Recruiting and preparing health care professionals

Title XXVIII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300hhb et seq.) is amended— (1)by redesignating section 2814 as section 2815; and (2)by inserting after section 2813 the following:

2814.

Recruiting and preparing health care professionals

(a)

Purpose

The purpose of this section is to recruit and prepare more than 500,000 students in secondary schools, institutions of higher education, and continuing education programs for careers as health care professionals by the year 2012, including volunteer opportunities in the Medical Reserve Corps under section 2813. (b)

Emergency preparedness pipeline grant

The Secretary shall make a grant to a qualified youth serving organization for establishing and expanding emergency preparedness pipelines consisting of— (1)health science curricula in secondary schools, institutions of higher education, and continuing education programs that prepare students for careers as health care professionals; and (2)school-based emergency preparedness chapters described in subsection (c). (c)

School-based emergency preparedness chapters

A school-based emergency preparedness chapter described in this subsection must meet each of the following: (1)The chapter is administered by a qualified youth-serving organization. (2)The chapter recruits and prepares students for Federal, State, community, and school public health emergencies under the administration of a qualified youth serving organization. (3)The emergency preparedness training of the chapter— (A)is implemented uniformly; (B)is coordinated with and integrated into the health science curriculum of the school involved; and (C)is provided through certified health science instructors serving as chapter advisors. (d)

National leadership conference

(1)

Grants

Each year, the Secretary shall make a grant to a qualified youth-serving organization to conduct a national leadership conference. (2)

Participants

A national leadership conference funded through a grant under this subsection shall include representatives of— (A)health science programs in secondary schools, institutions of higher education, and continuing education programs; (B)school-based emergency preparedness chapters; and (C)the Medical Reserve Corps under section 2813. (3)

Activities

The activities of a national leadership conference funded through a grant under this subsection shall include general sessions, workshops, competitive events (including at least 5 knowledge- and skill-based demonstrations), and a recognition program. (e)

Definitions

In this section: (1)The term institution of higher education has the meaning given to that term in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965. (2)The term qualified youth-serving organization means a nonprofit organization that— (A)prepares youth exclusively for career entry and advancement opportunities in the health professions, including the Public Health Service; (B)offers a national recognition and competitive events program in which students in school-based emergency preparedness chapters and chapter members can demonstrate their knowledge and skills in responding to public health emergencies; (C)operates at least 2,500 such chapters; and (D)operates in at least 40 States. (3)The term school-based emergency preparedness chapter means a school-based emergency chapter funded through a grant under subsection (b)(2). (4)The term secondary school has the meaning given to such term in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. (f)

Authorization of appropriations

To carry out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $5,000,000 for fiscal year 2008 and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2009 through 2012.