110 HR 2226 IH: To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the U.S. House of Representatives 2007-05-08 text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain.
I 110th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2226 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May 8, 2007 Mr. Welch of Vermont introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program to provide readjustment counseling and related mental health services to veterans through the use of mobile centers.
1.
Pilot program for delivery of readjustment counseling and mental health services to veterans through mobile Vet Centers
(a)
Pilot program
Chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1712B the following new section:
1712C.
Pilot program for delivery of readjustment counseling and mental health services through mobile Vet Centers
(a)
Pilot program
To improve access to mental health services in rural areas, the Secretary shall carry out a pilot program under which the Secretary shall provide readjustment counseling and related mental health services through the use of mobile centers (as that term is defined in section 1712A(i)(1)), to be known as mobile Vet Centers. In carrying out the pilot program, the Secretary shall determine the most effective manner in which to operate the mobile Vet Centers. (b)
Scope and location
(1)The Secretary shall establish two mobile Vet Centers in each of the following five Veterans Integrated Service Networks: (A)Veterans Integrated Service Network 1. (B)Veterans Integrated Service Network 16. (C)Veterans Integrated Service Network 19. (D)Veterans Integrated Service Network 20. (E)Veterans Integrated Service Network 23. (2)Within each Veterans Integrated Service Network under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall determine the area to be serviced by each mobile Vet Center. In making that determination, the Secretary shall give priority to areas in which limited mental health services are available. (3)If the Secretary determines that mobile Vet Centers in addition to such centers required under paragraph (1) are warranted, the Secretary may establish additional mobile Vet Centers and may establish such centers in Veterans Integrated Service Networks other than the Veterans Integrated Service Networks referred to in that paragraph. Upon such a determination by the Secretary, the Secretary shall notify the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives of such determination. (c)
Termination
The authority to carry out a pilot program under this section shall terminate on the date that is three years after the date of the enactment of this section. (d)
Report
Not later than 90 days after the date on which the pilot program terminates under subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the pilot program. Such report shall describe how the Secretary established and carried out the pilot program and include an evaluation of the Secretary of the benefits and disadvantages of providing readjustment counseling and related mental health services through the use of mobile Vet Centers.
. (b)
Clerical amendment
The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item related to section 1712B the following new item: 1712C. Pilot program for delivery of readjustment counseling and mental health services through mobile Vet Centers. .