US Code

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

42 U.S.C. § 709

Administration of Federal and State programs

(a)
The Secretary shall designate an identifiable administrative unit with expertise in maternal and child health within the Department of Health and Human Services, which unit shall be responsible for—
(1)
section 702(a) of this title the Federal program described in ;
(2)
promoting coordination at the Federal level of the activities authorized under this subchapter and under subchapter XIX of this chapter, especially early and periodic screening, diagnosis and treatment, related activities funded by the Departments of Agriculture and Education, and under health block grants and categorical health programs, such as immunizations, administered by the Secretary;
(3)
disseminating information to the States in such areas as preventive health services and advances in the care and treatment of mothers and children;
(4)
section 706(a)(2) of this title providing technical assistance, upon request, to the States in such areas as program planning, establishment of goals and objectives, standards of care, and evaluation and in developing consistent and accurate data collection mechanisms in order to report the information required under ;
(5)
in cooperation with the National Center for Health Statistics and in a manner that avoids duplication of data collection, collection, maintenance, and dissemination of information relating to the health status and health service needs of mothers and children in the United States;
(6)
1
1 So in original. The word “and” probably should not appear.
assisting in the preparation of reports to the Congress on the activities funded and accomplishments achieved under this subchapter from the information required to be reported by the States under sections 705(a) and 706 of this title; and 
(7)
section 701(b)(3) of this title assisting States in the development of care coordination services (as defined in ); and
(8)
section 705(a)(5)(E) of this title developing and making available to the State agency (or agencies) administering the State’s program under this subchapter a national directory listing by State the toll-free numbers described in .
(b)
2
2 So in original. Probably should be “comply with”.
The State health agency of each State shall be responsible for the administration (or supervision of the administration) of programs carried out with allotments made to the State under this subchapter, except that, in the case of a State which on , provided for administration (or supervision thereof) of the State plan under this subchapter (as in effect on such date) by a State agency other than the State health agency, that State shall be considered to comply  the requirement of this subsection if it would otherwise comply but for the fact that such other State agency administers (or supervises the administration of) any such program providing services for children with special health care needs.

Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531Pub. L. 97–35, title XXI, § 2192(a)95 Stat. 825Pub. L. 99–272, title IX, § 9527(e)100 Stat. 219Pub. L. 101–239, title VI103 Stat. 2278(, title V, § 509, as added , , ; amended , , ; , §§ 6503(c)(4), 6505, , , 2281.)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title V, § 509Pub. L. 90–248, title III, § 30181 Stat. 926Pub. L. 92–345, § 2(e)86 Stat. 457Pub. L. 92–603, title II86 Stat. 1389Pub. L. 93–53, § 4(a)(7)87 Stat. 135section 2192(a) of Pub. L. 97–35section 2194 of Pub. L. 97–35section 701 of this titleA prior section 709, , as added , , ; amended , , ; , , §§ 221(c)(3), 233(e), , 1412; , , , related to special project grants for health of school and preschool children, prior to the general revision of this subchapter by . For effective date, savings, and transitional provisions, see , set out as a note under .

act Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title VPub. L. 89–97, title II, § 205(3)79 Stat. 354section 729–1 of this titlePub. L. 90–248, § 301Provisions similar to those comprising former section 709, were contained in section 532 of , as added , , (formerly classified to ), prior to the general amendment and renumbering of title V of act , by .

Amendments

Pub. L. 101–239, § 6505(1)section 706(a)(2) of this title1989—Subsec. (a)(4). , inserted before semicolon at end “and in developing consistent and accurate data collection mechanisms in order to report the information required under ”.

Pub. L. 101–239, § 6503(c)(4)Subsec. (a)(6). , substituted “705(a)” for “705”.

Pub. L. 101–239, § 6505(2)Subsec. (a)(7), (8). –(4), added pars. (7) and (8).

Pub. L. 99–2721986—Subsec. (b). substituted “children with special health care needs” for “crippled children”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1989 Amendment

section 6503(c)(4) of Pub. L. 101–239section 6505 of Pub. L. 101–239Pub. L. 101–239section 701 of this titleAmendment by applicable to payments for allotments for fiscal years beginning with fiscal year 1991, and amendment by applicable to appropriations for fiscal years beginning with fiscal year 1990, see section 6510(a), (b)(1) of , set out as a note under .

Report to Congress; Evaluation of Program

Pub. L. 89–97, title II, § 20679 Stat. 354section 729–1 of this title, , , authorized Secretary to submit to President for transmission to Congress before , a full report of administration of provisions of , which was covered by former sections 701, 702(1)(B), and 709 of this title, together with an evaluation of program established thereby and his recommendations as to continuation of and modifications in that program.