Legislative Authority

Attachment A – Legislative Authority to Collect Data; 42 U.S.C. 242K,

Section 304 (b)(1) and Section 306 (h)(1)

Sec. 304 [242b] (a) The Secretary may, through the Agency for Health Care Policy and

Research or the National Center for Health Statistics or using National Research Service

Awards or other appropriate authorities undertake and support training programs to

provide for an expanded and continuing supply of individuals qualified to perform the

research, evaluation, and demonstration projects set forth in section 306 and in title IX.

(b) To implement subsection (a) and section 306, the Secretary may, in addition to any

other authority which under other provisions of this Act or any other law may be used by

him to implement such subsection, do the following:

(1) Utilize personnel and equipment, facilities, and other physical resources of the

Department of Health and Human Services, permit appropriate (as determined by the

Secretary) entities and individuals to utilize the physical resources of such Department,

provide technical assistance and advice, make grants to public and nonprofit

private entities and individuals, and, when appropriate, enter into contracts with

public and private entities and individuals.

Sec. 306 [242k] (h)(1) There shall be an annual collection of data from the records of births, deaths, marriages, and divorces in registration areas. The data shall be obtained only from and restricted to such records of the States and municipalities which the Secretary, in his discretion, determines possess records affording satisfactory data in necessary detail and form. The Secretary shall encourage States and registration areas to obtain detailed data on ethnic and racial populations, including subpopulations of Hispanics, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders with significant representation in the State or registration area. Each State or registration area shall be paid by the Secretary the Federal share of its reasonable costs (as determined by the Secretary) for collecting and transcribing (at the request of the Secretary and by whatever method authorized by him) its records for such data.