To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a pilot program to provide mental and behavioral health support to friends and families of veterans, and for other purposes.

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a pilot program to provide mental and behavioral health support to friends and families of veterans, 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.

SEC. 2. Pilot program: mental and behavioral health hotline for friends and families of veterans.

(a) Establishment.—Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish a pilot program (in this section referred to as the “Program”) to maintain a toll-free hotline to provide access to licensed mental and behavioral health support providers to eligible recipients.

(b) Providers.—In carrying out the Program, the Secretary shall ensure that—

(1) the hotline is staffed by psychologists and social workers who are—

(A) employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs; and

(B) hired by the Secretary for the Program; and

(2) such employees provide to eligible recipients—

(A) advice on how to discuss mental and behavioral health with a veteran; and

(B) appropriate referrals to programs of the Department or to non-Department entities that provide mental health services or resources.

(c) Outreach.—

(1) SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS.—Not later than 60 days after the Secretary establishes the Program, the Secretary shall provide information on the services available through the Program to—

(A) veterans service organizations; and

(B) other organizations that serve veterans, family members of veterans, or caregivers of veterans, that the Secretary determines appropriate.

(2) MATERIALS; WEBSITE.—Not later than 90 days after the Secretary establishes the Program, the Secretary shall—

(A) furnish, in each Vet Center or medical facility of the Department, promotional flyers, brochures, and posters that provide information on the services available through the Program; and

(B) promote the Program on a publicly accessible website of the Department and in other outreach campaigns and activities conducted by the Secretary.

(d) Report.—Not later than 180 days after the Program terminates under subsection (e), the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the results of the Program. Elements of such report shall include—

(1) with respect to calls received through the hotline—

(A) the number of such calls;

(B) the average time for such employees to answer such calls; and

(C) the average duration of such calls;

(2) with respect to referrals provided under subsection (b)—

(A) the types of such referrals; and

(B) the number of such referrals;

(3) a summary of the actions taken by the Secretary to comply with the requirements of subsection (c); and

(4) recommendations of the Secretary regarding—

(A) whether continuing or expanding the Program is feasible and advisable; and

(B) any additional or modified authorities or resources required to conduct or expand the program.

(e) Termination.—The Program shall terminate three years after the day on which the Secretary establishes the Program.

(f) Definitions.—In this section:

(1) The term “eligible recipient” means, with respect to a veteran, any of the following:

(A) A family member.

(B) An individual who resides with a veteran.

(C) A friend.

(2) The term “family member” includes the following:

(A) A spouse.

(B) A parent.

(C) A dependent.

(D) A sibling.

(3) The term “Vet Center” has the meaning given such term in section 1712A of title 38, United States Code.

(4) The term “veterans service organization” means an organization recognized under section 5902 of title 38, United States Code.