I 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2946 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 18, 2009 Mr. Hinojosa (for himself and Ms. Granger) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize a grant to a qualified youth-serving organization for recruiting and preparing students for careers and volunteer opportunities as future health care professionals, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Health Care Professional Pipeline Act of 2009.

2.

Recruiting and preparing future health care professionals

Title XXVIII of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300hhb et seq.) is amended— (1)by redesignating sections 2814 and 2815 as sections 2815 and 2816; and (2)by inserting after section 2813 the following:

2814.

Recruiting and preparing future 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 future health care professionals by the year 2014 including volunteer opportunities in the Public Health Service and 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 future 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 2010 and such sums as may be necessary for fiscal years 2011 through 2014.

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