ters for Disease Control and Prevention, may award 
grants to States to implement a tick identification pro-
gram. 
(b) PRIORITY.—In awarding grants under this sec-
tion, the Secretary shall give priority to States that— 
(1) have more reported cases of Lyme disease 
and other tick-borne diseases; and 
(2) submit an effective plan for implementation 
and maintenance of a tick identification program. 
(c) PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.—Any program fund-
ed under this section shall— 
(1) allow individuals to submit electronically 
photo images of ticks encountered; 
(2) require images of ticks to be submitted with 
the likely geographic location where the ticks were 
encountered, the date on which the ticks were en-
countered, and the likely physical location where the 
ticks were found (for example, on a pet, on a 
human, or loose); 
(3) after review by a qualified professional, re-
spond to the individual directly within 72 hours of 
the image being received with— 
(A) if possible, identification of the species 
and life stage of the tick; 
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(B) if possible, an estimate of the risk that 
the tick carried a tick-borne disease; 
(C) a recommendation of the best practices 
for the individual who encountered the tick, in-
cluding with respect to seeking medical evalua-
tion and submitting the tick for testing; and 
(D) additional education on best methods 
to avoid ticks and prevent contagion of tick- 
borne illnesses; and 
(4) maintain a database of reported tick inci-
dents, including— 
(A) the date, geographic location, and envi-
ronment of the encounter; 
(B) any identifying information about the 
tick that was determined; and 
(C) best practices that were disseminated 
to each reporting individual. 
(d) APPLICATION.—To seek a grant under this sec-
tion, a State shall submit an application at such time, in 
such form, and containing such information as the Sec-
retary may prescribe. 
(e) DATA COLLECTION; REPORT.— 
(1) DATA
COLLECTION.—The Secretary shall 
collect, with respect to each State program funded 
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under this section and each fiscal year, the following 
data: 
(A) The number of tick incidents reported. 
(B) For each incident reported— 
(i) the date, geographic location, and 
environment of the encounter; 
(ii) any identifying information about 
the tick that was determined; and 
(iii) best practices that were dissemi-
nated to each reporting individual. 
(2) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the 
first day of each of fiscal years 2026 through 2029, 
the Secretary shall prepare and submit to the Con-
gress a report on the data collected under paragraph 
(1). 
(f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) QUALIFIED
PROFESSIONAL.—The term 
‘‘qualified professional’’ means a biologist with a 
background in vector biology. 
(2) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting 
through the Director of the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention. 
Æ 
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