Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 121.djvu/397

 121 STAT. 376

PUBLIC LAW 110–53—AUG. 3, 2007

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the ability of such agencies to respond to a biological event of national concern; 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 that presents a risk to the United States or the infrastructure or key assets of the United States, including by— ‘‘(1) consolidating data from all relevant surveillance systems maintained by Member Agencies 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 from Member Agencies with sufficient expertise to enable analysis and interpretation of data; ‘‘(5) working with Member Agencies 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 of such efforts; and ‘‘(6) alerting Member Agencies and, in coordination with (and where possible through) Member Agencies, public health agencies of State, local, and tribal governments regarding any incident that could develop into a biological event of national concern. ‘‘(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 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, as appropriate; and ‘‘(D) provide technical assistance, as appropriate, to all Federal, regional, State, local, and tribal government 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; and ‘‘(B) integrate homeland security information with NBIC data to provide overall situational awareness and determine whether a biological event of national concern has occurred. ‘‘(3) INFORMATION SHARING.—

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