[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 918 Reported in House (RH)]
<DOC>
Union Calendar No. 287
115th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 918
[Report No. 115-390]
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to furnish mental health care to certain former
members of the Armed Forces who are not otherwise eligible to receive
such care, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 7, 2017
Mr. Coffman (for himself, Mr. Kilmer, Miss Rice of New York, Mr.
Meehan, Mr. Jones, Mr. Bishop of Georgia, Mr. Costello of Pennsylvania,
Ms. Jenkins of Kansas, Mr. King of New York, Mr. Swalwell of
California, Mr. Himes, Mr. Bergman, Ms. Kuster of New Hampshire, and
Mrs. Radewagen) introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
November 6, 2017
Additional sponsors: Ms. Shea-Porter, Mr. Royce of California, Ms.
Gabbard, Mr. Courtney, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Buchanan, Mr. Rutherford, Mr.
Loebsack, Mr. Higgins of Louisiana, Mr. Rush, Ms. Moore, Mr.
Blumenauer, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Kihuen, Ms. Tsongas, Mr. Soto, Mr. Curbelo
of Florida, Mr. O'Rourke, Mr. Messer, Ms. Esty of Connecticut, Mr.
Tipton, Mr. Moulton, Mr. DeFazio, Mr. Cohen, Mr. Lawson of Florida, Mr.
Young of Iowa, and Ms. Sinema
November 6, 2017
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on
February 7, 2017]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to furnish mental health care to certain former
members of the Armed Forces who are not otherwise eligible to receive
such care, 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 ``Veteran Urgent Access to Mental
Healthcare Act''.
SEC. 2. EXPANSION OF MENTAL HEALTH CARE FOR CERTAIN FORMER MEMBERS OF
THE ARMED FORCES.
(a) In General.--Chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is
amended by inserting after section 1720H the following new section:
``Sec. 1720I. Expansion of mental health care for certain former
members of the Armed Forces
``(a) In General.--The Secretary shall furnish to former members of
the Armed Forces described in subsection (b)--
``(1) an initial mental health assessment; and
``(2) the mental health care services authorized under this
chapter that the Secretary determines are required to treat the
mental health care needs of the former member, including risk
of suicide or harming others.
``(b) Former Members of the Armed Forces Described.--A former
member of the Armed Forces described in this subsection is an
individual who meets the following criteria:
``(1) The individual is a former member of the Armed
Forces, including the reserve components, who--
``(A) served in the active military, naval, or air
service, and was discharged or released therefrom under
a condition that is not honorable except--
``(i) dishonorable; or
``(ii) bad conduct discharge;
``(B) has applied for a character of service
determination and such determination has not been made;
and
``(C) is not otherwise eligible to enroll in the
health care system established by section 1705 of this
title by reason of such discharge or release not
meeting the requirements of section 101(2) of this
title.
``(2) While serving in the Armed Forces--
``(A) the former member was deployed in a theater
of combat operations or an area at a time during which
hostilities occurred in that area;
``(B) participated in or experienced such combat
operations or hostilities, including by controlling an
unmanned aerial vehicle from a location other than such
theater or area; or
``(C) was the victim of a physical assault of a
sexual nature, battery of a sexual nature, or sexual
harassment (as defined in section 1720D(f) of this
title).
``(c) Non-Department Care.--(1) In furnishing mental health care
services to an individual under this section, the Secretary may provide
such mental health care services at a non-Department facility if--
``(A) in the judgment of a mental health professional
employed by the Department, the receipt of mental health care
services by that individual in facilities of the Department
would be clinically inadvisable; or
``(B) facilities of the Department are not capable of
furnishing such mental health care services to that individual
economically because of geographical inaccessibility.
``(2) The Secretary shall carry out paragraph (1) pursuant to
section 1703 of this title or any other provision of law authorizing
the Secretary to enter into contracts or agreements to furnish hospital
care and medical services to veterans at non-Department facilities.
``(d) Setting and Referrals.--In furnishing mental health care
services to an individual under this section, the Secretary shall--
``(1) seek to ensure that such mental health care services
are furnished in a setting that is therapeutically appropriate,
taking into account the circumstances that resulted in the need
for such mental health care services; and
``(2) provide referral services to assist former members
who are not eligible for services under this chapter to obtain
services from sources outside the Department.
``(e) Information.--The Secretary shall provide information on the
mental health care services available under this section. Efforts by
the Secretary to provide such information--
``(1) shall include availability of a toll-free telephone
number (commonly referred to as an 800 number);
``(2) shall ensure that information about the mental health
care services available under this section--
``(A) is revised and updated as appropriate;
``(B) is made available and visibly posted at
appropriate facilities of the Department; and
``(C) is made available to State veteran agencies
and through appropriate public information services;
and
``(3) shall include coordination with the Secretary of
Defense seeking to ensure that members of the Armed Forces and
individuals who are being separated from active military,
naval, or air service are provided appropriate information
about programs, requirements, and procedures for applying for
mental health care services under this section.
``(f) Annual Reports.--Each year, the Secretary shall submit to
Congress an annual report on the mental health care services provided
pursuant to this section. Each report shall include data for the year
covered by the report with respect to each of the following:
``(1) The number of individuals who received mental health
care services under subsection (a), disaggregated by the number
of men who received such services and the number of women who
received such services.
``(2) Such other information as the Secretary considers
appropriate.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting
after the item relating to section 1720H the following new item:
``1720I. Expansion of mental health care for certain former members of
the Armed Forces.''.
SEC. 3. EXTENSION OF REQUIREMENT FOR COLLECTION OF FEES FOR HOUSING
LOANS GUARANTEED BY SECRETARY OFVETERANS AFFAIRS.
Section 3729(b)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A)--
(A) in clause (iii), by striking ``September 30,
2024'' and inserting ``September 30, 2025''; and
(B) in clause (iv), by striking ``September 30,
2024'' and inserting ``September 30, 2025'';
(2) in subparagraph (B)--
(A) in clause (i), by striking ``September 30,
2024'' and inserting ``September 30, 2025''; and
(B) in clause (ii), by striking ``September 30,
2024'' and inserting ``September 30, 2025'';
(3) in subparagraph (C)--
(A) in clause (i), by striking ``September 30,
2024'' and inserting ``September 30, 2025''; and
(B) in clause (ii), by striking ``September 30,
2024'' and inserting ``September 30, 2025''; and
(4) in subparagraph (D)--
(A) in clause (i), by striking ``September 30,
2024'' and inserting ``September 30, 2025''; and
(B) in clause (ii), by striking ``September 30,
2024'' and inserting ``September 30, 2025''.
SEC. 4. CHARACTER OF SERVICE DETERMINATIONS.
(a) In General.--Chapter 53 of title 38, United States Code, is
amended by inserting after section 5303A the following new section:
``Sec. 5303B. Character of service determinations
``(a) Determination.--The Secretary shall establish a process by
which an individual who served in the Armed Forces and was discharged
or dismissed therefrom may seek a determination from the Secretary with
respect to whether such discharge or release was under a condition that
bars the right of such individual to a benefit under the laws
administered by the Secretary based upon the period of service from
which discharged or dismissed.
``(b) Provision of Information.--If the Secretary determines under
subsection (a) that an individual is barred to a benefit under the laws
administered by the Secretary, the Secretary shall provide to such
individual information regarding the ability of the individual to
address such condition, including pursuant to section 5303 of this
title and chapter 79 of title 10.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section
5303A the following new item:
``5303B. Character of service determinations.''.
Union Calendar No. 287
115th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 918
[Report No. 115-390]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs to furnish mental health care to certain former
members of the Armed Forces who are not otherwise eligible to receive
such care, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
November 6, 2017
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed