,,ii  #aag? ,,congress  #b;d ,session   
,s4 #cifd  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,m>* #cj1 #bjbb,mr4    
,moran introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0   
read twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on  
,vet]ans' ,affairs  ,a ,,bill  ,to am5d 
title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 to      
modify ! family c>egiv] program ( !     
,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs to include
 s]vices relat$ to m5tal heal? &        
neurological disord]s1 & = o!r purposes4
  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ 
z ! ,re9=c+ ,enhanc$ ,support ?r\gh     
,promot+ ,equity = ,c>egiv]s ,act (     
#bjbb or ! ,,respect ,act ( #bjbb4  #b4 
,modification ( family c>egiv] program (
 ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans ,affairs to       
include s]vices relat$ to m5tal heal? & 
neurological disord]s  7a7 ,9 g5]al     
,section #agbj;,g ( title #ch1 ,unit$   
,/ates ,code1 is am5d$-- 7#a7 9         
subsection 7a7-- 7,a7 9 p>agraph        
7#b77;,c7-- 7i7 9 clause 7iii71 by /rik+
 2 or & ins]t+ a semicolon2  7ii7 by    
r$esignat+ clause 7iv7 z clause 7v72 &  

7iii7 by ins]t+ aft] clause 7iii7 !     
foll[+ new clause 7iv73  7iv7 a diagnos$
 m5tal illness or hi/ory ( suicidal     
ideation )9 ! pa/ ?ree ye>s t puts !    
vet]an at risk ( self-h>m2 or  2  7,b7 9
 p>agraph 7#c7-- 7i7 9 subp>agraph      
7,a77ii77,,vi7-- 7,i7 9 item 7aa71 by   
/rik+ 2 & & ins]t+ a semicolon2  7,,ii7 
9 item 7bb71 by /rik+ ! p]iod at ! end &
 ins]t+ 2 &2 &  7,,iii7 by add+ at ! end
 ! foll[+ new item3  7cc7 m5tal heal?   
treatm5t & c\nsel+ s]vices4  2 &  7ii7 9
 subp>agraph 7,c7-- 7,i7 9 clause       
7iii7-- 7aa7 9 ! matt] prec$+ subclause 
7,i7-- 7,,aa7 by /rik+ or regul>        
in/ruction & ins]t+ 1 regul> in/ruction2
 & 7,,bb7 by ins]t+ or a diagnosis (    
m5tal illness or hi/ory ( suicidal      
ideation t puts ! vet]an at risk (      
self-h>m "u p>agraph 7#b77;,c77iv71 be=e
 ! ,secret>y %all2  7bb7 9 subclause    
7,,ii71 by ins]t+ be=e ! p]iod at ! end 
! foll[+3 1 or assi/ance relat+ to !    
risk ( self-h>m ( ! vet]an1 z ! case may
 be2 &  7cc7 9 subclause 7,,iii71 by    

/rik+ su* sup]vision1 protection1 or    
in/ruction to ! vet]an & ins]t+ to !    
vet]an su* sup]vision1 protection1 or   
in/ruction1 or assi/ance relat+ to !    
risk ( self-h>m ( ! vet]an1 z ! case may
 be2 &  7,,ii7 by add+ at ! end ! foll[+
 new clauses3  7v7 7,i7 ,= purposes (   
det]m9+ ! am\nt & degree ( p]sonal c>e  
s]vices provid$ "u clause 7i7 ) respect 
to a vet]an describ$ 9 subclause 7,,ii71
 ! ,secret>y %all take into acc\nt      
relevant docum5tation evid5c+ !         
provision ( p]sonal c>e s]vices )       
respect to ! vet]an dur+ ! prec$+       
?ree-ye> p]iod4  7,,ii7 ,a vet]an       
describ$ 9 ?is subclause is a vet]an ^: 
ne$ = p]sonal c>e s]vices z describ$ 9  
p>agraph 7#b77;,c7 is bas$ 9 :ole or 9  
"p on-- 7aa7 a diagnosis ( m5tal illness
 or hi/ory ( suicidal ideation t puts ! 
vet]an at risk ( self-h>m "u clause 7iv7
 ( su* p>agraph2 or  7bb7 a neurological
 disord]4  2 &  7,c7 by add+ at ! end ! 
foll[+ new p>agraph3  7#ad7 ,! ,secret>y
 %all e/abli% a process & requirem5ts = 

cl9icians ( facilities ( ! ,dep>tm5t--  
7,a7 to docum5t incid5ts 9 :i* an       
eligible vet]an pres5ts at su* a        
facility = treatm5t = an em]g5t or urg5t
 m5tal heal? crisis or an eligible      
vet]an is assess$ by su* a cl9ician to  
be at risk = suicide2 &  7,b7 provide   
su* docum5tation to ! program e/abli%$  
"u p>agraph 7#a74  2 &  7#b7 9          
subsection 7d71 by add+ at ! end !      
foll[+ new p>agraph3  7#e7 ,! t]m       
qualifi$ m5tal heal? pr(essional means a
 psy*iatri/1 psy*ologi/1 lic5s$ cl9ical 
social work]1 psy*iatric nurse1 or o!r  
lic5s$ m5tal heal? pr(essional z !      
,secret>y consid]s appropriate4  4  7b7 
,tim+ = e/abli%m5t ( requirem5ts &      
processes  7#a7 ,report ,n lat] ?an #ahj
 days aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is    
,act1 ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans ,affairs   
%all-- 7,a7 e/abli% ! process &         
requirem5ts requir$ "u p>agraph 7#ad7 ( 
section #agbj;,g7a7 ( title #ch1 ,unit$ 
,/ates ,code1 z add$ by subsection      
7a77#a77;,c72 &  7,b7 submit to !       

,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( !    
,s5ate & ! ,committee on ,vet]ans'      
,affairs ( ! ,h\se ( ,repres5tatives a  
description ( su* process & requirem5ts4
  7#b7 ,c]tification  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,n  
lat] ?an "o ye> aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t
 ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y ( ,vet]ans     
,affairs %all require all cl9icians (   
facilities ( ! ,dep>tm5t to c]tify to ! 
,secret>y t ! cl9ician und]/&s ! process
 & requirem5ts e/abli%$ "u p>agraph     
7#a77;,a74  7,b7 ,facilities ( !        
,dep>tm5t def9$ ,9 ?is p>agraph1 ! t]m  
facilities ( ! ,dep>tm5t has ! mean+    
giv5 t t]m 9 section #agja ( title #ch1 
,unit$ ,/ates ,code4  #c4 ,requirem5ts  
relat+ to evaluations1 assessm5ts1 &    
reassessm5ts relat+ to eligibility (    
vet]ans & c>egiv]s = family c>egiv]     
program  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,subsection 7a7 ( 
section #agbj;,g ( title #ch1 ,unit$    
,/ates ,code1 z am5d$ by section        
#b7;a77#a71 is fur!r am5d$ by add+ at ! 
end ! foll[+ new p>agraphs3  7#ae7 7,a7 
,= purposes ( conduct+ evaluations &    

assessm5ts to det]m9e eligibility ( a   
vet]an & c>egiv] = ! program e/abli%$ "u
 p>agraph 7#a7 or conduct+ reassessm5ts 
to det]m9e cont9u$ eligibility = su*    
program1 ! ,secret>y %all-- 7i7 take    
into acc\nt relevant docum5tation &     
m$ical records g5]at$ by non-,dep>tm5t  
heal? c>e provid]s1 includ+ qualifi$    
m5tal heal? pr(essionals & neurological 
speciali/s2  7ii7 if ! c>egiv] ( !      
vet]an claims t ! s]i\s injury or ne$ = 
p]sonal c>e s]vices ( ! vet]an z        
describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#b7 is bas$ 9 :ole 
or 9 "p on psy*ological trauma or ano!r 
m5tal disord]1 ensure-- 7,i7 a qualifi$ 
m5tal heal? pr(essional t treats !      
vet]an p>ticipates 9 ! evaluation       
process2 &  7,,ii7 a qualifi$ m5tal     
heal? pr(essional p>ticipates 9 !       
assessm5t or reassessm5t process2 &     
7iii7 if ! c>egiv] ( ! vet]an claims t !
 s]i\s injury or ne$ = p]sonal c>e      
s]vices ( ! vet]an z describ$ 9 p>agraph
 7#b7 is bas$ 9 :ole or 9 "p on a       
neurological disord]1 ensure-- 7,i7 a   

neurological speciali/ t treats ! vet]an
 p>ticipates 9 ! evaluation process2 &  
7,,ii7 a neurological speciali/         
p>ticipates 9 ! assessm5t or reassessm5t
 process4  7,b7 7i7 ,! ,secret>y %all   
e/abli% an appropriate "t limit dur+ a  
#bd-;h\r p]iod = ! active p>ticipation (
 a vet]an 9 an evaluation1 assessm5t1 or
 reassessm5t to det]m9e eligibility ( ! 
vet]an = ! program e/abli%$ "u p>agraph 
7#a74  7ii7 ,9 det]m9+ an appropriate "t
 limit = a vet]an "u clause 7i71 !      
,secret>y %all-- 7,i7 take into         
consid]ation necess>y accommodations = !
 vet]an /emm+ f ! disability or m$ical  
condition ( ! vet]an2 &  7,,ii7 consult 
) ! prim>y c>e provid]1 neurological    
speciali/1 or qualifi$ m5tal heal?      
pr(essional t is treat+ ! vet]an4  7,c7 
,! ,secret>y %all n require ! pres5ce ( 
a vet]an dur+ portions ( an evaluation1 
assessm5t1 or reassessm5t to det]m9e    
eligibility ( ! vet]an = ! program      
e/abli%$ "u p>agraph 7#a7 t only require
 ! active p>ticipation ( ! c>egiv]4     

7,d7 7i7 ,! ,secret>y %all make         
reasonable ef=ts to assi/ a c>egiv] &   
vet]an 9 obta9+ evid5ce necess>y to     
sub/antiate ! claims ( ! c>egiv] &      
vet]an 9 ! application process =        
evaluation1 assessm5t1 or reassessm5t = 
! program e/abli%$ "u p>agraph 7#a74    
7ii7 7,i7 ,z "p ( ! assi/ance provid$ to
 a c>egiv] or vet]an "u clause 7i71 !   
,secret>y %all make reasonable ef=ts to 
obta9 relevant private records t !      
c>egiv] or vet]an adequately id5tifies  
to ! ,secret>y4  7,,ii7 ,:5ev] !        
,secret>y1 aft] mak+ reasonable ef=ts "u
 subclause 7,i71 is unable to obta9 all 
( ! relevant records s\ght1 ! ,secret>y 
%all notify ! c>egiv] & vet]an t !      
,secret>y is unable to obta9 records )  
respect to ! claim1 :i* %all include--  
7aa7 an id5tification ( ! records !     
,secret>y is unable to obta92  7bb7 a   
brief explanation ( ! ef=ts t !         
,secret>y made to obta9 su* records2 &  
7cc7 an explanation t ! ,secret>y w make
 a det]m9ation bas$ on ! evid5ce (      

record & t ?is clause does n prohibit ! 
submission ( records at a lat] date if  
su* submission is o!rwise all[$4        
7,,iii7 ,! ,secret>y %all make n few]   
?an two reque/s to a cu/odian ( a       
private record 9 ord] = an ef=t to obta9
 su* record to be treat$ z reasonable "u
 subclause 7,i71 unless x is made evid5t
 by ! fir/ reque/ t a second reque/ w\ld
 be futile 9 obta9+ su* record4  7iii7  
,"u regulations prescrib$ by !          
,secret>y1 ! ,secret>y-- 7,i7 %all      
enc\rage a c>egiv] & vet]an to submit   
relevant private m$ical records ( !     
vet]an to ! ,secret>y to sub/antiate !  
claims ( ! c>egiv] & vet]an 9 !         
application process = evaluation1       
assessm5t1 or reassessm5t = ! program   
e/abli%$ "u p>agraph 7#a7 if su*        
submission does n burd5 ! c>egiv] or    
vet]an2 &  7,,ii7 may require ! c>egiv] 
or vet]an to au?orize ! ,secret>y to    
obta9 su* relevant private m$ical       
records if su* au?orization is requir$  
to comply ) ,f$]al1 ,/ate1 or local law4

  7#af7 7,a7 ,! ,secret>y1 9            
consultation ) a heal? c>e provid]1     
neurological speciali/1 or qualifi$     
m5tal heal? pr(essional t is treat+ a   
vet]an1 %all waive ! reassessm5t        
requirem5t = ! vet]an = p>ticipation 9 !
 program e/abli%$ "u p>agraph 7#a7 if-- 
7i7 ! s]i\s injury ( ! vet]an "u        
p>agraph 7#b7 is significantly caus$ by 
a deg5]ative or *ronic condition2 &     
7ii7 su* condition is unlikely to       
improve ! dep5d5cy ( ! vet]an = p]sonal 
c>e s]vices4  7,b7 ,! ,secret>y %all    
require a heal? c>e provid]1            
neurological speciali/1 or qualifi$     
m5tal heal? pr(essional t is treat+ a   
vet]an to annually c]tify ! cl9ical     
decision ( ! provid]1 speciali/1 or     
pr(essional "u subp>agraph 7,a74  7,c7  
,! ,secret>y may resc9d a waiv] "u      
subp>agraph 7,a7 ) respect to a vet]an &
 require a reassessm5t ( ! vet]an if a  
heal? c>e provid]1 neurological         
speciali/1 or qualifi$ m5tal heal?      
pr(essional t is treat+ ! vet]an makes a

 cl9ical det]m9ation t ! level (        
dep5d5cy ( ! vet]an = p]sonal c>e       
s]vices has dim9i%$ s9ce ! la/          
c]tification ( ! cl9ical decision ( !   
provid]1 speciali/1 or pr(essional "u   
subp>agraph 7,b74  4  7b7 ,def9ition    
,subsection 7d7 ( su* section1 z am5d$  
by section #b7;a77#b71 is fur!r am5d$-- 
7#a7 by r$esignat+ p>agraphs 7#d7 & 7#e7
 z p>agraphs 7#e7 & 7#f71 respectively2 
&  7#b7 by ins]t+ aft] p>agraph 7#c7 !  
foll[+ new p>agraph 7#d73  7#d7 ,! t]m  
neurological speciali/ means a          
neurologi/1 neuropsy*iatri/1 physiatri/1
 g]iatrician1 c]tifi$ bra9 injury       
speciali/1 neurology nurse1 neurology   
nurse practition]1 neurology physician  
assi/ant1 or su* o!r lic5s$ m$ical      
pr(essional z ! ,secret>y consid]s      
appropriate4  4  #d4 ,requirem5ts relat+
 to provision ( grants = assi/ance to   
family c>egiv]s ( vet]ans  7a7          
,di/ribution ( grants ,section          
#agbj;,g7a77#c7 ( title #ch1 ,unit$     
,/ates ,code1 is am5d$ by add+ at ! end 

! foll[+ new subp>agraph3  7,e7 7i7 ,!  
,secret>y %all di/ribute grants provid$ 
"u subp>agraph 7,a77ii77,,vi7 to        
entities eligible = ! provision ( su* a 
grant 9 geographically disp]s$ areas4   
7ii7 ,9 provid+ grants to entities "u   
subp>agraph 7,a77ii77,,vi71 ! ,secret>y 
%all provide equal consid]ation to      
national1 regional1 & local             
organizations1 9 an ef=t to adequately  
s]ve individuals 9 ne$ ( s]vices provid$
 pursuant to su* a grant4  4  7b7 ,grant
 program requirem5ts  7#a7 ,rulemak+ ,n 
lat] ?an #ahj days aft] ! date ( !      
enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y (      
,vet]ans ,affairs %all beg9 ! rulemak+  
process to e/abli% a grant program "u   
ea* ( items 7aa71 7bb71 & 7cc7 ( section
 #agbj;,g7a77#c77;,a77ii77,,vi7 ( title 
#ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code1 z am5d$ by    
section #b7;a77#a77;,b77i71 to provide  
grants "u su* items4  7#b7 ,report  7,a7
 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an "o ye> aft] ! date
 on :i* ! fir/ grant is provid$ aft] !  
date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act "u a grant 

program e/abli%$ "u p>agraph 7#a71 !    
,secret>y %all submit to ! ,committee on
 ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( ! ,s5ate &        
,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( !    
,h\se ( ,repres5tatives a report on !   
provision ( grants "u ea* su* program4  
7,b7 ,elem5ts ,! report requir$ by      
subp>agraph 7,a7 %all include ! foll[+3 
7i7 ,an assessm5t ( ! effectiv5ess ( !  
grant programs e/abli%$ "u p>agraph     
7#a71 includ+-- 7,i7 ! numb] (          
individuals :o b5efitt$ f ea* grant     
program 9 ea* ,vet]ans ,integrat$       
,s]vice ,network ( ! ,dep>tm5t (        
,vet]ans ,affairs2 &  7,,ii7 an         
assessm5t ( ! effectiv5ess ( increas+   
engagem5t by individuals eligible = su* 
programs 9 m5tal heal? c>e treatm5t &   
s]vices1 f9ancial plann+ s]vices1 &     
legal s]vices 9 ea* ,vet]ans ,integrat$ 
,s]vice ,network4  7ii7 ,a li/ (        
recipi5ts ( grants "u ea* su* program & 
_! p>tn] organizations1 if applicable1 t
 deliv]$ s]vices fund$ by ! grant & !   
am\nt ( su* grant receiv$ by ea*        

recipi5t & p>tn] organization4