Tick Identification Pilot Program Act of 2019

I 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 3568 To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to award grants to States to implement a tick identification pilot program. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JUNE 27, 2019 Mr. KATKO (for himself and Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York) in- troduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on En- ergy and Commerce A BILL To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to award grants to States to implement a tick identification pilot program. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Tick Identification 4 Pilot Program Act of 2019’’. 5 SEC. 2. TICK IDENTIFICATION PILOT PROGRAM. 6 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Health and 7 Human Services, acting through the Director of the Cen- 8 VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:04 Jul 09, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3568.IH H3568 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 2 •HR 3568 IH ters for Disease Control and Prevention, may award 1 grants to States to implement a tick identification pro- 2 gram. 3 (b) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under this sec- 4 tion, the Secretary shall give priority to States that— 5 (1) have more reported cases of Lyme disease; 6 and 7 (2) submit an effective plan for implementation 8 and maintenance of a tick identification program. 9 (c) PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.—Any program fund- 10 ed under this section shall— 11 (1) allow individuals to submit electronically 12 photo images of ticks encountered; 13 (2) require images of ticks to be submitted with 14 the likely geographic location where the ticks were 15 encountered, the date on which the ticks were en- 16 countered, and the likely physical location where the 17 ticks were found (for example, on a pet, on a 18 human, or loose); 19 (3) after review by a qualified professional, re- 20 spond to the individual directly within 72 hours of 21 the image being received with— 22 (A) if possible, identification of the species 23 and life stage of the tick; 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:04 Jul 09, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3568.IH H3568 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 3 •HR 3568 IH (B) if possible, an estimate of the risk that 1 the tick carried a tick-borne disease; 2 (C) a recommendation of the best practices 3 for the individual who encountered the tick, in- 4 cluding with respect to seeking medical evalua- 5 tion and submitting the tick for testing; and 6 (D) additional education on best methods 7 to avoid ticks and prevent contagion of tick- 8 borne illnesses; and 9 (4) maintain a database of reported tick inci- 10 dents, including— 11 (A) the date, geographic location, and envi- 12 ronment of the encounter; 13 (B) any identifying information about the 14 tick that was determined; and 15 (C) best practices that were disseminated 16 to each reporting individual. 17 (d) APPLICATION.—To seek a grant under this sec- 18 tion, a State shall submit an application at such time, in 19 such form, and containing such information as the Sec- 20 retary may prescribe. 21 (e) DATA COLLECTION; REPORT.— 22 (1) DATA COLLECTION.—The Secretary shall 23 collect, with respect to each State program funded 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:04 Jul 09, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3568.IH H3568 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 4 •HR 3568 IH under this section and each fiscal year, the following 1 data: 2 (A) The number of tick incidents reported. 3 (B) For each incident reported— 4 (i) the date, geographic location, and 5 environment of the encounter; 6 (ii) any identifying information about 7 the tick that was determined; and 8 (iii) best practices that were dissemi- 9 nated to each reporting individual. 10 (2) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the 11 first day of each of fiscal years 2020 through 2023, 12 the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the Con- 13 gress a report on the data collected under paragraph 14 (1). 15 (f) DEFINITION.—In this Act: 16 (1) The term ‘‘qualified professional’’ means a 17 biologist with a background in vector biology. 18 (2) The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 19 of Health and Human Services, acting through the 20 Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Pre- 21 vention. 22 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:04 Jul 09, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H3568.IH H3568 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS