I 

116TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 3568 

To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through 

the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to 

award grants to States to implement a tick identification pilot program. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 27, 2019 

Mr. KATKO (for himself and Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New York) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 

A BILL 

To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, 

acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease 

Control and Prevention, to award grants to States to 

implement a tick identification pilot program. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Tick Identification 

5 Pilot Program Act of 2019’’. 

6 SEC. 2. TICK IDENTIFICATION PILOT PROGRAM. 

7 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Health and 

8 Human Services, acting through the Director of the CenVerDate Sep 11 2014 05:04 Jul 09, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H3568.IH H3568

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1 ters for Disease Control and Prevention, may award 

2 grants to States to implement a tick identification pro3 gram. 

4 (b) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under this sec5 tion, the Secretary shall give priority to States that— 

6 (1) have more reported cases of Lyme disease; 

7 and 

8 (2) submit an effective plan for implementation 

9 and maintenance of a tick identification program. 

10 (c) PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.—Any program fund11 ed under this section shall— 

12 (1) allow individuals to submit electronically 

13 photo images of ticks encountered; 

14 (2) require images of ticks to be submitted with 

15 the likely geographic location where the ticks were 

16 encountered, the date on which the ticks were en17 countered, and the likely physical location where the 

18 ticks were found (for example, on a pet, on a 

19 human, or loose); 

20 (3) after review by a qualified professional, re21 spond to the individual directly within 72 hours of 

22 the image being received with— 

23 (A) if possible, identification of the species 

24 and life stage of the tick; 


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1 (B) if possible, an estimate of the risk that 

2 the tick carried a tick-borne disease; 

3 (C) a recommendation of the best practices 

4 for the individual who encountered the tick, in5 cluding with respect to seeking medical evalua6 tion and submitting the tick for testing; and 

7 (D) additional education on best methods 

8 to avoid ticks and prevent contagion of tick9 borne illnesses; and 

10 (4) maintain a database of reported tick inci11 dents, including— 

12 (A) the date, geographic location, and envi13 ronment of the encounter; 

14 (B) any identifying information about the 

15 tick that was determined; and 

16 (C) best practices that were disseminated 

17 to each reporting individual. 

18 (d) APPLICATION.—To seek a grant under this sec19 tion, a State shall submit an application at such time, in 

20 such form, and containing such information as the Sec21 retary may prescribe. 

22 (e) DATA COLLECTION; REPORT.— 

23 (1) DATA COLLECTION.—The Secretary shall 

24 collect, with respect to each State program funded 


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1 under this section and each fiscal year, the following 

2 data: 

3 (A) The number of tick incidents reported. 

4 (B) For each incident reported— 

5 (i) the date, geographic location, and 

6 environment of the encounter; 

7 (ii) any identifying information about 

8 the tick that was determined; and 

9 (iii) best practices that were dissemi10 nated to each reporting individual. 

11 (2) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the 

12 first day of each of fiscal years 2020 through 2023, 

13 the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the Con14 gress a report on the data collected under paragraph 

15 (1). 

16 (f) DEFINITION.—In this Act: 

17 (1) The term ‘‘qualified professional’’ means a 

18 biologist with a background in vector biology. 

19 (2) The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary 

20 of Health and Human Services, acting through the 

21 Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Pre22 vention. 

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