[117th Congress Public Law 37]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[[Page 135 STAT. 329]]
Public Law 117-37
117th Congress
An Act
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program
on dog training therapy, and to amend title 38, United States Code, to
authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide service dogs to
veterans with mental illnesses who do not have mobility
impairments. <<NOTE: Aug. 25, 2021 - [H.R. 1448]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Puppies
Assisting Wounded Servicemembers for Veterans Therapy Act.>>
SECTION 1. <<NOTE: 38 USC 101 note.>> SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Puppies Assisting Wounded
Servicemembers for Veterans Therapy Act'' or the ``PAWS for Veterans
Therapy Act''.
SEC. 2. <<NOTE: 38 USC 1714 note.>> DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS PILOT PROGRAM ON DOG TRAINING THERAPY.
(a) <<NOTE: Deadline.>> In General.--Not later than 180 days after
the date of the enactment of the Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall commence the conduct of a pilot program to provide canine training
to eligible veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (in
this section referred to as ``PTSD'') as an element of a complementary
and integrative health program for such veterans.
(b) Duration; Medical Centers.--
(1) Duration.--The Secretary shall carry out the pilot
program under subsection (a) for a 5-year period beginning on
the date of the commencement of the pilot program.
(2) Medical centers.--The Secretary shall ensure that such
pilot program is carried out by not fewer than five medical
centers of the Department of Veterans Affairs located in
geographically diverse areas.
(c) <<NOTE: Determination.>> Agreements With Entities.--In carrying
out the pilot program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall seek to
enter into agreements with nongovernmental entities that the Secretary
determines have the demonstrated ability to provide the canine training
specified in subsection (a).
(d) Required Conditions.--The Secretary shall include in any
agreement under subsection (c) conditions requiring that the
nongovernmental entity seeking to enter into the agreement--
(1) <<NOTE: Certification.>> submits to the Secretary
certification that the entity is an accredited service dog
training organization;
(2) <<NOTE: Determination.>> agrees to ensure that veterans
participating in the pilot program under subsection (a) receive
training from certified service dog training instructors for a
period of time determined appropriate by the entity;
(3) agrees to ensure that veterans participating in such
pilot program are prohibited from having access to a dog under
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such pilot program at any time during such participation without
the supervision of a certified service dog training instructor;
(4) agrees to ensure that veterans participating in such
pilot program receive training in skills unique to the needs of
the veteran to address or alleviate PTSD symptoms of the
veteran;
(5) agrees not to use shock collars or prong collars as
training tools and to use positive reinforcement training; and
(6) agrees to provide any follow-up training support
specified in subsection (e)(2), as applicable.
(e) Adoption of Dog.--
(1) <<NOTE: Consultation. Determination.>> In general.--A
veteran who has participated in the pilot program under
subsection (a) may adopt a dog that the veteran assisted in
training during such pilot program if the veteran and the
veteran's health provider (in consultation with the entity that
provided the canine training with respect to the dog under such
pilot program) determine that it is in the best interest of the
veteran.
(2) Follow-up training support.--If a veteran adopts a dog
under paragraph (1), the entity that provided the canine
training with respect to the dog under the pilot program shall
provide follow-up training support for the life of the dog. Such
support shall include the provision of a contact plan between
the veteran and the entity that enables the veteran to seek and
receive assistance from the entity to ensure the dog is being
properly cared for.
(f) Eligibility for Other Care and Treatment.--Participation in the
pilot program under subsection (a) may not preclude a veteran from
receiving any other medical care or treatment for PTSD furnished by the
Department, including therapy, for which the veteran is otherwise
eligible.
(g) Collection of Data.--In carrying out this section, the Secretary
shall--
(1) develop metrics and other appropriate means to measure,
with respect to veterans participating in the pilot program
under subsection (a)--
(A) the number of such veterans participating;
(B) the satisfaction of such veterans with the pilot
program;
(C) <<NOTE: Determination.>> whether participation
in the pilot program resulted in any clinically relevant
improvements for such veterans, as determined by the
health care provider or clinical team that referred the
veteran to participate in the pilot program; and
(D) such other factors as the Secretary may
determine appropriate; and
(2) establish processes to document and track the progress
of such veterans under the pilot program with respect to health
benefits and improvements.
(h) <<NOTE: Recommenda- tions.>> Report by Secretary.--Not later
than 1 year before the date on which the pilot program under subsection
(a) terminates, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on
Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a
report containing the recommendations of the Secretary regarding--
(1) whether to extend or make permanent the pilot program;
and
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(2) the feasibility and advisability of expanding the pilot
program to address mental health conditions other than PTSD.
(i) GAO Briefing and Study.--
(1) <<NOTE: Deadline.>> Briefing.--Not later than 1 year
after the date of the commencement of the pilot program under
subsection (a), the Comptroller General of the United States
shall provide to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the
House of Representatives and the Senate a briefing on the
methodology established for the pilot program.
(2) Report.--Not later than 270 days after the date on which
the pilot program terminates, the Comptroller General shall
submit to the committees specified in paragraph (1) a report on
the pilot program. <<NOTE: Evaluation.>> Such report shall
include an evaluation of the approach and methodology used for
the pilot program with respect to--
(A) assisting veterans with PTSD; and
(B) measuring relevant metrics, such as reduction in
scores under the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale
(CAPS), improvement in psychosocial function, and
therapeutic compliance.
(j) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The term ``accredited service dog training
organization'' means an organization described in section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that--
(A) provides service dogs to veterans with PTSD; and
(B) is accredited by an accrediting organization
with demonstrated experience, national scope, and
recognized leadership and expertise in the training of
service dogs and education in the use of service dogs
(as determined by the Secretary).
(2) The term ``eligible veteran'' means a veteran who--
(A) is enrolled in the patient enrollment system in
the Department of Veterans Affairs under section 1705 of
title 38, United States Code; and
(B) has been recommended for participation in the
pilot program under subsection (a) by a qualified mental
health care provider or clinical team based on medical
judgment that the veteran may benefit from such
participation with respect to the diagnosed PTSD of the
veteran.
(3) The term ``service dog training instructor'' means an
instructor who provides the direct training of veterans with
PTSD in the art and science of service dog training and
handling.
SEC. 3. PROVISION OF SERVICE DOGS AND VETERINARY INSURANCE
BENEFITS TO VETERANS WITH POST-TRAUMATIC
STRESS DISORDER WHO DO NOT HAVE CERTAIN
IMPAIRMENTS.
(a) In General.--Section 1714 of title 38, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following new subsections:
``(e) The Secretary may provide a service dog to a veteran under
subsection (c)(3) regardless of whether the veteran has a mobility
impairment.
``(f)(1) The Secretary shall provide to any veteran described in
paragraph (2) a commercially available veterinary insurance policy for
each dog provided to such veteran under subsection (b) or (c).
``(2) A veteran described in this paragraph is a veteran who--
[[Page 135 STAT. 332]]
``(A) is diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder or a
visual, hearing, or substantial mobility impairment;
``(B) has received a dog under subsection (b) or (c) in
connection with such disorder or impairment; and
``(C) meets such other requirements as the Secretary may
prescribe.''.
(b) <<NOTE: 38 USC 1714 note.>> Applicability.--Section 1714(f) of
title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall apply
with respect to a veteran provided a dog by the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.
Approved August 25, 2021.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 1448:
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HOUSE REPORTS: No. 117-31 (Comm. on Veterans' Affairs).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 167 (2021):
May 12, considered and passed House.
Aug. 5, considered and passed Senate.
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