Trauma Care Systems Planning and Development Act of 1990
Public Law 101-590 · H.R. 1602 · 101st Congress · began in the House
Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Nov 16, 1990 · Health
Sponsor: Rep. Jim Bates (D-CA-44)
Cosponsors (50): Rep. Henry Waxman, Rep. Cardiss Collins,
Passage votes
- HouseVoice vote
- SenateVoice vote
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Trauma Care Systems Planning and Development Act of 1990 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to create a new title on trauma care.
Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make grants and enter into cooperative agreements and contracts with respect to trauma care to: (1) conduct and support research, training, evaluations, and demonstration projects; (2) foster development of trauma care systems; (3) provide technical assistance to State and local agencies; and (4) sponsor workshops and conferences.
Directs the Secretary to establish the Advisory Council on Trauma Care Systems. Declares that, notwithstanding provisions of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, the Council shall continue in existence until otherwise provided by law.
Directs the Secretary to provide, by contract, for the establishment and operation of a National Clearinghouse on Trauma Care and Emergency Medical Services. Allows the Clearinghouse to charge fees or assessments.
Authorizes the Secretary to make grants for research and demonstration projects to improve emergency medical services in rural areas.
Directs the Secretary to make an allotment for each State for each fiscal year for developing, implementing, and monitoring modifications to the trauma-care component of the State plan for the provision of emergency medical services. Requires, subject to waiver, non-Federal matching contributions (in cash or in kind) in specified ratios for fiscal years after the first fiscal year of payment. States that such component of the State plan will be modified with regard to: (1) trauma care regions, centers, and systems; (2) triage and transport of children; (3) evaluation; (4) data reporting and analysis systems; (5) procedures for paramedical personnel to assess the severity of injuries; (6) transportation and transfer policies; (7) public education; (8) coordination and cooperation; and (9) other matters.
Requires States to adopt standards for the designation of trauma centers, and for triage, transfer, and transportation policies. Directs the Secretary to develop a model plan for the designation of trauma centers and for triage, transfer, and transportation policies.
Mandates that States: (1) submit to the Secretary the trauma care component of the State plan for the provision of emergency services; (2) submit to the Secretary, at least annually, the information it receives from its data reporting and analysis system; and (3) identify and submit to the Secretary a list of rural areas lacking certain emergency medical services.
Sets forth restrictions on the use of State allotments.
Requires an annual report from each State to the Secretary. Sets forth a formula for determining the amount of allotments. Provides for: (1) repayment and offset for failure to use funds as agreed; (2) criminal penalties for certain false statements; (3) technical assistance and provision of supplies and services by the Secretary in lieu of grant funds; and (4) a report by the Secretary to the Congress.
Authorizes appropriations.
Amends the Public Health Service Act to require that a State, in order to receive preventive health and health services block grants under existing provisions, allow the State officer responsible for the State highway safety program to: (1) participate in the development of any State emergency medical services plan, as the plan relates to highway safety; and (2) review and comment on any State proposal to use any Federal grant or payment for emergency medical services, as the proposal relates to highway safety.
Amends provisions relating to grants to States or schools of medicine for demonstration projects for the expansion and improvement of emergency medical services for children to remove the: (1) limitation on the number of grants; and (2) references to the projects being "in such States." Authorizes appropriations.
Authorizes the Secretary to make a grant to a specified hospital in the District of Columbia for constructing or modernizing a medical facility. Requires: (1) matching non-Federal funds; (2) that the facility constructed or modernized be made available to all persons residing or employed in the area; and (3) that a reasonable volume of services be made available to persons unable to pay for the services. Provides for recovery of expenditures for the construction or modernization under the same circumstances as set forth in existing provisions relating to health resources development. Authorizes appropriations, making the authorization effective only with respect to appropriations made from allocations under specified provisions of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 for specified subcommittees of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Energy and Commerce Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Health and Environment Subcommittee
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 35 actions.
- Nov 16, 1990Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 101-590.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Nov 9, 1990PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Oct 27, 1990Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report by Voice Vote.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report by Voice Vote.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference papers: Senate report and managers' statement held at the desk in Senate.
- Oct 26, 1990Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference papers: message on House action held at the desk in Senate.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · On agreeing to the conference report Agreed to by voice vote.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: On agreeing to the conference report Agreed to by voice vote.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Bilirakis demanded a second on the motion to suspend the rules and agree to the conference report. Without objection a second is ordered.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Waxman moved to suspend the rules and agree to the conference report, H. Rept. 101-956.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report H. Rept. 101-956 filed.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report H. Rept. 101-956 filed.
- Oct 22, 1990Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · The chair appointed conferees: Dingell, Waxman, Bates, Lent, and Madigan.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House disagree to the Senate amendment, and agree to a conference Agreed to without objection.
- Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Waxman asked unanimous consent that the House disagree to the Senate amendment, and agree to a conference.
- Oct 19, 1990Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate insists on its amendments, asks for a conference, appoints conferees Kennedy; Pell; Hatch.
- FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
- CommitteeCommittee · Discharged from Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
- Nov 22, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
- Nov 14, 1989FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
- FloorFloor · On ordering a second Agreed to without objection.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Bilirakis demanded a second on the motion to suspend the rules.
- FloorFloor · Mr. Waxman moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
- Nov 13, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Energy and Commerce Committee
- Oct 24, 1989CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Energy and Commerce Committee
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.