[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2097 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 2097

To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the administration of 
State homes furnishing care to veterans under the laws administered by 
       the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            November 8, 2017

 Mr. Tester (for himself, Mr. Heller, and Ms. Baldwin) introduced the 
 following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on 
                           Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the administration of 
State homes furnishing care to veterans under the laws administered by 
       the Secretary 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 ``State Veterans Home Program 
Improvement Act of 2017''.

SEC. 2. MODIFICATION OF REQUIREMENTS ON USE BY STATES OF STATE HOME 
              FUNDS RECEIVED FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter V of chapter 17 of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 1746. Requirements on use of amounts
    ``(a) Use of Amounts.--Amounts paid to a State for the treatment of 
veterans at a State home under this subchapter may not be used for a 
purpose other than the operation of a State home in that State.
    ``(b) Prohibition on Transfer to State Treasury.--A State may not 
transfer amounts paid to the State under this subchapter to the general 
treasury of the State.
    ``(c) Authorization of Transfer of Amounts.--A State may transfer 
amounts paid to the State under this subchapter to other State homes 
located in that State.
    ``(d) Waiver.--The Secretary may waive the requirements of 
subsections (a) and (b) with respect to a State if the State submits to 
the Secretary a certification that--
            ``(1) the State homes located in that State do not require 
        additional maintenance, capital improvements, or staffing; and
            ``(2) the amounts paid to the State under this subchapter 
        will be used to benefit veterans.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 17 of such title is amended by inserting after the item 
relating to section 1745 the following new item:

``1746. Requirements on use of amounts.''.

SEC. 3. MODIFICATION OF PRIORITY OF STATE HOME PROJECTS OF THE 
              DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) Projects From Previous Years.--
            (1) In general.--Paragraph (4) of section 8135(c) of title 
        38, United States Code, is amended--
                    (A) by striking ``The Secretary'' and inserting 
                ``(A) The Secretary''; and
                    (B) by adding at the end the following new 
                subparagraph:
    ``(B) With respect to a project that is approved in a fiscal year 
but for which a grant has not been awarded under this subchapter in 
that fiscal year, the Secretary may not accord a lower priority on the 
list described in subparagraph (A) to that project in any subsequent 
fiscal year (as compared to the priority accorded that project in any 
previous fiscal year) unless the reason for such lower priority is the 
inclusion in such list of a project described in subparagraph (A) or 
(B) of paragraph (2).''.
            (2) Conforming amendment.--Paragraph (2) of such section is 
        amended, in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking 
        ``paragraphs (3) and (5)(C)'' and inserting ``paragraphs (3), 
        (4)(B), and (5)(C)''.
    (b) Consideration of Access to Private Facilities.--Such section is 
further amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(8) In determining under subparagraphs (D), (F), and (H) of 
paragraph (2) whether a State has a great, significant, or limited need 
for beds in connection with an application under subsection (a), the 
Secretary shall--
            ``(A) consider the availability and accessibility to 
        individuals in that State of private facilities providing 
        similar care to the care for which the application is submitted 
        under such subsection; and
            ``(B) accord a lower priority in the list established under 
        paragraph (4) to applications by States with a significant 
        number of such private facilities, as determined by the 
        Secretary.''.

SEC. 4. PILOT PROGRAM TO COMPENSATE STATES FOR STATE HOME SERVICES 
              PROVIDED IN FACILITIES THAT ARE NOT INTENDED EXCLUSIVELY 
              FOR VETERANS.

    (a) Pilot Program.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
        carry out a pilot program to compensate States for furnishing 
        care described in paragraph (2) to veterans at State-operated 
        facilities that are not intended to be used exclusively by 
        veterans.
            (2) Care described.--Care described in this paragraph is 
        care that is the same as care furnished in State homes under 
        subchapter V of chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code.
    (b) Duration.--The Secretary may not carry out the pilot program 
under this section after the date that is four years after the date of 
the enactment of this Act.
    (c) Reports.--
            (1) Annual report.--Not later than one year after the date 
        of the enactment of this Act, and not less frequently than 
        annually thereafter until the termination of the pilot program 
        under this section, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee 
        on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on 
        Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on 
        the outcomes of the pilot program with respect to quality of 
        care, satisfaction of veterans with care, and cost 
        effectiveness of care furnished under the pilot program.
            (2) Comptroller general report.--Not later than 270 days 
        after the termination of the pilot program under this section, 
        the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to 
        the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the 
        Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives 
        a report on the outcomes of the pilot program with respect to 
        quality of care, satisfaction of veterans with care, and cost 
        effectiveness of care furnished under the pilot program.
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