[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 94 (Wednesday, May 15, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21792-21794]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-09969]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Establishment of the Interdepartmental Substance Use Disorders
Coordinating Committee and Solicitation of Nominations for Committee
Members
AGENCY: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Office of the
Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) hereby
announces the establishment of the Interdepartmental Substance Use
Disorders Coordinating Committee (Committee) pursuant to Section 7022
of the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery
and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act. The Committee will
consist of representatives of specific federal agencies and non-federal
individuals and entities who represent diverse disciplines and views.
The Committee will identify areas for improved coordination related to
substance abuse, including research, services, supports and prevention
activities across all relevant Federal agencies. In identifying areas
for coordination, the committee will provide recommendations for
improving Federal programs for the prevention and treatment of, and
recovery from, substance use disorders, including by expanding access
to prevention, treatment and recovery services. They will also analyze
substance use disorder prevention and treatment strategies in different
regions of and populations in the United States and evaluate the extent
to which Federal substance use disorder and treatment strategies are
aligned with State and local substance disorder and treatment
strategies.
Through this notice, HHS is also requesting nominations of
individuals who are interested in being considered for appointment to
the Committee. Resumes or curricula vitae from qualified individuals
who wish to be considered for appointment as a member of the Committee
are currently being accepted.
DATES: Nominations must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. June 14,
2019.
ADDRESSES: All nominations must be submitted via email at
[email protected] with the subject line: Interdepartmental SUD
Coordinating Committee.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roula K. Sweis, Psy.D., M.A., Chief,
Operations and Management, Office of the Assistant Secretary for
Health; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Telephone: 202-
260-6619; Fax: 202-690-4631; Email address: [email protected]
(please indicate in the subject line: Interdepartmental SUD
Coordinating Committee). The Committee charter may be accessed online
at https://www.hhs.gov/ash/advisory-committees/substance-use-disorders/index.html. The charter includes detailed information about the
purpose, function, and structure of the Committee.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 7022 of the Substance Use-Disorder
Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and
Communities Act (SUPPORT Act, Pub. L. 115-271) requires the HHS
Secretary, in coordination with the Director of National Drug Control
Policy, to establish the Interdepartmental Substance Use Disorders
Coordinating Committee. The Committee will consist of representatives
of specific federal agencies and non-federal individuals and entities
who represent diverse disciplines and views. The Committee will
identify areas for improved coordination related to substance abuse,
including research, services, supports and prevention activities across
all relevant Federal agencies. In identifying areas for coordination,
the committee will provide recommendations for improving Federal
programs for the prevention and treatment of, and recovery from,
substance use disorders, including by expanding access to prevention,
treatment and recovery services. They will also analyze substance use
disorder prevention and treatment strategies in different regions of
and populations in the United States and evaluate the extent to which
Federal substance use disorder and treatment strategies are aligned
with State and local substance disorder and treatment strategies.
Objectives and Scope of Activities. The Committee will perform the
following duties:
[[Page 21793]]
(1) Identify areas for improved coordination of activities, if any,
related to substance use disorders, including research, services,
supports, and prevention activities across all relevant Federal
agencies;
(2) identify and provide to the Secretary recommendations for
improving Federal programs for the prevention and treatment of, and
recovery from, substance use disorders, including by expanding access
to prevention, treatment, and recovery services;
(3) analyze substance use disorder prevention and treatment
strategies in different regions of and populations in the United States
and evaluate the extent to which Federal substance use disorder
prevention and treatment strategies are aligned with State and local
substance use disorder prevention and treatment strategies;
(4) make recommendations to the Secretary regarding any appropriate
changes with respect to the activities and strategies described in
paragraphs (1) through (3);
(5) make recommendations to the Secretary regarding public
participation in decisions relating to substance use disorders and the
process by which public feedback can be better integrated into such
decisions; and
(6) make recommendations to ensure that substance use disorder
research, services, supports, and prevention activities of the
Department of Health and Human Services and other Federal agencies are
not unnecessarily duplicative.
Membership and Designation. The Committee shall be composed of the
following Federal (ex-officio) members: The Secretary of HHS or
designee, who shall serve as the Chair of the Committee; the Attorney
General of the United States or designee; the Secretary of Labor or
designee; the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development or designee;
the Secretary of Education or designee; the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs or designee; the Commissioner of Social Security or designee;
the Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use or
designee; and the Director of National Drug Control Policy or designee.
Representatives of other Federal agencies that support or conduct
activities or programs related to substance abuse disorders, as
determined appropriate by the Secretary.
The Committee shall include a minimum of 15 non-Federal members
appointed by the Secretary as special government employees (SGEs).
These members will be appointed to terms of three years and may be
reappointed for one or more additional three-year terms. A vacancy on
the Committee will be filled in the same manner in which the original
appointment was made. Any individual appointed to fill a vacancy for an
unexpired term will be appointed for the remainder of such a term and
may serve after the expiration of such term until a successor has been
appointed. No member of the Committee shall serve as a Representative
member.
At least two members shall be individuals who have received
treatment for a diagnosis of substance use disorder; at least two
members shall be directors of State substance abuse agencies; at least
two members shall be representatives of leading research, advocacy or
service organizations for individuals with substance use disorders; at
least two members shall be a physician, licensed mental health
professional, advance practice registered nurse, or physician
assistant; and have experience in treating individuals with substance
use disorders; at least one member shall be a substance use disorder
treatment professional who provides treatment services at a certified
opioid treatment program; at least one member shall be a substance use
disorder treatment professional who has research or clinical experience
in working with racial and ethnic minority populations; at least one
member shall be a substance use disorder treatment professional who has
research or clinical mental health experience in working with medically
underserved populations; at least one member shall be a State certified
substance use disorder peer support specialist; at least one member
shall be a drug court judge or judge with experience in adjudicating
cases related to substance use disorders; and at least one member shall
be an individual with experience providing services for homeless
individuals with a substance use disorder.
Pursuant to advance written agreement, each non-federal member of
the Committee will waive his or her right to compensation for
performing services as a member of the Committee. However, non-federal
members shall receive per diem and reimbursement for travel expenses
incurred in relation to performing duties for the Commission, as
authorized by the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and 5 U.S.C.
5703 for persons who are employed intermittently to perform services
for the Federal government and in accordance with Federal travel
regulations. Ex-officio members of the Commission remain covered under
their current compensation system.
Estimated Number and Frequency of Meetings. The Committee will meet
not less than two times a year each year, and these may be conducted by
teleconference or video conference at the discretion of the DFO. The
meetings will be open to the public, except as determined otherwise by
the Secretary, or other official to whom authority has been delegated,
in accordance with the guidelines under Government in the Sunshine Act,
5 U.S.C. 552b(c). Notice of all meetings will be provided to the public
in accordance with the FACA. Meetings will be conducted and records of
the proceedings will be kept, as required by applicable laws and
departmental policies. A quorum for the conduct of business by the full
Committee will consist of a majority of current appointed members.
When the Secretary or Secretary's designee determines that a
meeting will be closed or partially closed to the public, in accordance
with stipulations of Government in the Sunshine Act, 5 U.S.C. 552b(c),
then a report will be prepared by the DFO that includes, at a minimum,
a list of members and their business addresses, the Committee's
functions, date and place of the meeting, and a summary of the
Committee's activities and recommendations made during the fiscal year.
A copy of the report will be provided to the Department Committee
Management Officer.
Nominations. Nominations, including self-nominations, of
individuals who have the specified expertise and knowledge will be
considered for appointment as members of the Committee. A nomination
should include, at a minimum, the following for each nominee: (1) A
letter of nomination that clearly states the name and affiliation of
the nominee, the basis for the nomination, and a statement from the
nominee that indicates that the individual would be willing to serve as
a member of the Committee (if being nominated by someone else); (2) the
address, telephone number, and email address of the individual being
nominated and the nominator (if applicable); and (3) a current copy of
the nominee's curriculum vitae or resume, which should be limited to no
more than 10 pages. Incomplete nomination packages will not be
reviewed.
Every effort will be made to ensure that the composition of the
Committee includes individuals from various geographic locations,
including rural and underserved areas; racial and ethnic minorities;
genders, and persons living with disabilities. Individuals other than
officers or employees of the United States government being considered
for
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appointment as members of the Committee will be required to complete
and submit a report of their financial holdings. An ethics review must
be conducted to ensure that individuals appointed as members of the
Committee are not involved in any activity that may pose a potential
conflict of interest for the official duties that are to be performed.
This is a federal ethics requirement that must be satisfied upon
entering the position and annually throughout the established term of
appointment on the Committee.
Authority: The Interdepartmental Substance Use Disorders
Coordinating Committee (hereafter referred to as the Committee) is
required under Section 7022 of the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention
that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and
Communities Act (SUPPORT Act, Pub. L. 115-271). The Committee is
governed by the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act,
Public Law 92-463, as amended (5 U.S.C. App), which sets forth
standards for the formation and use of federal advisory committees.
Dated: May 6, 2019.
Roula K. Sweis,
Designated Federal Official.
[FR Doc. 2019-09969 Filed 5-14-19; 8:45 am]
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