[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3374 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







110th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                S. 3374

 To establish a commission on veterans and members of the Armed Forces 
 with post traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, or other 
mental health disorders, to enhance the capacity of mental health care 
 providers to assist such veterans and members, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 31, 2008

 Mr. Smith (for himself and Mr. Wyden) introduced the following bill; 
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To establish a commission on veterans and members of the Armed Forces 
 with post traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, or other 
mental health disorders, to enhance the capacity of mental health care 
 providers to assist such veterans and members, 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 ``Healing Our Nation's Heroes Act of 
2008''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds the following:
            (1) Since October 2001, approximately 1,640,000 members of 
        the Armed Forces have been deployed as part of Operation 
        Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom.
            (2) 300,000 members of the Armed Forces are suffering from 
        major depression or post traumatic stress because of service in 
        Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom.
            (3) 320,000 of the members of the Armed Forces who served 
        in Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom, or 19 
        percent of such members, have received brain injuries from such 
        service.
            (4) Only 43 percent of members of the Armed Forces with a 
        probable traumatic brain injury have reported receiving a 
        medical evaluation for their head injury.
            (5) Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs show that 
        120,000 members of the Armed Forces who are no longer on active 
        duty have been diagnosed with mental health problems, 
        approximately half of whom suffer from post traumatic stress 
        disorder (PTSD).
            (6) In the last year, only 53 percent of those members of 
        the Armed Forces with post traumatic stress disorder or 
        depression have sought professional help from a mental health 
        care provider.
            (7) Rates of post traumatic stress disorder and depression 
        are highest among members of the Armed Forces who are women or 
        members of the Reserves.
            (8) Efforts to improve access to quality mental health care 
        are integral to supporting and treating both active duty 
        members of the Armed Forces and veterans.
            (9) Without quality mental health care, members of the 
        Armed Forces and veterans may experience lower work 
        productivity, which negatively affects their physical health, 
        mental health, and family and social relationships.
            (10) Cultural and personal stigmas are factors that 
        contribute to low rates of veterans of Operation Enduring 
        Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom who seek mental health care 
        from qualified mental health care providers.
            (11) The capacity of mental health care providers and 
        access to such providers must be improved to meet the needs of 
        members of the Armed Forces who are returning from deployment 
        in Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom.
            (12) Community-based providers of mental health care are 
        invaluable assets in addressing the needs of such members and 
        should not be overlooked.
            (13) Coordination of care among government agencies as well 
        as nongovernmental agencies is integral to the successful 
        treatment of members of the Armed Forces returning from 
        deployment.

SEC. 3. COMMISSION ON VETERANS AND MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES WITH 
              POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER, TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY, 
              OR OTHER MENTAL HEALTH DISORDERS CAUSED BY SERVICE IN THE 
              ARMED FORCES.

    (a) Establishment of Commission.--There is established a commission 
on veterans and members of the Armed Forces with post traumatic stress 
disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury, or other mental health 
disorders caused by service in the Armed Forces.
    (b) Membership.--
            (1) Composition.--The commission shall be composed of a 
        chair and members appointed jointly by the Secretary of 
        Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense, including not 
        less than one of each of the following:
                    (A) Members of the Armed Forces on active duty.
                    (B) Veterans who are retired from the Armed Forces.
                    (C) Employees of the Department of Veterans 
                Affairs.
                    (D) Employees of the Department of Defense.
                    (E) Recognized medical or scientific authorities in 
                fields relevant to the commission, including psychiatry 
                and medical care.
                    (F) Mental health professionals who are not 
                physicians.
                    (G) Veterans who have undergone treatment for post 
                traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, or 
                other mental health disorders.
            (2) Consideration of recommendations.--In appointing 
        members of the commission, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
        and the Secretary of Defense shall consult with nongovernmental 
        organizations that represent veterans, members of the Armed 
        Forces, and families of such veterans and members.
    (c) Duties.--
            (1) In general.--The commission shall--
                    (A) oversee the monitoring and treatment of 
                veterans and members of the Armed Forces with post 
                traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, or 
                other mental health disorders caused by service in the 
                Armed Forces; and
                    (B) conduct a thorough study of all matters 
                relating to the long-term adverse consequences of such 
                disorders for such veterans and members, including an 
                analysis of--
                            (i) the information gathered from 
                        rescreening data obtained from post deployment 
                        interviews; and
                            (ii) treatments that have been shown to be 
                        effective in the treatment of post traumatic 
                        stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, or 
                        other mental health disorders caused by service 
                        in the Armed Forces.
            (2) Recommendations.--The commission shall develop 
        recommendations on the development of initiatives--
                    (A) to mitigate the adverse consequences studied 
                under paragraph (1)(B); and
                    (B) to reduce cultural stigmas associated with 
                treatment of post traumatic stress disorder, traumatic 
                brain injury, or other mental health disorders of 
                veterans and members of the Armed Forces.
            (3) Annual reports.--Not later than September 30 each year, 
        the commission shall submit to the appropriate committees of 
        Congress a report containing the following:
                    (A) A detailed statement of the findings and 
                conclusions of the commission as a result of its 
                activities under paragraph (1).
                    (B) The recommendations of the commission developed 
                under paragraph (2).
    (d) Powers of the Commission.--
            (1) Site visits.--The commission may visit locations where 
        veterans and members of the Armed Forces with post traumatic 
        stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, or other mental health 
        disorders caused by service in the Armed Forces receive 
        treatment for such disorders to carry out the oversight and 
        monitoring required by subsection (c)(1)(A).
            (2) Information from federal agencies.--The commission may 
        secure directly from any Federal department or agency such 
        information as the commission considers necessary to carry out 
        the provisions of this Act. Upon request of the chair of the 
        commission, the head of such department or agency shall furnish 
        such information to the commission.
    (e) Termination.--The commission shall be terminated at the joint 
discretion of the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs.
    (f) Appropriate Committees of Congress Defined.--In this section, 
the term ``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
            (1) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on 
        Veterans' Affairs of the Senate; and
            (2) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on 
        Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives.

SEC. 4. HEROES-TO-HEALERS PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--Part III of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following:

                ``CHAPTER 44--HEROES-TO-HEALERS PROGRAM

``Sec.
``4400. Purposes.
``4401. Definitions.
``4402. Authorization of Heroes-to-Healers Program.
``4403. Recruitment and selection of Program participants.
``4404. Participation agreement and financial assistance.
``4405. Participation by States.
``4406. Reporting requirements.
``4407. Authorization of appropriations.
``Sec. 4400. Purposes
    ``The purposes of this chapter are--
            ``(1) to encourage veterans and members of the Armed Forces 
        separating from the Armed Forces--
                    ``(A) to obtain certification or licensing as 
                mental health care providers; and
                    ``(B) to obtain employment with Federal, State, and 
                local agencies and nongovernmental organizations that 
                provide mental health care to members of the Armed 
                Forces, veterans, or the families of such members or 
                veterans; and
            ``(2) to enhance the capacity of such agencies and 
        organizations to provide such care, by increasing the number of 
        individuals seeking employment for the provision of such care.
``Sec. 4401. Definitions
    ``In this chapter:
            ``(1) The term `mental health care provider', with respect 
        to an individual, means a psychiatrist, psychologist, social 
        worker, psychiatric nurse, mental health counselor, or marriage 
        and family therapist.
            ``(2) The term `Program' means the Heroes-to-Healers 
        Program authorized by section 4402 of this title and described 
        in this chapter.
``Sec. 4402. Authorization of Heroes-to-Healers Program
    ``(a) Purpose.--The purpose of this section is to authorize--
            ``(1) the Heroes-to-Healers Program; and
            ``(2) a mechanism for the funding and administration of 
        such program.
    ``(b) Program Authorized.--(1) The Secretary may carry out a 
program--
            ``(A) to assist eligible individuals described in section 
        4403 of this title in obtaining certification or licensing (as 
        prescribed for under applicable State law) as mental health 
        care providers; and
            ``(B) to facilitate the employment of such individuals, by 
        Federal, State, and local agencies and nongovernmental 
        organizations that provide mental health care to members of the 
        Armed Forces, veterans, or the families of such members or 
        veterans, to provide such care.
    ``(2) The program authorized by paragraph (1) and described in this 
chapter shall be known as the `Heroes-to-Healers Program'.
    ``(c) Administration of Program.--The Secretary shall administer 
the Program in consultation with the Secretary of Defense.
    ``(d) Information Regarding Program.--The Secretary shall provide 
to the Secretary of Defense information regarding the Program and 
applications for participation in the Program, for distribution as part 
of preseparation counseling provided under section 1142 of title 10 to 
members of the Armed Forces described in section 4403 of this title.
    ``(e) Placement Assistance and Referral Services.--The Secretary 
may, with the agreement of the Secretary of Defense, provide placement 
assistance and referral services to individuals who meet the criteria 
described in section 4403 of this title.
``Sec. 4403. Recruitment and selection of Program participants
    ``(a) Eligible Individuals.--The following individuals are eligible 
for selection to participate in the Program:
            ``(1) Any individual who--
                    ``(A) was a member of the Armed Forces and becomes 
                entitled to retired or retainer pay in the manner 
                provided in title 10 or title 14; or
                    ``(B) has an approved date of retirement from 
                service in the Armed Forces.
            ``(2) Any individual who--
                    ``(A)(i) is separated or released from active duty 
                in the Armed Forces after two or more years of 
                continuous active duty in the Armed Forces immediately 
                before the separation or release; or
                    ``(ii) has completed a total of at least--
                            ``(I) three years of active duty service in 
                        the Armed Forces;
                            ``(II) three years of service computed 
                        under section 12732 of title 10; or
                            ``(III) three years of any combination of 
                        such service; and
                    ``(B) executes a reserve commitment agreement for a 
                period of not less than 3 years under subsection 
                (e)(2).
            ``(3) Any individual who is retired or separated for 
        physical disability under chapter 61 of title 10.
    ``(b) Submission of Applications.--(1) Selection of eligible 
individuals to participate in the Program shall be made on the basis of 
applications submitted to the Secretary within the time periods 
specified in paragraph (2). An application shall be in such form and 
contain such information as the Secretary may require.
    ``(2) An application of an individual shall be considered to be 
submitted on a timely basis under paragraph (1) if the application is 
submitted not later than five years after the date on which the 
individual is retired, separated, or released from active duty in the 
Armed Forces, as the case may be.
    ``(c) Selection Criteria.--(1) The Secretary shall prescribe the 
criteria to be used to select eligible individuals to participate in 
the Program.
    ``(2) An individual is eligible to participate in the Program only 
if the individual's last period of service in the Armed Forces was 
honorable, as characterized by the Secretary concerned. An individual 
selected to participate in the Program before the retirement of the 
individual or the separation or release of the individual from active 
duty in the Armed Forces may continue to participate in the Program 
after the retirement, separation, or release only if the individual's 
last period of service is characterized as honorable by the Secretary 
concerned.
    ``(d) Selection Priorities.--In selecting eligible individuals to 
receive assistance under the Program, the Secretary shall give priority 
to individuals who engaged in combat while serving in the Armed Forces.
    ``(e) Other Conditions on Selection.--(1) The Secretary may not 
select an eligible individual to participate in the Program under this 
section and receive financial assistance under section 4404 of this 
title unless the Secretary has sufficient appropriations for the 
Program available at the time of the selection to satisfy the 
obligations to be incurred by the United States under section 4404 of 
this title with respect to the individual.
    ``(2) The Secretary may not select an eligible individual described 
in subsection (a)(2)(A) to participate in the Program under this 
section and receive financial assistance under section 4404 of this 
title unless--
            ``(A) the Secretary notifies the Secretary concerned and 
        the individual that the Secretary has reserved a full stipend 
        or bonus under section 4404 of this title for the individual; 
        and
            ``(B) the individual executes a written agreement with the 
        Secretary concerned to serve as a member of the Selected 
        Reserve of a reserve component of the Armed Forces for a period 
        of not less than three years (in addition to any other reserve 
        commitment the individual may have).
``Sec. 4404. Participation agreement and financial assistance
    ``(a) Participation Agreement.--(1) An eligible individual selected 
to participate in the Program under section 4403 of this title and 
receive financial assistance under this section shall be required to 
enter into an agreement with the Secretary in which the individual 
agrees--
            ``(A) within such time as the Secretary may require, to 
        obtain certification or licensing as a mental health care 
        provider; and
            ``(B) to accept an offer of full-time employment as a 
        mental health care provider for not less than five years with a 
        Federal, State, or local agency or nongovernmental organization 
        that provides mental health care to members of the Armed 
        Forces, veterans, or the families of such members or veterans.
    ``(2) The Secretary may waive the five-year commitment described in 
paragraph (1)(B) for a participant if the Secretary determines such 
waiver to be appropriate. If the Secretary provides the waiver, the 
participant shall not be considered to be in violation of the agreement 
and shall not be required to provide reimbursement under subsection 
(f), for failure to meet the five-year commitment.
    ``(3) The Secretary shall encourage eligible individuals to seek 
employment with mental health care providers located more than 75 miles 
from a Department medical center.
    ``(b) Violation of Participation Agreement; Exceptions.--A 
participant in the Program shall not be considered to be in violation 
of the participation agreement entered into under subsection (a) during 
any period in which the participant--
            ``(1) is pursuing a full-time course of study related to 
        the field of mental health care at an institution of higher 
        education;
            ``(2) is serving on active duty as a member of the Armed 
        Forces;
            ``(3) is temporarily totally disabled for a period of time 
        not to exceed three years as established by sworn affidavit of 
        a qualified physician;
            ``(4) is unable to secure employment for a period not to 
        exceed 12 months by reason of the care required by a spouse who 
        is disabled;
            ``(5) is a mental health care provider who is seeking and 
        unable to find full-time employment as a mental health care 
        provider in a Federal, State, or local agency or 
        nongovernmental organization that provides mental health care 
        to members of the Armed Forces, veterans, or the families of 
        such members or veterans for a single period not to exceed 27 
        months; or
            ``(6) satisfies the provisions of additional reimbursement 
        exceptions that may be prescribed by the Secretary.
    ``(c) Stipend for Participants.--(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the 
Secretary may pay to a participant in the Program selected under 
section 4403 of this title a stipend in an amount of not more than 
$5,000 per year of participation in the Program.
    ``(2) The total number of stipends that may be paid under paragraph 
(1) in any fiscal year may not exceed 2,500.
    ``(d) Bonus for Participants.--(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the 
Secretary of Education may, in lieu of paying a stipend under 
subsection (c), pay a bonus of up to $10,000 to a participant in the 
Program selected under section 4403 of this title who agrees in the 
participation agreement under subsection (a) to become a mental health 
care provider and to accept full-time employment as a mental health 
care provider for not less than five years in a Federal, State, or 
local agency or nongovernmental organization that provides mental 
health care to members of the Armed Forces, veterans, or the families 
of such members or veterans.
    ``(2) The total number of bonuses that may be paid under paragraph 
(1) in any fiscal year may not exceed 2,000.
    ``(e) Treatment of Stipend and Bonus.--A stipend or bonus paid 
under this section to a participant in the Program shall not be taken 
into account in determining the eligibility of the participant for 
Federal student financial assistance provided under title IV of the 
Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1070 et seq.).
    ``(f) Reimbursement Under Certain Circumstances.--(1) A participant 
in the Program who is paid a stipend or bonus under this section shall 
be required to repay the stipend or bonus under the following 
circumstances:
            ``(A) The participant fails to obtain mental health care 
        provider certification or licensing, to become a mental health 
        care provider, or to obtain employment as a mental health care 
        as required by the participation agreement under subsection 
        (a).
            ``(B) The participant voluntarily leaves, or is terminated 
        for cause from, employment as a mental health care provider 
        during the five years of required service in violation of the 
        participation agreement.
            ``(C) The participant executed a written agreement with the 
        Secretary concerned under section 4403(e)(2) of this title to 
        serve as a member of a reserve component of the Armed Forces 
        for a period of three years and fails to complete the required 
        term of service.
    ``(2) A participant required to reimburse the Secretary for a 
stipend or bonus paid to the participant under this section shall pay 
an amount that bears the same ratio to the amount of the stipend or 
bonus as the unserved portion of required service bears to the five 
years of required service. Any amount owed by the participant shall 
bear interest at the rate equal to the highest rate being paid by the 
United States on the day on which the reimbursement is determined to be 
due for securities having maturities of 90 days or less and such 
interest shall accrue from the day on which the participant is first 
notified of the amount due.
    ``(3) The obligation to reimburse the Secretary under this 
subsection is, for all purposes, a debt owing the United States. A 
discharge in bankruptcy under title 11 shall not release a participant 
from the obligation to reimburse the Secretary under this subsection.
    ``(4) A participant shall be excused from reimbursement under this 
subsection if the participant becomes permanently totally disabled as 
established by sworn affidavit of a qualified physician. The Secretary 
may also waive the reimbursement in cases of extreme hardship to the 
participant, as determined by the Secretary.
    ``(g) Relationship to Educational Assistance Under Titles 10 and 
38.--The receipt by a participant in the Program of a stipend or bonus 
under this section shall not reduce or otherwise affect the entitlement 
of the participant to any benefits under chapters 30, 31, 33, or 35 of 
this title or chapters 1606 or 1607 of title 10.
``Sec. 4405. Participation by States
    ``(a) Discharge of State Activities Through Consortia of States.--
The Secretary may permit States participating in the Program to carry 
out activities authorized for such States under the Program through one 
or more consortia of such States.
    ``(b) Assistance to States.--(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the 
Secretary may make grants to States participating in the Program, or to 
consortia of such States, in order to permit such States or consortia 
of States to operate offices for purposes of recruiting eligible 
individuals for participation in the Program and facilitating the 
employment of participants in the Program as a mental health care 
provider.
    ``(2) The total amount of grants made under paragraph (1) in any 
fiscal year may not exceed $5,000,000.
``Sec. 4406. Reporting requirements
    ``(a) Annual Report Required.--Not later than 180 days after the 
date of the enactment of this chapter and annually thereafter, the 
Secretary shall, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the 
Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Comptroller General of the 
United States, submit to Congress a report on the effectiveness of the 
Program in the recruitment and retention of qualified personnel by 
Federal, State, and local agencies and nongovernmental organizations 
that provide mental health care to members of the Armed Forces, 
veterans, or the families of such members or veterans.
    ``(b) Elements of Report.--The report submitted under subsection 
(a) shall include information on the following:
            ``(1) The number of participants in the Program.
            ``(2) The types of positions in which the participants are 
        employed.
            ``(3) The populations served by the participants.
            ``(4) The agencies and organizations in which the 
        participants are employed as mental health care providers.
            ``(5) The types of agencies and organizations with which 
        the participants are employed.
            ``(6) The geographic distribution of the agencies and 
        organizations with which participants are employed.
            ``(7) The rates of retention of the participants by the 
        Federal, State, and local agencies and nongovernmental 
        organizations employing the participants.
            ``(8) Such other matters as the Secretary considers to be 
        appropriate.
``Sec. 4407. Authorization of appropriations
    ``There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry 
out the provisions of this chapter $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2009 and 
each fiscal year thereafter.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendments.--The tables of chapters at the beginning 
of title 38, United States Code, and at the beginning of part III of 
such title, are each amended by inserting after the item relating to 
chapter 43 the following new item:

``44. Heroes-to-Healers Program.............................    4400''.

SEC. 5. GRANT PROGRAM TO ENCOURAGE STATE AND LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH 
              AGENCIES TO ESTABLISH, EXPAND, OR ENHANCE MENTAL HEALTH 
              PROVIDER RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION EFFORTS.

    (a) Purposes.--It is the purpose of this section to establish a 
program to recruit and retain highly qualified mid-career professionals 
and recent graduates of an institution of higher education, as 
psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, psychiatric nurses, 
mental health counselors, or marriage and family therapists.
    (b) Definitions.--In this section:
            (1) Eligible entity.--The term ``eligible entity'' means an 
        entity described in subsection (c)(2).
            (2) Eligible participant.--The term ``eligible 
        participant'' means--
                    (A) an individual with substantial, demonstrable 
                career experience; or
                    (B) an individual who has graduated from an 
                institution of higher education not more than 3 years 
                prior to applying to an eligible entity to become to be 
                a mental health provider under this section.
            (3) Mental health provider.--The term ``mental health 
        provider'' means a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, 
        psychiatric nurse, mental health counselor, marriage or family 
        therapist, or any other provider determined appropriate by the 
        Secretary.
            (4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of Education.
    (c) Grant Program.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary may, in consultation with 
        the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Health and Human 
        Services, and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, establish a 
        program to award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible 
        entities to encourage State and local mental health agencies or 
        other entities to establish, expand, or enhance mental health 
        provider recruitment and retention efforts. The Secretary may 
        establish tiered grant award amounts based on criteria 
        including specific need for highly qualified mental health 
        providers by profession within a high demand area, geographic 
        location, and existing compensation rates.
            (2) Eligible entities.--To be eligible to receive a grant 
        under this section, an entity shall be--
                    (A) a State health agency;
                    (B) a high-need local health agency;
                    (C) a for-profit or nonprofit organization that has 
                a proven record of effectively recruiting and retaining 
                highly qualified mental health providers, that has 
                entered into a partnership with a high-need local 
                health agency or with a State health agency;
                    (D) an institution of higher education that has 
                entered into a partnership with a high-need local 
                health agency or with a State health agency;
                    (E) a regional consortium of State health agencies; 
                or
                    (F) a consortium of high-need local health 
                agencies.
            (3) Priority.--In awarding a grant under this subsection, 
        the Secretary shall give priority to a partnership or 
        consortium that includes a high-need State agency or local 
        health agency.
            (4) Application.--
                    (A) In general.--To be eligible to receive a grant 
                under this section, an eligible entity shall submit an 
                application to the Secretary at such time, in such 
                manner, and containing such information as the 
                Secretary may require.
                    (B) Contents.--An application submitted under 
                subparagraph (A) shall include a description of--
                            (i) one or more target recruitment groups 
                        on which the applicant will focus its 
                        recruitment efforts under the grant;
                            (ii) the characteristics of each such 
                        target group that--
                                    (I) demonstrate the knowledge and 
                                experience of the group's members; and
                                    (II) demonstrate that the members 
                                are eligible to achieve the purposes of 
                                this section;
                            (iii) the manner in which the applicant 
                        will use funds received under the grant to 
                        develop a cadre of mental health providers, or 
                        other programs to recruit and retain highly 
                        qualified midcareer professionals, recent 
                        college graduates, and recent graduate school 
                        graduates, as highly qualified mental health 
                        providers, in high-need military or veterans 
                        communities, or as part of entities providing 
                        care to military or veterans in medical 
                        facilities;
                            (iv) the manner in which the program 
                        carried out under the grant will comply with 
                        relevant State laws related to mental health 
                        provider certification or licensing and 
                        facilitate the certification or licensing of 
                        such mental health providers;
                            (v) the manner in which activities under 
                        the grant will increase the number of highly 
                        qualified mental health providers, in high-need 
                        Federal, State and local agencies (in urban or 
                        rural areas), and in high-need mental health 
                        professions, in the jurisdiction served by the 
                        applicant; and
                            (vi) the manner in which the applicant will 
                        collaborate, as needed, with other 
                        institutions, agencies, or organizations to 
                        recruit (particularly through activities that 
                        have proven effective in retaining highly 
                        qualified mental health providers), train, 
                        place, support, and provide mental health 
                        induction programs to eligible participants 
                        under this section, including providing 
                        evidence of the commitment of the institutions, 
                        agencies, or organizations to the applicant's 
                        programs.
            (5) Duration of grant.--The Secretary may award grants 
        under this subsection for periods of 5 years. At the end of the 
        5-year period for such a grant, the grant recipient may apply 
        for an additional grant under this section.
            (6) Equitable distribution.--To the extent practicable, the 
        Secretary shall ensure an equitable geographic distribution of 
        grants under this subsection among the regions of the United 
        States.
            (7) Use of funds.--
                    (A) In general.--An entity shall use amounts 
                received under a grant under this subsection to develop 
                a cadre of mental health providers in order to 
                establish, expand, or enhance mental health provider 
                recruitment and retention programs for highly qualified 
                mid-career professionals, and recent graduates of an 
                institution of higher education, who are eligible 
                participants.
                    (B) Authorized activities.--A program carried out 
                under subparagraph (A) shall include 2 or more of the 
                following activities:
                            (i) To provide scholarships, stipends, 
                        bonuses, and other financial incentives, that 
                        are linked to participation in activities that 
                        have proven effective in retaining mental 
                        health providers in high-need areas operated by 
                        Federal, State and local health agencies, to 
                        all eligible participants, in an amount that 
                        shall not be less than $5,000, nor more than 
                        $20,000, per participant.
                            (ii) To carry out pre- and post-placement 
                        induction or support activities that have 
                        proven effective in recruiting and retaining 
                        mental health providers, such as--
                                    (I) mentoring;
                                    (II) providing internships;
                                    (III) providing high-quality, 
                                preservice coursework; and
                                    (IV) providing high-quality, 
                                sustained inservice professional 
                                development.
                            (iii) To make payments to pay the costs 
                        associated with accepting mental health 
                        providers under this section from among 
                        eligible participants or to provide financial 
                        incentives to prospective mental health 
                        providers who are eligible participants.
                            (iv) To collaborate with institutions of 
                        higher education in the development and 
                        implementation of programs to facilitate mental 
                        health provider recruitment (including 
                        credentialing and licensing) and mental health 
                        retention programs.
                            (v) To carry out other programs, projects, 
                        and activities that are designed and have 
                        proven to be effective in recruiting and 
                        retaining mental health providers, and that the 
                        Secretary determines to be appropriate.
                            (vi) To develop long-term mental health 
                        provider recruitment and retention strategies, 
                        including developing--
                                    (I) a national, statewide or 
                                regionwide clearinghouse for the 
                                recruitment and placement of mental 
                                health providers;
                                    (II) reciprocity agreements between 
                                or among States for the certification 
                                or licensing of mental health 
                                providers; or
                                    (III) other long-term teacher 
                                recruitment and retention strategies.
                    (C) Effective programs.--An entity shall use 
                amounts received under a grant under this subsection 
                only for programs that have proven to be effective in 
                both recruiting and retaining mental health providers 
                (as determined by the Secretary).
            (8) Requirements.--
                    (A) Targeting.--An entity that receives a grant 
                under this subsection shall ensure that participants in 
                the program carried out under the grant who are 
                recruited with funds made available under the grant are 
                placed in high-need areas operated by high-need 
                Federal, State, and local health agencies. In placing 
                such participants in mental health facilities, such 
                entity shall give priority to facilities that are 
                located in--
                            (i) rural under served areas; or
                            (ii) urban areas with high percentages of 
                        individuals who are members of the Armed Forces 
                        or veterans.
                    (B) Supplement, not supplant.--Amounts made 
                available under this section shall be used to 
                supplement, and not supplant, State and local public 
                funds expended for mental health provider recruitment 
                and retention programs.
                    (C) Partnerships and consortia of local health 
                agencies.--In the case of a partnership established by 
                a Federal, State, or local health agency to carry out a 
                program under this section, or a consortium of such 
                agencies established to carry out such a program, the 
                Federal, State, or local health agency or consortium 
                shall not be eligible to receive funds through a State 
                program under this section.
            (9) Period of service.--A participant in a program under 
        this subsection who receives training through the program shall 
        serve at a high-need medical facility or an agency operated by 
        a high-need Federal, State, or local health agency for a term 
        of not less than 3 years.
            (10) Repayment.--The Secretary shall establish such 
        requirements as the Secretary determines to be appropriate to 
        ensure that a participant in a program under this section who 
        receives a stipend or other financial incentive as provided for 
        in paragraph (7)(B)(i), but who fails to complete their service 
        obligation under paragraph (9), repays all or a portion of such 
        stipend or other incentive.
            (11) Administrative funds.--An entity that receives a grant 
        under this subsection shall not use more than 5 percent of the 
        funds made available under the grant for the administration of 
        a program under this subsection.
            (12) Authorization of appropriations.--There is authorized 
        to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary in each fiscal 
        year to carry out this subsection.
    (d) Evaluation and Accountability for Recruiting and Retaining 
Mental Health Providers.--
            (1) Evaluation.--An entity that receives a grant under this 
        section shall--
                    (A) within 30 days of the end of the 3rd year of 
                the grant period, conduct an interim evaluation of the 
                program funded under the grant; and
                    (B) within 30 days of the end of the 5th year of 
                the grant period, conduct a final evaluation of the 
                program funded under the grant.
            (2) Contents.--In conducting an evaluation under paragraph 
        (1), an entity shall describe the extent to which State and 
        local agencies that received funds through the grant have met 
        the goals relating to mental health provider recruitment and 
        retention described in the application submitted by the entity 
        under paragraph (4).
            (3) Reports.--An entity that receives a grant under this 
        Act shall prepare and submit to the Secretary and the 
        appropriate committees of Congress, an interim and final report 
        that contains the results of the interim and final evaluations 
        carried out under subparagraphs (A) and (B) of paragraph (1), 
        respectively.
            (4) Revocation.--If the Secretary determines that the 
        recipient of a grant under this section has not made 
        substantial progress in meeting the goals and the objectives of 
        the grant by the end of the 3rd year of the grant period, the 
        Secretary shall--
                    (A) revoke any payments made for the 4th year of 
                the grant period; and
                    (B) not make any payment for the 5th year of the 
                grant period.
                                 <all>