116 STAT. 600 PUBLIC LAW 107-188—JUNE 12, 2002 "(D) Any other duties determined appropriate by the Secretary. "(b) NATIONAL DISASTER MEDICAL SYSTEM.— "(1) IN GENERAL. —The Secretary shall provide for the operation in accordance with this section of a system to be known as the National Disaster Medical System. The Secretary shall designate the Assistant Secretary for Public Health Emergency Preparedness as the head of the National Disaster Medical System, subject to the authority of the Secretary. "(2) FEDERAL AND STATE COLLABORATIVE SYSTEM. — "(A) IN GENERAL. — The National Disaster Medical System shall be a coordinated effort by the Federal agencies specified in subparagraph (B), working in collaboration with the States and other appropriate public or private entities, to carry out the purposes described in paragraph (3). " (B) PARTICIPATING FEDERAL AGENCIES. —The Federal agencies referred to in subparagraph (A) are the Department of Health and Human Services, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. " (3) PURPOSE OF SYSTEM.— "(A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may activate the National Disaster Medical System to— "(i) provide health services, health-related social services, other appropriate human services, and appropriate auxiliary services to respond to the needs of victims of a public health emergency (whether or not determined to be a public health emergency under section 319); or "(ii) be present at locations, and for limited periods of time, specified by the Secretary on the basis that the Secretary has determined that a location is at risk of a public health emergency during the time specified. "(B) ONGOING ACTIVITIES.—The National Disaster Medical System shall carry out such ongoing activities as may be necessary to prepare for the provision of services described in subparagraph (A) in the event that the Secretary activates the National Disaster Medical System for such purposes. "(C) TEST FOR MOBILIZATION OF SYSTEM.—During the one-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002, the Secretary shall conduct an exercise to test the capability and timeliness of the National Disaster Medical System to mobilize and otherwise respond effectively to a bioterrorist attack or other public health emergency that affects two or more geographic locations concurrently. Thereafter, the Secretary may periodically conduct such exercises regarding the National Disaster Medical System as the Secretary determines to be appropriate. " (c) CRITERL^. — "(1) IN GENERAL. —The Secretary shall establish criteria for the operation of the National Disaster Medical System.
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