,,ii  #aae? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #ajad  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,may #c1 #bjag,mrs4    
,fis*] 7= h]self & ,mr4 ,book]7         
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read     
twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on       
,vet]ans' ,affairs  ,a ,,bill  ,to      
direct ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs  
to make grants to eligible organizations
 to provide s]vice dogs to vet]ans )    
sev]e po/-traumatic /ress disord]1 & =  
o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act
 may be cit$ z ! ,puppies ,assi/+ ,w\nd$
 ,s]vicememb]s ,act ( #bjag or ! ,,paws 
,act ( #bjag4  #b4 ,f9d+s2 ,s5se (      
,congress  7a7 ,f9d+s ,congress makes ! 
foll[+ f9d+s3  7#a7 ,accord+ to !       
analysis ( vet]an suicide publi%$ by !  
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs 9 ,augu/  
#bjaf & titl$ ,suicide ,among ,vet]ans &
 ,o!r ,am]icans--  7,a7 an av]age ( #bj 
vet]ans di$ by suicide ea* day 9 #bjad2 
7,b7 m5tal heal? disord]s1 includ+ major
 depression & o!r mood disord]s1 h be5  
associat$ ) increas$ risk = suicide2    

7,c7 s9ce #bjja1 ! proportion ( us]s ( !
 ,vet]ans ,heal? ,adm9i/ration ) m5tal  
heal? conditions or sub/ance use        
disord]s has increas$ f approximately   
#bg p]c5t 9 #bjja to m ?an #dj p]c5t 9  
#bjad2 &  7,d7 ov]all1 suicide rates are
 highe/ among pati5ts ) m5tal heal? &   
sub/ance use disord] diagnoses :o are 9 
treatm5t & l[] among ^? :o receiv$ a    
m5tal heal? diagnosis b 7 n at risk     
en\gh to require enhanc$ c>e f a m5tal  
heal? provid]4  7#b7 ,pair+ a s]vice dog
 ) a vet]an co/s approximately #be1jjj1 
includ+ ) respect to tra9+ ( ! s]vice   
dog z well z tra9+ ( ! vet]an ) ! s]vice
 dog4  7b7 ,s5se ( ,congress ,x is !    
s5se ( ,congress t ! ,dep>tm5t (        
,vet]ans ,affairs mu/ be m effective 9  
its approa* to r$uc+ ! burd5 ( vet]an   
suicide connect$ to m5tal heal?         
disord]s1 includ+ po/-traumatic /ress   
disord]1 & a pilot program & /udy to    
assess ! b5efits ( pair+ s]vice dogs )  
vet]ans suff]+ f m5tal heal? disord]s   
w\ld all[ ! ,dep>tm5t to bett] det]m9e !

 efficacy ( us+ s]vice dogs z a         
nontraditional !rapy to ensure !        
well-be+ ( vet]ans4  #c4 ,dep>tm5t (    
,vet]ans ,affairs pilot program to aw>d 
grants = ! provision ( s]vice dogs to   
c]ta9 vet]ans ) sev]e po/-traumatic     
/ress disord]  7a7 ,grants ,! ,secret>y 
( ,vet]ans ,affairs %all c>ry out a     
pilot program "u :i* ! ,secret>y aw>ds a
 grant 9 ! am\nt ( #be1jjj to eligible  
organizations = ea* eligible vet]an     
ref]r$ to t organization = a s]vice dog 
pair+4  7b7 ,b5efits provid$  7#a7 ,9   
g5]al ,an organization t receives a     
grant "u subsection 7a7 %all provide !  
foll[+ = ea* s]vice dog & vet]an        
p>ticipat+ 9 ! pilot program3  7,a7     
,cov]age ( a comm]cially available      
vet]9>y heal? insurance policy to ma9ta9
 ! heal? ( ! dog & keep ! dog function+ 
9 ! prescrib$ role = ! life ( ! dog4    
7,b7 ,h>dw>e1 or repairs or replacem5ts 
= h>dw>e1 t are cl9ically det]m9$ to be 
requir$ by ! dog to p]=m ! tasks        
necess>y to assi/ ! vet]an ) ! diagnos$ 

disord] ( ! vet]an4  7,c7 ,paym5ts =    
travel exp5ses = ! vet]an to obta9 !    
dog1 calculat$ 9 ! same mann] z simil>  
travel exp5ses provid$ pursuant to      
section #aaa ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates 
,code4  7#b7 ,o!r travel exp5ses ,if a  
vet]an is requir$ to replace a s]vice   
dog provid$ pursuant to a grant "u ?is  
section1 ! ,secret>y %all pay = ! travel
 exp5ses describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a77;,c7  
requir$ to obta9 a new s]vice dog       
pursuant to subsection 7c77#c71         
reg>dless ( any o!r b5efits ! vet]an is 
receiv+ = ! fir/ s]vice dog "u ?is      
section4  7c7 ,eligible organizations   
,to be eligible to receive a grant "u   
?is section1 an organization %all-- 7#a7
 be a nonpr(it organization t provides  
tra9$ s]vice dogs--  7,a7 t-- 7i7 is    
c]tifi$ by ,assi/ance ,dogs             
,int]national2  7ii7 on av]age1 provides
 "o-on-"o tra9+ = ea* s]vice dog &      
recipi5t = #cj h\rs or m dur+ a p]iod ( 
#ij days or m2  7iii7 provides a        
wellness v]ification f a lic5s$         

vet]9>ian = ea* s]vice dog2  7iv7       
provides an 9-h\se resid5tial facility1 
or o!r accommodations ne>by1 9 :i*      
s]vice dog recipi5ts /ay = a m9imum (   
#aj days :ile receiv+ n less ?an #cj    
h\rs ( tra9+ ) _! new s]vice dog2  7v7  
ensures all s]vice dogs pass ! ,am]ican 
,k5nel ,club ,community ,can9e te/ & !  
,assi/ance ,dogs ,int]national ,public  
,access ,te/ prior to p]man5t placem5t )
 a recipi5t2 &  7vi7 provides foll[-up  
support s]vice = ! life ( ! s]vice dog1 
to include a contact plan betwe5 !      
vet]an & organization to all[--  7,i7 ! 
vet]an to rea* out = & receive adequate 
help ) ! s]vice dog2 &  7,,ii7 !        
organization to communicate ) ! vet]an  
to ensure t ! s]vice dog is receiv+     
prop] c>e2 or  7,b7 t meets ! s]vice dog
 ag5cy /&>ds e/abli%$ by ! ,association 
( ,s]vice ,dog ,provid]s = ,milit>y     
,vet]ans t cat] to ! unique ne$s (      
vet]ans ) po/-traumatic /ress disord]2  
7#b7 agree to cov] all co/s 9 excess ( !
 grant am\nt to gu>antee ! b5efits li/$ 

"u subsection 7b77#a72  7#c7 agree to   
reaccept or replace a s]vice dog provid$
 by ! organization to a vet]an1 if      
necess>y1 z det]m9$ by ! vet]an & !     
organization2 &  7#d7 submit to !       
,secret>y an application conta9+ su*    
in=mation1 c]tification1 & assurances z 
! ,secret>y may require4  7d7 ,eligible 
vet]ans  7#a7 ,approval & ref]ral  7,a7 
,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans        
,affairs %all review & approve vet]ans  
eligible to p>ticipate "u ?is section & 
%all ref] approv$ vet]ans to eligible   
organizations4  7,b7 ,approval          
det]m9ation ,! p]iod beg9n+ on ! date on
 :i* a vet]an applies to p>ticipate "u  
?is section & ! date on :i* ! ,secret>y 
makes an approval det]m9ation may n     
exce$ #ij days4  7#b7 ,initial          
eligibility ,= purposes ( ?is section1  
an eligible vet]an is a vet]an-- 7,a7 :o
 is enroll$ 9 ! sy/em ( annual pati5t   
enrollm5t ( ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans      
,affairs e/abli%$ & op]at$ "u section   
#agje ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code2 

7,b7 :o has be5 treat$ & has complet$ an
 e/abli%$ evid5ce-bas$ treatm5t =       
po/-traumatic /ress disord] yet rema9s  
diagnos$ ) po/-traumatic /ress disord]  
by a qualifi$ heal? c>e provid] z rat$  
on ! po/-traumatic /ress disord] *eckli/
 7,,pcl-#e72  7,c7 ) respect to :om !   
heal? c>e provid] or cl9ical team ( !   
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs t is      
treat+ ! vet]an = su* disord] det]m9es  
bas$ ^u m$ical judgm5t t ! vet]an may   
pot5tially b5efit f a s]vice dog2 &     
7,d7 :o agrees to successfully complete 
tra9+ provid$ by an eligible            
organization pursuant to subsection 7c74
  7#c7 ,ongo+ eligibility ,to rema9     
eligible to p>ticipate 9 ! pilot program
 "u ?is section1 a vet]an %all see !    
heal? c>e provid] or cl9ical team ( !   
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs treat+ !  
vet]an = po/-traumatic /ress disord] at 
lea/ once e #ahj days to det]m9e1 bas$  
on a cl9ical evaluation ( efficacy1 :e!r
 ! vet]an cont9ues to b5efit f a s]vice 
dog4  7#d7 ,o!r cases ,if at any po9t ! 

vet]an is no long] able or will+ to c>e 
= ! s]vice dog1 ! vet]an & !            
organization t provid$ ! s]vice dog to !
 vet]an %all det]m9e ! appropriate      
rec\rse to ensure ! safety ( bo? !      
vet]an & ! s]vice dog4  7e7 ,relation%ip
 to ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs       
b5efits ,! provision ( a s]vice dog to a
 vet]an "u ?is section is 9 addition to 
any o!r hospital c>e or m$ical s]vice   
furni%$ by ! ,dep>tm5t = t vet]an =     
po/-traumatic /ress disord]1 & an       
improvem5t 9 symptoms z a result ( !    
provision ( a s]vice dog %all n affect !
 eligibility ( ! vet]an = any o!r b5efit
 "u ! laws adm9i/]$ by ! ,secret>y4  7f7
 ,metrics ,9 c>ry+ out ?is section1 !   
,secret>y %all-- 7#a7 develop metrics & 
o!r appropriate means to measure1 )     
respect to vet]ans p>ticipat+ 9 ! pilot 
program1 ! improvem5t 9 psy*osocial     
function & !rapeutic compliance ( su*   
vet]ans & *anges ) respect to ! dep5d5ce
 on prescription n>cotics & psy*otropic 
m$ication ( su* vet]ans2 &  7#b7 e/abli%

 processes to docum5t & track ! progress
 ( su* vet]ans "u ! pilot program 9 t]ms
 ( ! b5efits & improvem5ts not$ z a     
result ( ! pilot program4  7g7          
,comptroll] ,g5]al brief+ & report  7#a7
 ,brief+ ,n lat] ?an "o ye> aft] ! date 
on :i* ! ,secret>y comm5ces ! pilot     
program "u subsection 7a71 ! ,comptroll]
 ,g5]al ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates %all provide  
to ! ,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( 
! ,s5ate & ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'    
,affairs ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives a  
brief+ on ! me?odology e/abli%$ = !     
pilot program4  7#b7 ,report  7,a7 ,9   
g5]al ,n lat] ?an #bgj days aft] ! date 
on :i* ! pilot program t]m9ates1 !      
,comptroll] ,g5]al %all submit to !     
,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( !    
,s5ate & ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'      
,affairs ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives a  
report on ! pilot program4  7,b7        
,elem5ts ,! report requir$ "u           
subp>agraph 7,a7 %all include an        
evaluation ( ! approa* & me?odology us$ 
= ! pilot program ) respect to--  7i7   

help+ vet]ans ) sev]e po/-traumatic     
/ress disord] return to civilian life2  
7ii7 relevant metrics1 su* z r$uction 9 
scores "u ! po/-traumatic /ress disord] 
*eckli/ 7,,pcl-#e71 improvem5t 9        
psy*osocial function1 & !rapeutic       
compliance2 &  7iii7 r$uc+ ! dep5d5ce ( 
p>ticipants 9 ! pilot program on        
prescription n>cotics & psy*otropic     
m$ication4  7h7 ,au?orization (         
appropriations ,!re is au?oriz$ to be   
appropriat$ = ! p]iod ( fiscal ye> #bjah
 ?r\gh fiscal ye> #bjbc1 #aj1jjj1jjj to 
c>ry out ! pilot program "u ?is section4
  7i7 ,(fset ,! am\nts o!rwise au?oriz$ 
to be appropriat$ = ! ,(fice ( ,human   
,res\rces & ,adm9i/ration ( ! ,dep>tm5t 
( ,vet]ans ,affairs = ! p]iod ( fiscal  
ye> #bjah ?r\gh fiscal ye> #bjbc %all be
 r$uc$ by #aj1jjj1jjj4  7j7 ,t]m9ation  
7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! au?ority to c>ry out ! 
pilot program "u ?is section %all       
t]m9ate on ! date t is five ye>s aft] ! 
date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act4  7#b7     
,possession ( s]vice dog ,an eligible   

vet]an 9 possession ( a s]vice dog      
furni%$ "u ! pilot program z ( !        
t]m9ation ( ! pilot program may keep !  
s]vice dog aft] ! t]m9ation ( ! pilot   
program = ! life ( ! dog4