S. 1436 — Introduced in Senate

II 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1436 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES May 3, 2023Mr. Tester (for himself and Ms. Murkowski) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To expand and extend benefits available to veterans in response to the COVID–19 pandemic, and for other purposes. 1. Short title; table of contents (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the Critical Health Access Resource and Grant Extensions Act of 2023 or the CHARGE Act of 2023. (b) Table of contents The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.TITLE I—Homelessness mattersSec. 101. Grants and per diem payments provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for services furnished to homeless veterans.Sec. 102. Authorization for use of certain funds for improved flexibility in provision of assistance to homeless veterans.Sec. 103. Access to Department of Veterans Affairs telehealth services.TITLE II—Matters relating to caregiversSec. 201. Authorized virtual visits under caregiver programs of Department of Veterans Affairs.TITLE III—State veterans homesSec. 301. State home defined.Sec. 302. Temporary waiver of occupancy rate requirements for receipt of per diem payments.Sec. 303. Provision of medicine, equipment, and supplies. I Homelessness matters 101. Grants and per diem payments provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for services furnished to homeless veterans (a) Limitation on transitional housing beds Section 2011 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (i) Limitation on transitional housing beds The Secretary may not make grants under this section or provide per diem payments under section 2012 of this title for more than 12,000 transitional housing beds for homeless veterans furnished by grant recipients or eligible entities under such sections on average each year. . (b) Reports required Section 2012 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (f) Reports required Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of the CHARGE Act of 2023, and not less frequently than twice each year thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on the rate for per diem payments under this section that includes, for each Veterans Integrated Service Network of the Department, the following data: (1) The average rate for such payments. (2) A list of locations where the rate for such payments is within 10 percent of the maximum rate for such payments authorized under this section. (3) The average length of stay by veterans participating in programs described in section 2011(a) of this title. . (c) Maximum rate During the three-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, section 2012(a)(2)(B)(i)(II)(aa)(BB) of title 38, United States Code, shall be applied and administered by substituting 200 for 115. (d) Strategic plan (1) In general Not later than 540 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a strategic plan for the provision of grants and per diem payments for services furnished to homeless veterans under sections 2011 and 2012 of title 38, United States Code. (2) Elements The plan required by paragraph (1) shall include the following: (A) A method for administering grant funding equitably without using the rate authorized for State homes for domiciliary care under subsection (a)(1)(A) of section 1741 of title 38, United States Code, as the Secretary may increase from time to time under subsection (c) of that section, that takes into account— (i) the wide variety of services furnished by grant recipients and eligible entities under sections 2011 and 2012 of title 38, United States Code; (ii) varying costs of living across different geographic locations; (iii) varying availability of affordable housing in different geographic locations; (iv) circumstances of housing insecurity in rural and Tribal communities; (v) veterans with significant medical care needs; and (vi) the changing dynamic of the veteran population nationwide. (B) A plan and timeline for implementation of the method included under subparagraph (A). (C) An estimate of increased costs or savings per year under the plan. (D) An overview of the different grants that will be available once the plan is implemented. 102. Authorization for use of certain funds for improved flexibility in provision of assistance to homeless veterans (a) In general Subtitle VII of chapter 20 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 2069. Flexibility in provision of assistance to homeless veterans (a) Use of funds The Secretary may provide to homeless veterans and veterans participating in the program carried out under section 8(o)(19) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)(19)), as the Secretary determines necessary, the following: (1) Assistance required for the safety and survival of the veteran (such as food, shelter, clothing, blankets, and hygiene items). (2) Transportation required to support the stability and health of the veteran (such as transportation for appointments with service providers, the conduct of housing searches, and the obtainment of food and supplies). (3) Communications equipment and services (such as tablets, smartphones, disposable phones, and related service plans) required to support the stability and health of the veteran (such as through the maintenance of contact with service providers, prospective landlords, and family members). (4) Such other assistance as the Secretary determines necessary. (b) Homeless veterans on Department land (1) The Secretary may collaborate, to the extent practicable, with one or more organizations to manage the use of land of the Department for homeless veterans for living and sleeping. (2) Collaboration under paragraph (1) may include the provision by either the Secretary or the head of the organization concerned of food services and security for property, buildings, and other facilities owned or controlled by the Department. (c) Sunset The authorities provided by this section shall terminate on the date that is three years after the date of the enactment of the CHARGE Act of 2023. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 20 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new item: 2069. Flexibility in provision of assistance to homeless veterans. . 103. Access to Department of Veterans Affairs telehealth services (a) In general Subtitle VII of chapter 20 of title 38, United States Code, as amended by section 102(a), is further amended by adding at the end the following new section: 2070. Access to telehealth services To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall ensure that veterans participating in or receiving services from a program under this chapter have access to telehealth services to which such veterans are eligible under the laws administered by the Secretary, including by ensuring that telehealth capabilities are available to— (1) such veterans; (2) case managers of the Department of programs for homeless veterans authorized under this chapter; and (3) community-based service providers for homeless veterans receiving funds from the Department through grants or contracts. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 20 of such title, as amended by section 102(b), is further amended by adding at the end the following new item: 2070. Access to telehealth services. . II Matters relating to caregivers 201. Authorized virtual visits under caregiver programs of Department of Veterans Affairs On or before September 30, 2023, notwithstanding any requirement to the contrary under section 1720G of title 38, United States Code, or part 71 of title 38, Code of Federal Regulations, or successor regulations, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may complete any home visit required under such section with respect to a veteran and their caregiver through video conference or other available telehealth modality, if agreed to by the veteran or caregiver. III State veterans homes 301. State home defined In this title, the term State home has the meaning given that term in section 101(19) of title 38, United States Code. 302. Temporary waiver of occupancy rate requirements for receipt of per diem payments During the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on September 30, 2024, occupancy rate requirements for State homes for purposes of receiving per diem payments set forth in section 51.40(c) of title 38, Code of Federal Regulations, or successor regulations, shall not apply. 303. Provision of medicine, equipment, and supplies (a) In general The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may provide to State homes medicines, personal protective equipment, medical supplies, and any other equipment, supplies, and assistance available to the Department of Veterans Affairs. (b) Personal protective equipment defined In this section, the term personal protective equipment means any protective equipment required to prevent the wearer from contracting an infectious disease, including gloves, N–95 respirator masks, gowns, goggles, face shields, or other equipment required for safety.