[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1703 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

113th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1703

To require the provision of information to members of the Armed Forces 
 on availability of mental health services and related privacy rights.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           November 14, 2013

 Ms. Murkowski introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
              referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To require the provision of information to members of the Armed Forces 
 on availability of mental health services and related privacy rights.

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

SECTION 1. PROVISION OF INFORMATION TO MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES ON 
              AVAILABILITY OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND RELATED 
              PRIVACY RIGHTS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 55 of title 10, United States Code, is 
amended by inserting after section 1090a the following new section:
``Sec. 1090b. Notice to members of the armed forces on availability of 
              mental health services and privacy rights related to 
              receipt of such services
    ``(a) Provision of Information Required.--The Secretaries of the 
military departments shall ensure that the information described in 
subsection (b) is provided--
            ``(1) to each officer candidate during initial training;
            ``(2) to each recruit during basic training; and
            ``(3) to other members of the armed forces at such times as 
        the Secretary of Defense considers appropriate.
    ``(b) Required Information.--The information required to be 
provided under subsection (a) shall include at a minimum the following:
            ``(1) Information regarding the availability of mental 
        health services under this chapter.
            ``(2) Information on the applicability of Department of 
        Defense Directive 6025.18 and other regulations regarding 
        privacy prescribed pursuant to the Health Insurance Portability 
        and Accountability Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-191) to records 
        regarding a member seeking and receiving mental health 
        services, including the extent to which--
                    ``(A) any such records can be shared with promotion 
                boards, commanding officers, and other members of the 
                armed forces;
                    ``(B) any adverse actions can be taken against the 
                member for seeking and receiving mental health 
                services; and
                    ``(C) a diagnosis of a mental health condition can 
                result in negative personnel action.
    ``(c) Reduction of Perceived Stigma.--As provided in section 
1090a(b)(1) of this title, in providing information under subsection 
(a), the Secretary of a military department shall seek to eliminate 
perceived stigma associated with seeking and receiving mental health 
services and to promote the use of mental health services on a basis 
comparable to the use of other medical and health services.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 55 of such title is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section 1090a the following new item:

``1090b. Notice to members of the armed forces on availability of 
                            mental health services and privacy rights 
                            related to receipt of such services.''.
    (c) Provision of Information to Current Members.--As soon as 
practicable after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary 
of Defense shall ensure that all members of the Armed Forces, including 
members of the reserve components, serving in the Armed Forces as of 
that date are provided the information required to be provided to new 
recruits and officer candidates pursuant to section 1090b of title 10, 
United States Code, as added by subsection (a).
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