I 111th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5170 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 28, 2010 Mr. Holt (for himself, Ms. Shea-Porter, Mr. George Miller of California, Ms. Berkley, Mr. Bartlett, and Mr. Himes) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services A BILL To amend title 10, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Defense to provide members of the Individual Ready Reserve who served in Afghanistan or Iraq with information on counseling to prevent suicide.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Sergeant Coleman S. Bean Individual Ready Reserve Suicide Prevention Act of 2010.

2.

Suicide among members of the Individual Ready Reserve and individual mobilization augmentees

(a)

Findings

Congress finds that a veteran who is a member of the Individual Ready Reserve (or who is an individual mobilization augmentee) and is not assigned to a unit that musters regularly and has an established support structure is less likely to be helped by existing suicide prevention programs carried out by the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. (b)

In general

(1)

Suicide prevention

Chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding after section 1074l the following new section:

1074m.

Suicide prevention for members of the Individual Ready Reserve and individual mobilization augmentees

(a)

In general

The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that each covered member receives a telephone call described in subsection (b) not less than once every 90 days during the period in which— (1)the covered member is a member of the Individual Ready Reserve; or (2)the Secretary determines that the covered member is an individual mobilization augmentee. (b)

Counseling call

A telephone call described in this subsection is a call from properly trained personnel to determine the emotional, psychological, medical, and career needs and concerns of the covered member. (c)

Referral

(1)The personnel making a telephone call described in subsection (b) shall refer a covered member identified as being at-risk of self-caused harm to the nearest military medical treatment facility or accredited TRICARE provider for immediate evaluation and treatment by a qualified mental health care provider. (2)If a covered member is referred under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall confirm that the member has received the evaluation and any necessary treatment.  (d)

Reports

Not later than January 31 of each year, beginning in 2011, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the number of covered members who have been referred for counseling or mental health treatment under this section, as well as the health and career status of such members. (e)

Covered member defined

In this section, the term covered member means— (1)a member of the Individual Ready Reserve described in section 10144(b) of this title who has deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq in support of a contingency operation; or (2)a member of a reserve component who the Secretary determines is an individual mobilization augmentee who has deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq in support of a contingency operation.

. (2)

Clerical amendment

The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1074l the following new item: 1074m. Suicide prevention for members of the Individual Ready Reserve and individual mobilization augmentees. .