I 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5329 
To amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize and enhance the 
poison center national toll-free number, national media campaign, and 
grant program, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 19, 2018 
Mrs. BROOKS of Indiana (for herself, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. BARTON, and Ms. 
DEGETTE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize and 
enhance the poison center national toll-free number, na-
tional media campaign, and grant program, and for other 
purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Poison Center Network 
Enhancement Act of 2018’’. 
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SEC. 2. REAUTHORIZATION OF POISON CONTROL CENTERS 
NATIONAL TOLL-FREE NUMBER. 
Section 1271 of the Public Health Service Act (42 
U.S.C. 300d–71) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 1271. ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF THE 
NATIONAL 
TOLL-FREE 
NUMBER 
AND 
EN-
HANCED COMMUNICATIONS CAPABILITIES. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall provide co-
ordination and assistance to poison control centers, and 
to nationally recognized professional organizations in the 
field of poison control for— 
‘‘(1) the development, establishment, implemen-
tation, and maintenance of a nationwide toll-free 
phone number; and 
‘‘(2) the enhancement of communications capa-
bilities, such as text capabilities. 
‘‘(b) CONSULTATION.—The Secretary shall consult 
with nationally recognized professional organizations in 
the field of poison control to determine the best and most 
effective means of achieving the goals described in para-
graphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a). 
‘‘(c) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Nothing in this sec-
tion shall be construed to restrict the work of poison con-
trol centers or the use of their resources by the Secretary 
or other governmental agencies in assisting with public 
health emergencies, responses, or preparedness. 
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‘‘(d) PROPER STANDARDS FOR THE ROUTING OF 
POISON CONTROL CENTER CONTACTS.—Not later than 
60 days after the date of the enactment of the Poison Cen-
ter Network Enhancement Act of 2018, the Federal Com-
munications Commission, in consultation with the Sec-
retary, shall take all actions necessary to ensure that con-
tacts with the nationwide toll-free number supported 
under subsection (a)(1) are routed to the geographically 
proper poison control center based on the physical location 
of the person attempting to reach the poison control cen-
ter, rather than based on the area code of the contact de-
vice. 
‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$700,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024.’’. 
SEC. 
3. 
REAUTHORIZATION 
OF 
NATIONWIDE 
PUBLIC 
AWARENESS CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE POI-
SON CONTROL CENTER UTILIZATION. 
Section 1272 of the Public Health Service Act (42 
U.S.C. 300d–72) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 1272. NATIONWIDE PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN 
TO PROMOTE POISON CONTROL CENTER UTI-
LIZATION AND THEIR PUBLIC HEALTH EMER-
GENCY RESPONSE CAPABILITIES. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall— 
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‘‘(1) carry out, and expand upon, a national 
public awareness campaign to educate the public and 
health care providers about— 
‘‘(A) poisoning and toxic exposure preven-
tion; 
‘‘(B) the availability of poison control cen-
ter resources in local communities; 
‘‘(C) poison control center drug informa-
tion and misuse intervention; and 
‘‘(D) poison control center public health 
emergency response capabilities; and 
‘‘(2) as part of such campaign, highlight the 
nationwide toll-free number and enhanced commu-
nications capabilities supported under section 1271. 
‘‘(b) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out and expand-
ing upon the national campaign under subsection (a), the 
Secretary shall consult with nationally recognized profes-
sional organizations in the field of poison control response 
for the purpose of determining the best and most effective 
methods for achieving public awareness. 
‘‘(c) CONTRACT WITH ENTITY.—The Secretary may 
carry out subsection (a) by entering into contracts with 
one or more public or private entities, including nationally 
recognized professional organizations in the field of poison 
control and national media firms, for the development and 
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implementation of the awareness campaign under sub-
section (a), which may include— 
‘‘(1) the development and distribution of poi-
soning and toxic exposure prevention, poison control 
center, and public health emergency awareness and 
response materials; 
‘‘(2) television, radio, internet, and newspaper 
public service announcements; and 
‘‘(3) other means and activities to provide for 
public and professional awareness and education. 
‘‘(d) EVALUATION.—The Secretary shall— 
‘‘(1) establish baseline measures and bench-
marks to quantitatively evaluate the impact of the 
nationwide public awareness campaign carried out 
under this section; and 
‘‘(2) on an annual basis, prepare and submit to 
the appropriate committees of Congress an evalua-
tion of the nationwide public awareness campaign. 
‘‘(e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section, 
$800,000 for each of fiscal years 2020 through 2024.’’. 
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SEC. 4. REAUTHORIZATION OF THE POISON CONTROL CEN-
TER GRANT PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 1273 of the Public Health 
Service Act (42 U.S.C. 300d–73) is amended to read as 
follows: 
‘‘SEC. 1273. MAINTENANCE OF THE POISON CONTROL CEN-
TER GRANT PROGRAM. 
‘‘(a) AUTHORIZATION OF PROGRAM.—The Secretary 
shall award grants to poison control centers accredited 
under subsection (c) (or granted a waiver under subsection 
(d)) and nationally recognized professional organizations 
in the field of poison control for the purposes of— 
‘‘(1) preventing, and providing treatment rec-
ommendations for, poisonings and toxic exposures 
including opioid and drug misuse; 
‘‘(2) assisting with public health emergencies, 
responses, and preparedness; and 
‘‘(3) complying with the operational require-
ments needed to sustain the accreditation of the cen-
ter under subsection (c). 
‘‘(b) ADDITIONAL USES OF FUNDS.—In addition to 
the purposes described in subsection (a), a poison center 
or professional organization awarded a grant under such 
subsection may also use amounts received under such 
grant— 
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