---
kind: "section"
citation: "6 U.S.C. § 195b"
title: "6"
title_heading: "Domestic Security"
number: "195b"
heading: "National Biosurveillance Integration Center"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/6/195b"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — Homeland Security Organization"
  - "Subchapter III — Science and Technology in Support of Homeland Security"
---

# §195b. National Biosurveillance Integration Center

- (a) **Establishment—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16), acting through the Assistant [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16) for the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction [Office](/usc/6/590.md?p=3), shall establish, operate, and maintain a National Biosurveillance Integration [Center](/usc/6/681.md?p=1) (referred to in this section as the “NBIC”), which shall be headed by a Directing Officer, under an [office](/usc/6/590.md?p=3) or directorate of the [Department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5) that is in existence as of August 3, 2007.
- (b) **Primary mission—** The primary mission of the NBIC is to—
  - (1) enhance the capability of the Federal Government to—
    - (A) rapidly identify, characterize, localize, and track a [biological event of national concern](#j-2) by integrating and analyzing data relating to human health, animal, plant, food, and environmental monitoring systems (both national and international); and
    - (B) disseminate alerts and other information to [Member Agencies](#j-4) and, in coordination with (and where possible through) [Member Agencies](#j-4), to [agencies](/usc/6/701.md?p=2) of [State](/usc/6/101.md?p=17), local, and [tribal governments](/usc/6/311.md?p=13), as appropriate, to enhance the ability of such [agencies](/usc/6/701.md?p=2) to respond to a [biological event of national concern](#j-2); and
  - (2) oversee development and operation of the National Biosurveillance Integration System.
- (c) **Requirements—** The NBIC shall detect, as early as possible, a [biological event of national concern](#j-2) that presents a risk to the [United States](/usc/6/101.md?p=19-A) or the infrastructure or key [assets](/usc/6/101.md?p=3) of the [United States](/usc/6/101.md?p=19-A), including by—
  - (1) consolidating data from all relevant surveillance systems maintained by [Member Agencies](#j-4) to detect biological events of national concern across human, animal, and plant species;
  - (2) seeking private sources of surveillance, both foreign and domestic, when such sources would enhance coverage of critical surveillance gaps;
  - (3) using an information technology system that uses the best available statistical and other analytical tools to identify and characterize biological events of national concern in as close to real-time as is practicable;
  - (4) providing the infrastructure for such integration, including information technology systems and space, and support for [personnel](/usc/6/101.md?p=15) from [Member Agencies](#j-4) with sufficient expertise to enable analysis and interpretation of data;
  - (5) working with [Member Agencies](#j-4) to create information technology systems that use the minimum amount of patient data necessary and consider patient confidentiality and privacy issues at all stages of development and apprise the [Privacy Officer](#j-5) of such efforts; and
  - (6) alerting [Member Agencies](#j-4) and, in coordination with (and where possible through) [Member Agencies](#j-4), public health [agencies](/usc/6/701.md?p=2) of [State](/usc/6/101.md?p=17), local, and [tribal governments](/usc/6/311.md?p=13) regarding any [incident](/usc/6/383.md?p=i-2) that could develop into a [biological event of national concern](#j-2).
- (d) **Responsibilities of the Directing Officer of the NBIC—**
  - (1) **In general—** The Directing Officer of the NBIC shall—
    - (A) on an ongoing basis, [monitor](/usc/6/1501.md?p=13) the availability and appropriateness of surveillance systems used by the NBIC and those systems that could enhance biological situational awareness or the overall performance of the NBIC;
    - (B) on an ongoing basis, review and seek to improve the statistical and other analytical methods used by the NBIC;
    - (C) receive and consider other relevant [homeland security information](/usc/6/126.md?p=g-2), as appropriate; and
    - (D) provide technical assistance, as appropriate, to all Federal, regional, [State](/usc/6/101.md?p=17), local, and [tribal government](/usc/6/311.md?p=13) entities and private sector entities that contribute data relevant to the operation of the NBIC.
  - (2) **Assessments—** The Directing Officer of the NBIC shall—
    - (A) on an ongoing basis, evaluate available data for evidence of a [biological event of national concern](#j-2); and
    - (B) integrate [homeland security information](/usc/6/126.md?p=g-2) with NBIC data to provide overall situational awareness and determine whether a [biological event of national concern](#j-2) has occurred.
  - (3) **Information sharing—**
    - (A) **In general—** The Directing Officer of the NBIC shall—
      - (i) establish a method of real-time communication with the National Operations [Center](/usc/6/681.md?p=1);
      - (ii) in the event that a [biological event of national concern](#j-2) is detected, notify the [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16) and disseminate results of NBIC assessments relating to that [biological event of national concern](#j-2) to appropriate Federal response entities and, in coordination with relevant [Member Agencies](#j-4), regional, [State](/usc/6/101.md?p=17), local, and tribal governmental response entities in a timely manner;
      - (iii) provide any report on NBIC assessments to [Member Agencies](#j-4) and, in coordination with relevant [Member Agencies](#j-4), any affected regional, [State](/usc/6/101.md?p=17), local, or [tribal government](/usc/6/311.md?p=13), and any private sector entity considered appropriate that may enhance the mission of such [Member Agencies](#j-4), governments, or entities or the ability of the Nation to respond to biological events of national concern; and
      - (iv) share NBIC [incident](/usc/6/383.md?p=i-2) or situational awareness reports, and other relevant information, consistent with the [information sharing environment](/usc/6/124h.md?p=k-2) established under [section 485 of this title](/usc/6/485.md) and any policies, guidelines, procedures, instructions, or standards established under that section.
    - (B) **Consultation—** The Directing Officer of the NBIC shall implement the activities described in [subparagraph (A)](#d-3-A) consistent with the policies, guidelines, procedures, instructions, or standards established under [section 485 of this title](/usc/6/485.md) and in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, the Under [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16) for Intelligence and Analysis, and other [offices](/usc/6/590.md?p=3) or [agencies](/usc/6/701.md?p=2) of the Federal Government, as appropriate.
- (e) **Responsibilities of the NBIC member agencies—**
  - (1) **[^1] In general—** Each [Member Agency](#j-4) shall—
    - (A) use its best efforts to integrate biosurveillance information into the NBIC, with the goal of promoting information sharing between Federal, [State](/usc/6/101.md?p=17), local, and [tribal governments](/usc/6/311.md?p=13) to detect biological events of national concern;
    - (B) provide timely information to assist the NBIC in maintaining biological situational awareness for accurate detection and response purposes;
    - (C) enable the NBIC to receive and use biosurveillance information from [member agencies](#j-4) to carry out its requirements under [subsection (c)](#c);
    - (D) connect the biosurveillance data systems of that [Member Agency](#j-4) to the NBIC data system under mutually agreed protocols that are consistent with [subsection (c)(5)](#c-5);
    - (E) participate in the formation of strategy and policy for the operation of the NBIC and its information sharing;
    - (F) provide [personnel](/usc/6/101.md?p=15) to the NBIC under an interagency [personnel](/usc/6/101.md?p=15) agreement and consider the qualifications of such [personnel](/usc/6/101.md?p=15) necessary to provide human, animal, and environmental data analysis and interpretation support to the NBIC; and
    - (G) retain responsibility for the surveillance and intelligence systems of that [department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5) or [agency](/usc/6/701.md?p=2), if applicable.
- (f) **Administrative authorities—**
  - (1) **Hiring of experts—** The Directing Officer of the NBIC shall hire individuals with the necessary expertise to develop and operate the NBIC.
  - (2) **Detail of personnel—** Upon the request of the Directing Officer of the NBIC, the head of any Federal [department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5) or [agency](/usc/6/701.md?p=2) may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the [personnel](/usc/6/101.md?p=15) of that [department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5) or [agency](/usc/6/701.md?p=2) to the [Department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5) to assist the NBIC in carrying out this section.
- (g) **NBIC interagency working group—** The Directing Officer of the NBIC shall—
  - (1) establish an interagency working group to facilitate interagency cooperation and to advise the Directing Officer of the NBIC regarding recommendations to enhance the biosurveillance capabilities of the [Department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5); and
  - (2) invite [Member Agencies](#j-4) to serve on that working group.
- (h) **Relationship to other departments and agencies—** The authority of the Directing Officer of the NBIC under this section shall not affect any authority or responsibility of any other [department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5) or [agency](/usc/6/701.md?p=2) of the Federal Government with respect to biosurveillance activities under any program administered by that [department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5) or [agency](/usc/6/701.md?p=2).
- (i) **Authorization of appropriations—** There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.
- (j) **Definitions—** In this section:
  - (1) The terms “biological agent” and “toxin” have the meanings given those terms in [section 178 of title 18](/usc/18/178.md).
  - (2) The term “biological event of national concern” means—
    - (A) an act of [terrorism](/usc/6/101.md?p=18) involving a [biological agent](#j-1) or [toxin](#j-1); or
    - (B) a naturally occurring outbreak of an infectious disease that may result in a national epidemic.
  - (3) The term “[homeland security information](/usc/6/126.md?p=g-2)” has the meaning given that term in [section 482 of this title](/usc/6/482.md).
  - (4) The term “Member Agency” means any Federal [department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5) or [agency](/usc/6/701.md?p=2) that, at the discretion of the head of that [department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5) or [agency](/usc/6/701.md?p=2), has entered a memorandum of understanding regarding participation in the NBIC.
  - (5) The term “Privacy Officer” means the Privacy Officer appointed under [section 142 of this title](/usc/6/142.md).

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. No par. (2) has been enacted.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 107–296, title III, § 316, as added Pub. L. 110–53, title XI, § 1101(a), Aug. 3, 2007, 121 Stat. 375; amended Pub. L. 115–387, § 2(f)(2), Dec. 21, 2018, 132 Stat. 5168.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2018—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 115–387 substituted “Secretary, acting through the Assistant Secretary for the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office, shall” for “Secretary shall”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Deadline for Implementation

Pub. L. 110–53, title XI, § 1101(c), Aug. 3, 2007, 121 Stat. 378, provided that: “The National Biosurveillance Integration Center under section 316 of the Homeland Security Act [of 2002, 6 U.S.C. 195b], as added by subsection (a), shall be fully operational by not later than September 30, 2008.”