II 112th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 243 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 1, 2011 Mrs. Shaheen introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services A BILL To enhance and improve the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program of the Department of Defense.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Citizen Soldier Support Act.

2.

Enhancement and improvement of Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program

(a)

Inclusion of programs of outreach in Program

Subsection (b) of section 582 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (10 U.S.C. 10101 note) is amended by inserting (including programs of outreach) after informational events and activities. (b)

Restatement of functions of Center for Excellence in Reintegration and inclusion in functions of identification of best practices in programs of outreach

Subsection (d)(2) of such section, as amended by section 583(b) of the Ike Skelton National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011 (Public Law 111–383), is further amended by striking the second, third, and fourth sentences and inserting the following: “The Center shall have the following functions: (A)To collect and analyze lessons learned and suggestions from State National Guard and Reserve organizations with existing or developing reintegration programs. (B)To assist in developing training aids and briefing materials and training representatives from State National Guard and Reserve organizations. (C)To develop and implement a process for evaluating the effectiveness of the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program in supporting the health and well-being of members of the Armed Forces and their families throughout the deployment cycle described in subsection (g). (D)To develop and implement a process for identifying best practices in the delivery of information and services in programs of outreach as described in subsection (j). . (c)

State-Led programs of outreach

Such section 582 is further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (j)

State-Led programs of outreach

(1)

In general

The Office for Reintegration Programs may work with the States, whether acting through or in coordination with their National Guard and Reserve organizations, to assist the States and such organizations in developing and carrying out programs of outreach for members of the Armed Forces and their families to inform and educate them on the assistance and services available to them under the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program, including the assistance and services described in subsection (h). (2)

Availability of funds

From funds available for the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program, the Office for Reintegration Programs may provide funds to a State, or a State National Guard and Reserve organization, for the costs of the discharge and enhancement of a program of outreach carried out by such State or organization that has been identified by the Center for Excellence in Reintegration under subsection (d)(2)(D) as utilizing best practices in the delivery of information and services. . (d)

Scope of activities under programs of outreach

Such section 582 is further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (k)

Scope of activities under programs of outreach

For purposes of this section, the activities and services provided under programs of outreach may include personalized and substantive care coordination services targeted specifically to individual members of the Armed Forces and their families. .