,,ii  #aag? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #bbhc  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,june #bd1 #bjba ,mr4  
,te/] 7= himself & ,mr4 ,moran7         
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read     
twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on       
,vet]ans' ,affairs  ,a ,,bill  ,to      
improve ! ,vet]ans ,crisis ,l9e ( !     
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs1 & = o!r  
purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title2 table (     
cont5ts  7a7 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may  
be cit$ z ! ,revis+ & ,exp$it+ ,actions 
= ! ,crisis ,hotl9e = ,vet]ans ,act or !
 ,,rea* = ,vet]ans ,act4  7b7 ,table (  
cont5ts ,! table ( cont5ts = ?is ,act is
 z foll[s3  ,sec4 #a4 ,%ort title2 table
 ( cont5ts4 ,sec4 #b4 ,def9itions4      
,,title ,i--,vet]ans ,crisis ,l9e tra9+ 
& quality managem5t ,subtitle ,a--,/aff 
tra9+ ,sec4 #aja4 ,review ( tra9+ =     
,vet]ans ,crisis ,l9e call respond]s4   
,sec4 #ajb4 ,retra9+ guidel9es =        
,vet]ans ,crisis ,l9e call respond]s4   
,subtitle ,b--,quality review &         
managem5t ,sec4 #aaa4 ,monitor+ ( calls 

on ,vet]ans ,crisis ,l9e4 ,sec4 #aab4   
,quality managem5t processes = ,vet]ans 
,crisis ,l9e4 ,sec4 #aac4 ,annual common
 cause analysis = call]s to ,vet]ans    
,crisis ,l9e :o die by suicide4         
,subtitle ,c--,guidance = high-,risk    
call]s ,sec4 #aba4 ,developm5t ( enhanc$
 guidance & proc$ures = response to     
calls relat$ to sub/ance use & ov]dose  
risk4 ,sec4 #abb4 ,review & improvem5t (
 /&>ds = em]g5cy dispat*4 ,subtitle     
,d--,ov]sight & cl>ification ( /aff     
roles & responsibilites ,sec4 #aca4     
,ov]sight ( tra9+ ( social s]vice       
assi/ants & cl>ification ( job          
responsibilities4 ,,title ,,ii--,pilot  
programs & rese>* on ,vet]ans ,crisis   
,l9e ,subtitle ,a--,pilot programs ,sec4
 #bja4 ,ext5d$ safety plann+ pilot      
program = ,vet]ans ,crisis ,l9e4 ,sec4  
#bjb4 ,crisis l9e facilitation pilot    
program4 ,subtitle ,b--,rese>* on       
effectiv5ess ,sec4 #baa4 ,au?orization (
 appropriations = rese>* on effectiv5ess
 & opportunities = improvem5t ( ,vet]ans

 ,crisis ,l9e4 ,,title                  
,,iii--,transition ( crisis l9e numb]   
,sec4 #cja4 ,fe$back on transition (    
crisis l9e numb]4  #b4 ,def9itions ,9   
?is ,act3 7#a7 ,dep>tm5t ,! t]m         
,dep>tm5t means ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans  
,affairs4  7#b7 ,secret>y ,! t]m        
,secret>y means ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans  
,affairs4  7#c7 ,vet]ans ,crisis ,l9e ! 
t]m ,vet]ans ,crisis ,l9e means !       
toll-free hotl9e = vet]ans e/abli%$ "u  
section #agbj;,f7h7 ( title #ch1 ,unit$ 
,/ates ,code4  ,i ,vet]ans ,crisis ,l9e 
tra9+ & quality managem5t  ,a ,/aff     
tra9+  #aja4 ,review ( tra9+ = ,vet]ans 
,crisis ,l9e call respond]s  7a7 ,9     
g5]al ,! ,secret>y %all ent] into an    
agreem5t ) an organization outside !    
,dep>tm5t1 su* z ! ,am]ican ,association
 ( ,suicidology1 to review ! tra9+ =    
,vet]ans ,crisis ,l9e call respond]s on 
assi/+ call]s 9 crisis4  7b7 ,completion
 ( review ,! review conduct$ "u         
subsection 7a7 %all be complet$ n lat]  
?an "o ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t (   

?is ,act4  7c7 ,elem5ts ( review ,!     
review conduct$ "u subsection 7a7 %all  
consi/ ( a review ( ! tra9+ provid$ by !
 ,dep>tm5t on subjects includ+ risk     
assessm5t1 le?al means assessm5t1       
sub/ance use & ov]dose risk assessm5t1  
safety plann+1 ref]rals to c>e1         
sup]visory consultation1 & em]g5cy      
dispat*4  7d7 ,update ( tra9+ ,if any   
defici5cies 9 ! tra9+ = ,vet]ans ,crisis
 ,l9e call respond]s are f\nd pursuant  
to ! review "u subsection 7a71 !        
,secret>y %all update su* tra9+ &       
associat$ /&>ds ( practice to correct ^?
 defici5cies n lat] ?an "o ye> aft] !   
completion ( ! review4  #ajb4 ,retra9+  
guidel9es = ,vet]ans ,crisis ,l9e call  
respond]s  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an "o  
ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1
 ! ,secret>y %all develop guidel9es on  
retra9+ & quality managem5t = :5 a      
,vet]ans ,crisis ,l9e call respond] has 
an adv]se ev5t or :5 a quality review   
*eck by a sup]visor ( su* a call        
respond] d5otes t ! call respond] ne$s  

improvem5t4  7b7 ,elem5ts ( guidel9es ,!
 guidel9es develop$ "u subsection 7a7   
%all specify ! subjects & quantity (    
retra9+ recomm5d$ & h[ sup]visors %\ld  
implem5t increas$ use ( sil5t monitor+  
or o!r p]=mance review me*anisms4  ,b   
,quality review & managem5t  #aaa4      
,monitor+ ( calls on ,vet]ans ,crisis   
,l9e  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y %all    
require t n few] ?an two calls p] mon? =
 ea* ,vet]ans ,crisis ,l9e call respond]
 be subject to sup]visory sil5t         
monitor+1 :i* is us$ to monitor !       
quality ( conduct by su* call respond]  
dur+ ! call4  7b7 ,b5*m>ks ,! ,secret>y 
%all e/abli% b5*m>ks = requirem5ts &    
p]=mance ( ,vet]ans ,crisis ,l9e call   
respond]s on sup]visory sil5t monitor$  
calls4  7c7 ,qu>t]ly reports ,n less    
frequ5tly ?an qu>t]ly1 ! ,secret>y %all 
submit to ! ,(fice ( ,m5tal ,heal? &    
,suicide ,prev5tion ( ! ,dep>tm5t (     
,vet]ans ,affairs a report on occurr5ce 
& outcomes ( sup]visory sil5t monitor+ (
 calls on ! ,vet]ans ,crisis ,l9e4      

#aab4 ,quality managem5t processes =    
,vet]ans ,crisis ,l9e ,n lat] ?an "o ye>
 aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! 
lead]%ip = ! ,vet]ans ,crisis ,l9e1 9   
p>tn]%ip ) ! ,(fice ( ,m5tal ,heal? &   
,suicide ,prev5tion ( ! ,dep>tm5t & !   
,national ,c5t] = ,pati5t ,safety ( !   
,dep>tm5t1 %all e/abli% quality         
managem5t processes & expectations =    
/aff ( ! ,vet]ans ,crisis ,l9e1 includ+ 
) respect to report+ ( adv]se ev5ts &   
close calls4  #aac4 ,annual common cause
 analysis = call]s to ,vet]ans ,crisis  
,l9e :o die by suicide  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,n 
less frequ5tly ?an annually1 ! ,secret>y
 %all p]=m a common cause analysis = all
 id5tifi$ call]s to ! ,vet]ans ,crisis  
,l9e t di$ by suicide dur+ ! "o-ye>     
p]iod prec$+ ! conduct ( ! analysis be=e
 ! call] receiv$ contact ) em]g5cy      
s]vices & 9 :i* ! ,vet]ans ,crisis ,l9e 
0 ! la/ po9t ( contact4  7b7 ,submittal 
( results ,! ,secret>y %all submit to ! 
,(fice ( ,m5tal ,heal? & ,suicide       
,prev5tion ( ! ,dep>tm5t ! results ( ea*

 analysis conduct$ "u subsection 7a74   
7c7 ,application ( !mes or lessons ,!   
,secret>y %all apply any !mes or lessons
 le>n$ "u an analysis "u subsection 7a7 
to updat+ tra9+ & /&>ds ( practice =    
/aff ( ! ,vet]ans ,crisis ,l9e4  ,c     
,guidance = high-,risk call]s  #aba4    
,developm5t ( enhanc$ guidance &        
proc$ures = response to calls relat$ to 
sub/ance use & ov]dose risk ,n lat] ?an 
"o ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is   
,act1 ! ,secret>y1 9 consultation )     
national exp]ts )9 ! ,dep>tm5t on       
sub/ance use disord] & ov]dose1 %all--  
7#a7 develop enhanc$ guidance &         
proc$ures to respond to calls to !      
,vet]ans ,crisis ,l9e relat$ to sub/ance
 use & ov]dose risk2  7#b7 update tra9+ 
mat]ials = /aff ( ! ,vet]ans ,crisis    
,l9e 9 response to su* enhanc$ guidance 
& proc$ures2 &  7#c7 update crit]ia =   
monitor+ compliance ) su* enhanc$       
guidance & proc$ures4  #abb4 ,review &  
improvem5t ( /&>ds = em]g5cy dispat*    
7a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an "o ye> aft] !  

date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 !         
,secret>y %all--  7#a7 review ! curr5t  
em]g5cy dispat* /&>d op]at+ proc$ure ( !
 ,vet]ans ,crisis ,l9e to id5tify any   
additions to su* proc$ure to /r5g!n     
communication reg>d+-- 7,a7 em]g5cy     
dispat* = disconnect$ call]s2 &  7,b7 ! 
role ( social s]vice assi/ants 9 reque/+
 em]g5cy dispat* & record+ su*          
dispat*es2 &  7#b7 update su* proc$ure  
to include ! additions id5tifi$ "u      
p>agraph 7#a74  7b7 ,tra9+ ,! ,secret>y 
%all ensure t all /aff ( ! ,vet]ans     
,crisis ,l9e are tra9$ on all updates   
made "u subsection 7a77#b7 to ! em]g5cy 
dispat* /&>d op]at+ proc$ure ( !        
,vet]ans ,crisis ,l9e4  ,d ,ov]sight &  
cl>ification ( /aff roles &             
responsibilites  #aca4 ,ov]sight ( tra9+
 ( social s]vice assi/ants &            
cl>ification ( job responsibilities ,n  
lat] ?an "o ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t
 ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y %all--  7#a7   
e/abli% ov]sight me*anisms to ensure t  
social s]vice assi/ants & sup]visory    

social s]vice assi/ants work+ ) !       
,vet]ans ,crisis ,l9e are appropriately 
tra9$ & implem5t+ guidance ( ! ,dep>tm5t
 reg>d+ ! ,vet]ans ,crisis ,l9e2 &  7#b7
 ref9e /&>d op]at+ proc$ures to del9eate
 roles & responsibilities = all levels (
 sup]visory social s]vice assi/ants     
work+ ) ! ,vet]ans ,crisis ,l9e4  ,,ii  
,pilot programs & rese>* on ,vet]ans    
,crisis ,l9e  ,a ,pilot programs  #bja4 
,ext5d$ safety plann+ pilot program =   
,vet]ans ,crisis ,l9e  7a7 ,9 g5]al     
,comm5c+ n lat] ?an #ahj days aft] !    
date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 !         
,secret>y %all c>ry out a pilot program 
to det]m9e :e!r a l5g?i]1 templat$      
safety plan us$ 9 cl9ical sett+s c\ld be
 appli$ 9 call c5t]s = ! ,vet]ans       
,crisis ,l9e4  7b7 ,brief+ ,n lat] ?an  
two ye>s aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is 
,act1 ! ,secret>y %all brief ,congress  
on ! f9d+s ( ! ,secret>y "u ! pilot     
program "u subsection 7a71 includ+ su*  
recomm5dations z ! ,secret>y may h =    
cont9uation or discont9uation ( ! pilot 

program4  #bjb4 ,crisis l9e facilitation
 pilot program  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,comm5c+ n 
lat] ?an "o ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t
 ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y %all c>ry out a
 pilot program on ! use ( crisis l9e    
facilitation to increase use ( !        
,vet]ans ,crisis ,l9e among high-risk   
vet]ans4  7b7 ,brief+ ,n lat] ?an two   
ye>s aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is     
,act1 ! ,secret>y %all brief ,congress  
on ! f9d+s ( ! ,secret>y "u ! pilot     
program "u subsection 7a71 includ+ su*  
recomm5dations z ! ,secret>y may h =    
cont9uation or discont9uation ( ! pilot 
program4  7c7 ,def9itions ,9 ?is        
section3 7#a7 ,crisis l9e facilitation  
,! t]m crisis l9e facilitation1 )       
respect to a high-risk vet]an1 means !  
pres5tation by a !rapi/ (               
psy*o$ucational in=mation ab\t !        
,vet]ans ,crisis ,l9e & a discussion ( !
 p]ceiv$ b>ri]s & facilitators to future
 use ( ! ,vet]ans ,crisis ,l9e = !      
vet]an1 :i* culm9ates 9 ! vet]an call+ !
 ,vet]ans ,crisis ,l9e ) ! !rapi/ to    

provide fir/h& exp]i5ces t may c\nt]    
negative impressions ( ! ,vet]ans       
,crisis ,l9e4  7#b7 ,high-risk vet]an ,!
 t]m high-risk vet]an means a vet]an    
receiv+ inpati5t m5tal heal? c>e foll[+ 
a suicidal crisis4  ,b ,rese>* on       
effectiv5ess  #baa4 ,au?orization (     
appropriations = rese>* on effectiv5ess 
& opportunities = improvem5t ( ,vet]ans 
,crisis ,l9e ,!re is au?oriz$ to be     
appropriat$ to ! ,secret>y #e1jjj1jjj = 
! ,m5tal ,illness ,rese>*1 ,education1 &
 ,cl9ical ,c5t]s ( ! ,dep>tm5t to       
conduct rese>* on ! effectiv5ess ( !    
,vet]ans ,crisis ,l9e & areas =         
improvem5t = ! ,vet]ans ,crisis ,l9e4   
,,iii ,transition ( crisis l9e numb]    
#cja4 ,fe$back on transition ( crisis   
l9e numb]  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,secret>y    
%all solicit fe$back f vet]ans s]vice   
organizations on h[ to conduct outrea*  
to memb]s ( ! ,arm$ ,=ces1 vet]ans1 _!  
family memb]s1 & o!r memb]s ( ! milit>y 
& vet]ans community on ! move to #ihh z 
! new1 national ?ree-digit suicide &    

m5tal heal? crisis hotl9e1 :i* is       
expect$ to be implem5t$ by ,july #bjbb1 
to m9imize confusion & ensure vet]ans   
are aw>e ( _! options = rea*+ ! ,vet]ans
 ,crisis ,l9e4  7b7 ,nonapplication (   
,,faca ,! ,f$]al ,advisory ,committee   
,act 7#e ,u4,s4,c4 ,app47 %all n apply  
to any fe$back solicit$ "u subsection   
7a74  7c7 ,vet]ans s]vice organization  
def9$ ,9 ?is section1 ! t]m vet]ans     
s]vice organization means an            
organization recogniz$ by ! ,secret>y = 
! repres5tation ( vet]ans "u section    
#eijb ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code4