,,ii  #aai? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #cbde  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,novemb] #bj1 #bjbe,mr4
 ,ricketts 7= himself & ,ms4 ,slotk97   
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read     
twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on       
,vet]ans' ,affairs  ,a ,,bill  ,to      
require ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,vet]ans          
,affairs-,dep>tm5t ( ,def5se ,jo9t      
,executive ,committee to improve m5tal  
heal? scre5+ conduct$ "u sep>ation heal?
 assessm5ts = memb]s ( ! ,arm$ ,=ces1 & 
= o!r purposes4  #a4 ,%ort title ,?is   
,act may be cit$ z ! ,m$ical ,integrity 
9 ,necess>y ,diagno/ics = ,our ,vet]ans 
,act ( #bjbe or ! ,,m9d ,our ,vet]ans   
,act ( #bjbe4  #b4 ,improvem5t ( m5tal  
heal? scre5+ conduct$ "u sep>ation heal?
 assessm5ts = memb]s ( ! ,arm$ ,=ces    
7a7 ,s5se ( ,congress ,x is ! s5se (    
,congress t-- 7#a7 9 ord] to address !  
m5tal heal? *all5ges foll[+ sep>ation ( 
memb]s ( ! ,arm$ ,=ces f milit>y s]vice1
 transition+ memb]s mu/ receive         
effective m5tal heal? scre5+ prior to   

sep>ation2  7#b7 all scre5s conduct$ =  
m5tal heal? = memb]s ( ! ,arm$ ,=ces "u 
! sep>ation heal? assessm5t mu/ be      
validat$ scre5s2  7#c7 x is ess5tial t !
 ,dep>tm5t ( ,def5se fully implem5t !   
sep>ation heal? assessm5t ) validat$    
scre5+2 &  7#d7 scre5+ = sub/ance use   
%\ld be consid]$ a necess>y m5tal heal? 
scre5 & includ$ 9 ! sep>ation heal?     
assessm5t4  7b7 ,validat$ m5tal heal?   
scre5s ,! ,jo9t ,executive ,committee   
%all ensure ! po/-traumatic /ress       
disord] 7,,ptsd7 m5tal heal? scre51 !   
alcohol use m5tal heal? scre51 & !      
viol5ce risk m5tal heal? scre5 "u !     
sep>ation heal? assessm5t are ea*       
modifi$ to be a validat$ tool1 :i* may  
include tak+ /eps to validate an exi/+  
scre5 or replac+ an exi/+ scre5 ) an    
already validat$ scre54  7c7 ,inclusion 
( sub/ance use 9 m5tal heal? scre5s     
7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,! ,jo9t ,executive       
,committee %all incorporate scre5+ =    
sub/ance use z a m5tal heal? scre5 &    
%all assess :e!r to include su* scre5+ 9

 ! sep>ation heal? assessm5t1 includ+ by
 tak+ su* action z ! ,jo9t ,executive   
,committee consid]s appropriate1 :i* may
 include tak+ /eps to incorporate a     
validat$ scre54  7#b7 ,report ,n lat]   
?an #abj days aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t (
 ?is ,act1 ! ,jo9t ,executive ,committee
 %all submit to ! appropriate           
congressional committees a report on !  
ju/ification ( ! ,jo9t ,executive       
,committee to include or n include a    
sub/ance use scre5 "u p>agraph 7#a74    
7d7 ,implem5tation ( sep>ation heal?    
assessm5t ,n lat] ?an #abj days aft] !  
date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 !         
,secret>y ( ,def5se1 "u ! guidance ( !  
,"u ,secret>y ( ,def5se = ,p]sonnel &   
,read9ess1 %all fully implem5t !        
sep>ation heal? assessm5t4  7e7         
,def9itions ,9 ?is section3 7#a7        
,appropriate congressional committees ,!
 t]m appropriate congressional          
committees means-- 7,a7 ! ,committee on 
,arm$ ,s]vices & ! ,committee on        
,vet]ans' ,affairs ( ! ,s5ate2 &  7,b7 !

 ,committee on ,arm$ ,s]vices & !       
,committee on ,vet]ans' ,affairs ( !    
,h\se ( ,repres5tatives4  7#b7 ,jo9t    
,executive ,committee ,! t]m ,jo9t      
,executive ,committee means ! ,dep>tm5t 
( ,vet]ans ,affairs-,dep>tm5t ( ,def5se 
,jo9t ,executive ,committee e/abli%$ "u 
section #cbj ( title #ch1 ,unit$ ,/ates 
,code4  7#c7 ,sep>ation heal? assessm5t 
,! t]m sep>ation heal? assessm5t means !
 heal? assessm5t = memb]s ( ! ,arm$     
,=ces sep>at+ f milit>y s]vice e/abli%$ 
by ! ,jo9t ,executive ,committee4