CSTE deals with many legislative issues around surveillance policy, determining Research vs. Practice, the impact of Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) on data sharing agreements, and other policy initiatives that are of interest to CSTE members. The CSTE Surveillance Policy Committee oversees policy issues directly related to state surveillance practices. This committee works closely with the Surveillance Coordination Group and reports directly to the Executive Board.

CSTE’s Activities:

• CSTE is currently circulating the “National Integrated Public Health Surveillance Systems and Reportable Conditions Act’’ before submission to the US Congress.
• Engaging other public health stakeholders in assessing the Federal interpretations of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and its impact on data sharing at the state level.
• CSTE is engaged with federal guidelines regarding what activities constitute as public health research or practice.
• 2008 Proposed CSTE Position Statements to modify the structure and method of reporting nationally-notifiable conditions to CDC.
• The Surveillance Policy Committee serves as a state-represented liaison with CDC’s recent efforts in biosurveillance and BioPHusion.