Board of Scientific Counselors (BSC) Charter Amendment

DATE: April 9, 2008

FROM: Director, Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response

SUBJECT: Amendment to the Charter of the Board of Scientific Counselors, Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response

TO: Director, Management Analysis and Services Office

THROUGH: Office of General Counsel

ISSUE

Request to change the structure section of the charter for the Board of Scientific Counselors, Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response to add a nonvoting liaison representative.

DISCUSSION

The Board of Scientific Counselors, Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response, advises the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services, and the Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), concerning strategies and goals for the programs and research within the divisions and offices; conducts peer review of scientific programs; and monitors the overall strategic direction and focus of the coordinating office. The board also performs second-level peer review of applications for grants-in-aid for research and research training activities, cooperative agreements, and research contract proposals relating to the broad areas within the coordinating office.

The board allows for nonvoting liaison representatives from various organizations and has a need to add representation from the National Indian Health Board. As part of the board’s charge to provide advice on strategies and goals for programs and research, representation from tribal nations is required.

The engagement of the tribal nations in board activities will strengthen the board’s ability to include this critical perspective during their deliberations.

RECOMMENDATION

In accordance with the delegation of authority granted to the Director, Management Analysis and Services Office, CDC, to approve charter amendments effective January 28, 2002, I recommend that you approve the amendment attached at TAB A.

Richard E. Besser, M.D.

Attachments:
Tab A – Charter Amendment
Tab B – Current Charter
Tab C – Legislative Authority

AMENDMENT to the CHARTER of the BOARD OF SCIENTIFIC COUNSELORS COORDINATING OFFICE FOR TERRORISM PREPAREDNESS AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE

Structure

The Board of Scientific Counselors, Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response, shall consist of 10 members, including the Chair. Members and the Chair shall be selected by the Secretary, HHS, or designee, from authorities knowledgeable in the fields relevant to the issues addressed by the offices and divisions within the coordinating office, (e.g., medicine, epidemiology, laboratory science, informatics, behavioral science, social science, engineering, business, and crisis leadership). Members shall be deemed Special Government Employees.

The board shall also consist of three ex officio members from the HHS Office of the Secretary; Department of Homeland Security; and Department of Defense; and such others as the Secretary deems necessary to carry out the functions of the board. In addition, the board shall consist of non-voting liaison representatives from the Association of Public Health Laboratories; Association of State and Territorial Health Officials; National Association of County and City Health Officials; Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists; Association of Schools of Public Health; National Indian Health Board; and such others as the Secretary deems necessary to carry out the functions of the board. Liaisons shall be deemed representatives.

Members shall be invited to serve for overlapping terms of up to four years, except that any member appointed to fill a vacancy for an unexpired term shall be appointed for the remainder of that term. Terms of more than two years are contingent upon the renewal of the board by appropriate action prior to its termination. A member may serve 180 days after the expiration of that member’s term if a successor has not taken office.

Ad hoc consultants/reviewers, which may include Federal employees, may be utilized as deemed necessary for the board to carry out its functions. Ad hoc consultants/reviewers provide subject matter expertise in the formulation of advice or recommendations; however, they do not count towards the quorum and may not vote.

Subcommittees may be established from time to time with the approval of the Secretary, HHS, or designee. The Department Committee Management Officer will be notified upon establishment of each subcommittee, and will be provided information on its name, membership, function, and estimated frequency of meetings.

Management and support services shall be provided by the Office of the Director, Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.