of Veterans Affairs” for “Chief Medical Director of the Veterans’ Administration”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1992 Amendments

Pub. L. 102–352Pub. L. 102–321section 3(1) of Pub. L. 102–352section 285n of this titleAmendment by effective immediately upon effectuation of amendment made by , see , set out as a note under .

Pub. L. 102–321Pub. L. 102–321section 236 of this titleAmendment by effective , with provision for programs providing financial assistance, see section 801(c), (d) of , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 1988 Amendment

Pub. L. 100–527section 18(a) of Pub. L. 100–527section 301 of Title 38Amendment by effective , see , set out as a Department of Veterans Affairs Act note under , Veterans’ Benefits.

Termination of Advisory Councils

Advisory councils established after , to terminate not later than the expiration of the 2-year period beginning on the date of their establishment, unless, in the case of a council established by the President or an officer of the Federal Government, such council is renewed by appropriate action prior to the expiration of such 2-year period, or in the case of a council established by Congress, its duration is otherwise provided by law. See sections 1001(2) and 1013 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

Pub. L. 93–641, § 688 Stat. 2275section 217a of this title, , , set out as a note under , provided that an advisory committee established pursuant to the Public Health Service Act shall terminate at such time as may be specifically prescribed by an Act of Congress enacted after .

References in Other Laws to GS–16, 17, or 18 Pay Rates

Pub. L. 101–509section 5376 of Title 5References in laws to the rates of pay for GS–16, 17, or 18, or to maximum rates of pay under the General Schedule, to be considered references to rates payable under specified sections of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees, see section 529 [title I, § 101(c)(1)] of , set out in a note under .

Continuation of Existing Advisory Councils

Pub. L. 99–570, title IV, § 4004(b)100 Stat. 3207–111

section 290aa–5 of this title“The amendment made by subsection (a) [enacting this section and renumbering this section and ] does not terminate the membership of any advisory council for the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the National Institute on Drug Abuse, or the National Institute of Mental Health which was in existence on the date of enactment of this Act []. After such date—
“(1)
42 U.S.C. 290aa–1 the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall make appointments to each such advisory council in such a manner as to bring about as soon as practicable the composition for such council prescribed by section 505 [now 502] of the Public Health Service Act [];
“(2)
each advisory council shall organize itself in accordance with such section and exercise the functions prescribed by such section; and
“(3)
the Director of each such institute shall perform for such advisory council the functions prescribed by such section.”
, , , provided that: