[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 78 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 78

  To amend title 38, United States Code, to revise certain provisions 
   relating to the appointment of professional psychologists in the 
        Veterans Health Administration, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            January 7, 2003

  Mr. Inouye introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
             referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To amend title 38, United States Code, to revise certain provisions 
   relating to the appointment of professional psychologists in the 
        Veterans Health Administration, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Veteran's Health Administration Act 
of 2003''.

SEC. 2. REVISION OF AUTHORITY RELATING TO APPOINTMENT OF PROFESSIONAL 
              PSYCHOLOGISTS IN THE VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION.

    (a) In General.--Section 7401(3) of title 38, United States Code, 
is amended by striking ``who hold diplomas as diplomates in psychology 
from an accrediting authority approved by the Secretary''.
    (b) Certain Other Appointments.--Section 7405(a) of such title is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)(B), by striking ``Certified or'' and 
        inserting ``Professional psychologists, certified or''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2)(B), by striking ``Certified or'' and 
        inserting ``Professional psychologists, certified or''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) 
shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.
    (d) Appointment Requirement.--Notwithstanding any other provision 
of law, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall begin to make 
appointments of professional psychologists in the Veterans Health 
Administration under section 7401(3) of title 38, United States Code 
(as amended by subsection (a)), not later than one year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act.
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