[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 294 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

114th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 294


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 3, 2015

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
 To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of 
    Veterans Affairs to enter into contracts and agreements for the 
   placement of veterans in non-Department medical foster homes for 
         certain veterans who are unable to live independently.

    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 ``Long-Term Care Veterans Choice 
Act''.

SEC. 2. SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS CONTRACT AUTHORITY FOR PLACEMENT 
              OF VETERANS IN NON-DEPARTMENT MEDICAL FOSTER HOMES.

    (a) Authority.--
            (1) In general.--Section 1720 of title 38, United States 
        Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
        subsection:
    ``(h)(1) During the 3-year period beginning on October 1, 2015, and 
subject to paragraph (2), at the request of a veteran for whom the 
Secretary is required to provide nursing home care under section 1710A 
of this title, the Secretary may place the veteran in a medical foster 
home that meets Department standards, at the expense of the United 
States, pursuant to a contract or agreement entered into between the 
Secretary and the medical foster home for such purpose. A veteran who 
is placed in a medical foster home under this subsection shall agree, 
as a condition of such placement, to accept home health services 
furnished by the Secretary under section 1717 of this title.
    ``(2) Not more than 900 veterans placed in a medical foster home, 
whether placed before or after the enactment of the Long-Term Care 
Veterans Choice Act, may have their care covered at the expense of the 
United States under subsection (a).
    ``(3) In this subsection, the term `medical foster home' means a 
home designed to provide non-institutional, long-term, supportive care 
for veterans who are unable to live independently and prefer a family 
setting.''.
            (2) Effective date.--Subsection (h) of title 38, United 
        States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall take effect on 
        October 1, 2015.
    (b) Limitations on Awards and Bonuses.--Section 705 of the Veterans 
Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-146; 38 
U.S.C. 703 note) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 705. LIMITATION ON AWARDS AND BONUSES PAID TO EMPLOYEES OF 
              DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    ``The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that the aggregate 
amount of awards and bonuses paid by the Secretary in a fiscal year 
under chapter 45 or 53 of title 5, United States Code, or any other 
awards or bonuses authorized under such title or title 38, United 
States Code, does not exceed the following amounts:
            ``(1) With respect to each of fiscal years 2015 through 
        2018, $300,000,000.
            ``(2) With respect to each of fiscal years 2019 through 
        2024, $360,000,000.''.

            Passed the House of Representatives March 2, 2015.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.