Select Agent Program and Biosafety Improvement Act of 2009

Summary

Select Agent Program and Biosafety Improvement Act of 2009 - Amends the Public Health Service Act and the Agricultural Bioterrorism Protection Act of 2002 to reauthorize appropriations for the Select Agent Program, which lists and controls biological agents and toxins that have the potential to pose a severe threat to public health and safety. Requires appropriate training of individuals handling or using such agents and toxins. Includes the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) among the federal agencies limited in the disclosure of information related to listed agents or toxins. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to contract with the National Academy of Sciences to review and make recommendations for improving the Select Agent Program. Sets forth additional factors that the Secretary must consider in determining whether to list an agent or toxin, including whether the agent or toxin is endemic to the United States. Requires the Secretary to issue guidance on inventorying and monitoring listed biological agents. Directs the Attorney General to issue guidance regarding the scope of the statutory definition of "variola virus." Requires the Secretary to: (1) develop guidelines for how laboratories and laboratory personnel that do not regularly test for listed agents and toxins may be rapidly accessed and utilized during emergencies; and (2) evaluate national needs of, and oversight of, high containment biological laboratories. Provides for the development of minimum standards for laboratory biosafety and biosecurity training for relevant personnel of high containment biological laboratories. Requires the Secretary to establish a Biological Laboratory Incident Reporting System.

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Timeline

1. 26 February 2009

   Introduced

   Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

   Source: IntroReferral

2. 26 February 2009

   Introduced

   Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S2559-2561)

   Source: IntroReferral

3. 26 February 2009

   Introduced

   Introduced in Senate

   Source: IntroReferral

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Introduced in Senate · 26 February 2009 · Official file

Documents

3 official files

• Introduced in Senate (text)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 26 February 2009

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate (PDF)

  Introduced in Senate · EN · 26 February 2009

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 26 February 2009

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Sen. Burr, Richard [R-NC] · R · Sponsor
• Sen. Kennedy, Edward M. [D-MA] · D · Sponsor
• · hshm00 · Standing
• · sshr00 · Standing

Related records

• related to → Select Agent Program and Biosafety Improvement Act of 2009