42 U.S. Code § 300c–11 - Addressing sudden unexpected infant death and sudden unexpected death in childhood

(a) In general

The Secretary may develop, support, or maintain programs or activities to address sudden unexpected infant death and sudden unexpected death in childhood, including by—

(1) continuing to support the Sudden Unexpected Infant Death and Sudden Death in the Young Case Registry of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other fatality case reporting systems that include data pertaining to sudden unexpected infant death and sudden unexpected death in childhood, as appropriate, including such systems supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration, in order to—

(A) increase the number of States and jurisdictions participating in such registries or systems; and

(B) improve the utility of such registries or systems, which may include—

(i) making summary data available to the public in a timely manner on the internet website of the Department of Health and Human Services, in a manner that, at a minimum, protects personal privacy to the extent required by applicable Federal and State law; and

(ii) making the data submitted to such registries or systems available to researchers, in a manner that, at a minimum, protects personal privacy to the extent required by applicable Federal and State law; and

(2) awarding grants or cooperative agreements to States, Indian Tribes, and Tribal organizations for purposes of—

(A) supporting fetal and infant mortality and child death review programs for sudden unexpected infant death and sudden unexpected death in childhood, including by establishing such programs at the local level;

(B) improving data collection related to sudden unexpected infant death and sudden unexpected death in childhood, including by—

(i) improving the completion of death scene investigations and comprehensive autopsies that include a review of clinical history and circumstances of death with appropriate ancillary testing; and

(ii) training medical examiners, coroners, death scene investigators, law enforcement personnel, emergency medical technicians, paramedics, emergency department personnel, and others who perform death scene investigations with respect to the deaths of infants and children, as appropriate;

(C) identifying, developing, and implementing best practices to reduce or prevent sudden unexpected infant death and sudden unexpected death in childhood, including practices to reduce sleep-related infant deaths;

(D) increasing the voluntary inclusion, in registries established for the purpose of conducting research on sudden unexpected infant death and sudden unexpected death in childhood, of samples of tissues or genetic materials from autopsies that have been collected pursuant to Federal or State law and for which the parent or guardian has provided informed consent for inclusion in such registries;

(E) disseminating information and materials to health care professionals and the public on risk factors that contribute to sudden unexpected infant death and sudden unexpected death in childhood, which may include information on risk factors that contribute to sleep-related sudden unexpected infant death or sudden unexpected death in childhood; or

(F) providing information, referrals, or peer or follow-up support services to families who have experienced sudden unexpected infant death or sudden unexpected death in childhood.

(b) Application

To be eligible to receive a grant or cooperative agreement under subsection (a)(2), a State, Indian Tribe, or Tribal organization shall submit to the Secretary an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require, including information on how such State will ensure activities conducted under this section are coordinated with other federally-funded programs to reduce infant and child mortality, as appropriate.

(c) Technical assistance

The Secretary shall provide technical assistance to States, Tribes, and Tribal organizations receiving a grant or cooperative agreement under subsection (a)(2) for purposes of carrying out the program in accordance with this section.

(d) Reporting forms

(1) In general

The Secretary shall, as appropriate, encourage the use of sudden unexpected infant death and sudden unexpected death in childhood reporting forms developed in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to improve the quality of data submitted to the Sudden Unexpected Infant Death and Sudden Death in the Young Case Registry, and other fatality case reporting systems that include data pertaining to sudden unexpected infant death and sudden unexpected death in childhood.

(2) Update of forms

The Secretary shall assess whether updates are needed to the sudden unexpected infant death investigation reporting form used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in order to improve the use of such form with other fatality case reporting systems supported by the Department of Health and Human Services, and shall make such updates as appropriate.

(e) Definitions

In this section:

(1) Sudden infant death syndrome

The term “sudden infant death syndrome” means a sudden unexpected infant death that remains unexplained after a thorough case investigation.

(2) Sudden unexpected infant death

The term “sudden unexpected infant death” means the sudden death of an infant under 1 year of age that when first discovered did not have an obvious cause. Such term includes such deaths that are explained, as well as deaths that remain unexplained (which are known as sudden infant death syndrome).

(3) Sudden unexpected death in childhood

The term “sudden unexpected death in childhood” means the sudden death of a child who is at least 1 year of age but not more than 17 years of age that, when first discovered, did not have an obvious cause. Such term includes such deaths that are explained, as well as deaths that remain unexplained (which are known as sudden unexplained death in childhood).

(4) Sudden unexplained death in childhood

The term “sudden unexplained death in childhood” means a sudden unexpected death in childhood that remains unexplained after a thorough case investigation.

(f) Authorization of appropriations

For the purpose of carrying out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $12,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title XI, § 1121, as added Pub. L. 116–273, § 2(2), Dec. 31, 2020, 134 Stat. 3352.)

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

A prior section 300c–11, act July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title XI, § 1121, as added Apr. 22, 1974, Pub. L. 93–270, § 3(a), 88 Stat. 91; amended Apr. 22, 1976, Pub. L. 94–278, title IV, § 403(b)(1), 90 Stat. 409; S. Res. 4, Feb. 4, 1977; Aug. 1, 1977, Pub. L. 95–83, title III, § 306(a), 91 Stat. 389; Dec. 19, 1977, Pub. L. 95–215, § 8(a), 91 Stat. 1507; Nov. 8, 1978, Pub. L. 95–613, § 2, 92 Stat. 3094; Dec. 12, 1979, Pub. L. 96–142, title II, § 202, 93 Stat. 1070; H. Res. 549, Mar. 25, 1980; Aug. 13, 1981, Pub. L. 97–35, title XXI, § 2193(a)(1)(C), 95 Stat. 827, related to sudden infant death syndrome counseling, information, educational, and statistical programs, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 97–35, title XXI, § 2193(b)(1), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 827. For effective date, savings, and transitional provisions relating to the amendment and repeal of prior section by Pub. L. 97–35, see section 2194 of Pub. L. 97–35, set out as a note under section 701 of this title.