[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 832 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

114th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 832

 To amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize the provision of 
behavioral health readiness services to certain members of the Selected 
  Reserve of the Armed Forces based on need, to expand eligibility to 
    such members for readjustment counseling from the Department of 
               Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 23, 2015

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize the provision of 
behavioral health readiness services to certain members of the Selected 
  Reserve of the Armed Forces based on need, to expand eligibility to 
    such members for readjustment counseling from the Department of 
               Veterans Affairs, 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 ``Care and Readiness Enhancement for 
Reservists Act of 2015'' or the ``CARE for Reservists Act of 2015''.

SEC. 2. PROVISION OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH READINESS SERVICES TO CERTAIN 
              MEMBERS OF THE SELECTED RESERVE BASED ON NEED.

    (a) Provision Authorized.--Section 1074a(g) of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs 
        (3) and (4), respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new 
        paragraph (2):
    ``(2) The Secretary concerned may also provide to any member of the 
Selected Reserve not described in subsection (d)(1) or (f) care for 
behavioral health conditions if the Secretary determines, based on the 
most recent medical exam or mental health assessment of such member, 
that the receipt of such care by such member will ensure that such 
member meets applicable standards of medical readiness.''.
    (b) Funding.--Subject to applicable provisions of appropriations 
Acts, amounts available to the Department of Defense for the Defense 
Health Program shall be available for the provision of behavioral 
health services under section 1074a(g) of title 10, United States Code 
(as amended by subsection (a)).
    (c) Budgeting for Health Care.--In determining the amounts to be 
required for behavioral health services for members of the Selected 
Reserve under section 1074a(g) of title 10, United States Code (as so 
amended), for purposes of the budget of the President for fiscal years 
after fiscal year 2016, as submitted to Congress pursuant to section 
1105 of title 31, United States Code, the Assistant Secretary of 
Defense for Health Affairs shall consult with appropriate officials 
having responsibility for the administration of the reserve components 
of the Armed Forces, including the Chief of the National Guard Bureau 
with respect to the National Guard.

SEC. 3. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR READJUSTMENT COUNSELING FROM 
              DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO INCLUDE MEMBERS OF THE 
              SELECTED RESERVE OF THE ARMED FORCES.

    (a) In General.--Section 1712A(a)(1) of title 38, United States 
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
    ``(D)(i) The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of 
Defense, may furnish to any member of the Selected Reserve of the Armed 
Forces who has a behavioral health condition or psychological trauma, 
counseling under subparagraph (A)(i), which may include a comprehensive 
individual assessment under subparagraph (B)(i).
    ``(ii) A member of the Selected Reserve of the Armed Forces 
described in clause (i) shall not be required to obtain a referral 
before being furnished counseling or an assessment under this 
subparagraph.''.
    (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
take effect on the date that is one year after the date of the 
enactment of this Act.
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