15 U.S.C. § 278u — Xylazine detection and analysis

Page 704 TITLE 15—COMMERCE AND TRADE § 278u 1 So in original. The comma probably should be a semicolon. § 278u. Xylazine detection and analysis (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Director The term ‘‘Director’’ means the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Tech- nology. (2) Federal laboratory The term ‘‘Federal laboratory’’ has the meaning given such term in section 3703 of this title. (3) Institute The term ‘‘Institute’’ means the National In- stitute of Standards and Technology. (4) Institution of higher education The term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the meaning given such term in section 1001 of title 20. (5) Nonprofit organization The term ‘‘nonprofit organization’’ means an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of title 26 and exempt from tax under section 501(a) of such title. (6) Xylazine The term ‘‘xylazine’’ means the nonopioid tranquilizer methyl benzene compound fre- quently used in veterinary medicine as an emetic and sedative with analgesic and muscle relaxant properties. (b) In general The Director shall— (1) support intramural basic measurement science and research of the Institute to ad- vance— (A) analytical methods to identify, under- stand, differentiate, and categorize sub- stances containing xylazine, novel synthetic opioids, or other new psychoactive sub- stances; (B) measurement technologies to shorten analysis timelines and enhance narcotic and opioid detection and analysis capabilities; (C) new data tools, techniques, and proc- esses to identify and publicly disclose rel- evant information concerning substances containing xylazine, novel synthetic opioids, or other new psychoactive substances; and (D) such other areas as the Director deter- mines to be critical to the development and deployment of technologies to measure and analyze the presence of xylazine, novel syn- thetic opioids, and other new psychoactive substances; (2) support activities to inform and expand the development of near-real time spectrom- etry capabilities regarding xylazine, novel synthetic opioids, and other new psychoactive substances; (3) convene and consult with organizations engaged in the analysis of new psychoactive substances to develop coordinated strategies and voluntary best practices for the safe han- dling, transport, data-sharing, and analysis of substances containing xylazine, novel syn- thetic opioids, or other new psychoactive sub- stances, including— (A) the Drug Enforcement Administration; (B) the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; (C) the National Institute on Drug Abuse; (D) Federal laboratories; (E) States and territories; (F) State fusion centers; (G) the private sector; (H) intergovernmental organizations; (I) institutions of higher education,1 and (J) nonprofit organizations; (4) establish or expand collaborative partner- ships or consortia with other government agencies and persons engaged in related re- search and development, such as institutions of higher education, Federal laboratories, pub- lic health agencies, intergovernmental organi- zations, and the private sector, to enhance narcotic and opioid detection and analysis ca- pabilities regarding xylazine, novel synthetic opioids, and other new psychoactive sub- stances; and (5) encourage graduate and post-graduate re- search to include detection and identification of xylazine and other new psychoactive sub- stances in relevant course studies when prac- ticable. (c) Controls In carrying out activities under this section, the Director shall ensure proper security con- trols are implemented to protect sensitive infor- mation, as the Director considers appropriate and consistent with applicable provisions of law. (d) Report Not later than 1 year after December 19, 2023, the Director shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report on the implementation of this section. Such report may include recommendations for legislative action to improve the ability of the Director to carry out this section. (Pub. L. 118–23, § 2, Dec. 19, 2023, 137 Stat. 125.) Editorial Notes CODIFICATION Section was enacted as part of the Testing, Rapid Analysis, and Narcotic Quality Research Act of 2023, also known as the TRANQ Research Act of 2023, and not as part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology Act which comprises this chapter. § 279. Absence of Director In the case of the absence of the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Tech- nology the Secretary of Commerce may des- ignate some officer of said Institute to perform the duties of the director during his absence. (Mar. 4, 1911, ch. 237, § 1, 36 Stat. 1231; Mar. 4, 1913, ch. 141, § 1, 37 Stat. 736; Pub. L. 100–418, title V, § 5115(c), Aug. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 1433.) Editorial Notes CODIFICATION Section was not enacted as part of the National Insti- tute of Standards and Technology Act which comprises this chapter.