Department of Veterans Affairs pilot program to award grants for the provision of service dogs to veterans

(a)

In general

(1)

Pilot program required

Not later than 24 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish a pilot program under which the Secretary shall award grants, on a competitive basis, to nonprofit entities to provide service dogs to eligible veterans.(2)

Duration

The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program during the five-year period beginning on the date on which the first grant is awarded under this section.(b)

Applications

(1)

In general

To be eligible to receive a grant under this section, a nonprofit entity shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such commitments and information as the Secretary may require.(2)

Elements

An application submitted under paragraph (1) shall include the following:(A)A proposal for the provision of service dogs to eligible veterans, including how the nonprofit entity will communicate with the Secretary to ensure an increasing number of service dogs are provided to such veterans.(B)A description of the following:(i)The training that will be provided by the nonprofit entity to eligible veterans. (ii)The training of dogs that will serve as service dogs. (iii)Any additional support or services the nonprofit entity will provide for such dogs and eligible veterans. (iv)The plan for publicizing the availability of such dogs through a marketing campaign that targets eligible veterans. (v)The commitment of the nonprofit entity to have humane standards for animals. (vi)The demonstrated experience of the nonprofit entity in training service dogs in compliance with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.). (c)

Award of grants

(1)

In general

The Secretary shall award a grant to each nonprofit entity for which the Secretary has approved an application submitted under subsection (b)(1).(2)

Agreement required

Before the provision of any grant amounts to a nonprofit entity selected to receive a grant under this section, the Secretary shall enter into an agreement, containing such terms, conditions, and limitations as the Secretary determines appropriate, with such entity.(3)

Maximum grant amount

A grant awarded to a nonprofit entity under this section may not exceed $2,000,000.(4)

Payments

The Secretary shall establish intervals of payment for the administration of each grant awarded under this section.(d)

Use of funds

(1)

In general

(A)

Requirement

A recipient of a grant under this section shall use the grant amounts to plan, develop, implement, or manage (or any combination thereof) one or more covered programs. (B)

Covered program defined

In this paragraph, the term covered program means a program under which—(i)service dogs are provided to participants in the program; and (ii)only eligible veterans are allowed to participate in the program. (2)

Administrative expenses

The Secretary may establish a maximum amount for each grant awarded under this section that may be used by the recipient of the grant to cover administrative expenses.(3)

Other conditions and limitations

The Secretary may establish other conditions or limitations on the use of grant amounts under this section.(e)

Requirements for grant recipients

(1)

Notifications and information

A recipient of a grant under this section shall—(A)notify each veteran who receives a service dog through such grant that the service dog is being paid for, in whole or in part, by the Department of Veterans Affairs; and (B)inform each such veteran of the benefits and services available from the Secretary for the veteran and the service dog. (2)

Prohibition on certain fees

A recipient of a grant under this section may not charge a fee to a veteran receiving a service dog through such grant.(f)

Veterinary insurance

(1)

In general

The Secretary shall provide to each veteran who receives a service dog through a grant under this section a commercially available veterinary insurance policy for the service dog.(2)

Continuation

If the Secretary provides a veterinary insurance policy to a veteran under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall continue to provide the policy to the veteran without regard to the continuation or termination of the pilot program.(g)

Training and technical assistance

The Secretary may provide training and technical assistance to recipients of grants under this section.(h)

Oversight and monitoring

(1)

In general

The Secretary—(A)shall establish such oversight and monitoring requirements as the Secretary determines appropriate to ensure that grant amounts awarded under this section are used appropriately; and (B)may take such actions as the Secretary determines necessary to address any issues identified through the enforcement of such requirements.(2)

Reports and answers

The Secretary may require each recipient of a grant under this section to provide, in such form as may be prescribed by the Secretary, such reports or answers in writing to specific questions, surveys, or questionnaires as the Secretary determines necessary to carry out the pilot program.(i)

Definitions

In this section: (1)

Eligible veteran

(A)

In general

The term eligible veteran means a veteran (as defined in section 101 of title 38, United States Code) who, as determined by a physician, has one or more disabilities, conditions, or diagnoses described in subparagraph (B). (B)

Disability, condition, diagnosis described

A disability, condition, or diagnosis described in this subparagraph is any of the following:(i)Blindness or visual impairment. (ii)Loss of use of a limb, paralysis, or other significant mobility issue, including mental health mobility. (iii)Loss of hearing. (iv)Post-traumatic stress disorder. (v)Traumatic brain injury. (vi)Any other disability, condition, or diagnosis for which the Secretary determines, based on medical judgment, that it is optimal for the veteran to manage the disability, condition, or diagnosis and live independently through the assistance of a service dog. (2)

Pilot program

The term pilot program means the pilot program required by subsection (a)(1).(3)

Service dog

The term service dog means any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks that are—(A)for the benefit of a veteran with a disability, condition, or diagnosis described in paragraph (1)(B); and (B)directly related to the disability, condition, or diagnosis of the veteran. (j)

Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of the five consecutive fiscal years following the fiscal year in which the pilot program is established under subsection (a).