National Advisory Committee on Children and Disasters Charter

Advisory Committee’s Official Designation 

National Advisory Committee on Children and Disasters 

Authority

The National Advisory Committee on Children and Disasters (NACCD) is required by section 2811A of the Public Health Service Act (PHS) (42 U.S.C. § 300hh-10b), as amended, by the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act (PAHPAIA), Public Law No. 116-22.  The NACCD is governed by the provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA), Public Law 92-463, as amended (5 USC § 1001 et seq.). 

Objectives and Scope of Activities

The Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service (HHS) is responsible for a wide range of activities that include monitoring for emerging issues and concerns as they relate to medical and public health preparedness and response; developing, overseeing, and providing guidance for implementation of national preparedness goals for disasters of all types at the federal, state, and local levels; identifying, conducting responses to, and recovery from public health and medical emergencies; assisting other federal agencies responsible for aspects of planning for, responding to, and recovering from public health emergencies; and taking into account the special physical, psychological, emotional, and behavioral needs of children.  The NACCD provides advice and consultation to the Secretary of HHS per Secretarial delegation of authority, to the Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response on the unique needs of children in preparation for, response to, and recovery from any threat to national security, public health emergencies, and disasters. 

Description of Duties

The NACCD evaluates issues and programs and provide findings, advice, and recommendations to the Secretary of HHS and the Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, in accordance with FACA, to support and enhance risk informed public health and medical preparedness, response activities, and recovery aimed at meeting the unique needs of children in a developmentally and socially appropriate manner across the entire spectrum of their physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral well-being.  The NACCD shall (1) provide advice and consultation with respect to state emergency preparedness and response activities relating to children, including related drills and exercises pursuant to the preparedness goals under the National Health Security Strategy authorized under section 2802(b) of the PHS Act; (2) evaluate and provide input with respect to the medical and public health needs of children related to preparation for, response to, and recovery from risk informed emergencies; and (3) provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary of HHS and the Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response with respect to the medical and public health grants and cooperative agreements applicable to preparedness and response activities under Title XXVIII and title III of the PHS Act.

Agency or Federal Officer Receiving the Advisory Committee’s Advice/Recommendations 

The NACCD shall provide advice and recommendations to the Secretary of HHS and the Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response. 

Support 

The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response provides management and administrative oversight to support the activities of the NACCD.  The Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response will designate a full-time federal government employee to serve as the Designated Federal Officer (DFO) who calls, attends, adjourns and manages all NACCD meetings and ensures compliance with FACA and other applicable statutes and directives. 

Estimated Annual Operating Costs and Staff Years 

The estimated annual cost for operating the Advisory Committee including federal staff support and reimbursable travel expenses for NACCD members is $201,117 Estimated staff support required is 1.60 full-time employee years. 

1. Federal personnel and other Federal internal costs: $182,735

2. Proposed payments to members and number of members: $0 and 13 members

3. Reimbursable Costs: $18,382

Duration 

The duration of the NACCD is continuing. 

Termination

Unless renewed in accordance with section 14 of FACA prior to its expiration, NACCD’s charter will terminate two years from the date the charter is filed. 

Membership and Designation 

Members shall be appointed by the HHS Secretary from among the nation’s preeminent scientific, public health, and medical experts in areas consistent with the purpose and functions 2 of the advisory committee.  The HHS Secretary, in consultation with such other heads of federal agencies as may be appropriate, shall appoint a maximum of 25 members to the NACCD, ensuring that the total membership is an odd number.  The NACCD shall consist of at least 13 non-federal voting members, including the Chairperson, including: 

1. At least 2 non-federal professionals with expertise in pediatric medical disaster planning, preparedness, response, or recovery; 

2. At least 2 representatives from state, local, tribal, or territorial agencies with expertise in pediatric disaster planning, preparedness, response, or recovery; 

3. At least 4 members representing health care professionals, which may include members with expertise in pediatric emergency medicine; pediatric trauma, critical care, or surgery; the treatment of pediatric patients affected by chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear agents, including emerging infectious diseases; pediatric mental or behavioral health related to children affected by a public health emergency; or pediatric primary care; and 

4. Other members as the Secretary determines appropriate, of whom— 

   1. At least one such member shall represent a children’s hospital; 

   2. At least one such member shall be an individual with expertise in schools or childcare settings;

   3. At least one such member shall be an individual with expertise in children and youth with special health care needs; and 

   4. At least one such member shall be an individual with expertise in the needs of parents or family caregivers, including the parents or caregivers of children with disabilities. 

The NACCD shall also have up to 12 federal, non-voting members (ex officio), including the following officials or their designees: 

1. The Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response; 

2.  The Director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority; 

3. The Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 

4. The Commissioner of Food and Drugs;

5. The Director of the National Institutes of Health; 

6. The Assistant Secretary of the Administration for Children and Families; 

7. The Administrator of the Health Resources and Services Administration;

8. The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency; 

9. The Administrator of the Administration for Community Living; 

10. The Secretary of Education; and 

11. Representatives from such federal agencies (such as the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security) as the Secretary determines appropriate to fulfill the duties of the Advisory Committee. 

A voting member of the NACCD is appointed for a term of three years.  A voting member may not serve more than three terms, and not more than two terms may be consecutive.  Voting members shall not be full-time or permanent part-time federal employees but shall be appointed by the Secretary of HHS as Special Government Employees (5 U.S.C. § 3109).  A member may serve after the expiration of his/her term until a successor has been appointed.  Vacancies will be filled as members rotate out or resign. 

A quorum for the NACCD shall consist of a majority of the appointed voting members.  Of the voting members, any who are disqualified from participating in an action on a particular issue shall not count toward the quorum. 

Subcommittees

The Secretary of HHS or Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response may establish subcommittees and working groups to assist the NACCD on topics within its purview.  Subcommittees and working groups report directly to the NACCD and their findings and recommendations must be deliberated by the NACCD in a public meeting. Subcommittees and working groups do not report directly to the Secretary of HHS or the Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response.  Subcommittee membership may be drawn in whole or in part from the NACCD but must include at least one of the designated voting members.  The Department Committee Management Officer will be notified upon establishment of each subcommittee and will be provided with information on its name, membership, function, and estimated frequency of meetings. 

Filing Date: February 20, 2026

APPROVED