**Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act**

**Public Law 110-110**

(H.R. 327)

**Title:** To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to develop and implement a comprehensive
program designed to reduce the incidence of suicide among veterans.

**Mr. Boswell** of Iowa introduced H.R. 327 on January 9, 2007.

**Public Law 110-110 will:**

1.  Directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to develop and
    implement a comprehensive program to reduce the incidence of suicide
    among veterans.

2.  The special needs of veterans suffering from PTSD and elderly
    veterans who are at high risk for depression and experience high
    rates of suicide should be taken into consideration during the
    development and implementation of this Act.

3.  Requires the VA to provide education and training for VA staff,
    contractors, and medical personnel who have interaction with
    veterans.

4.  Directs VA to regularly screen and monitor all veterans who receive
    medical care in the VA health care system for risk factors for
    suicide and to provide for referral of veterans at risk for suicide
    for appropriate counseling and treatment.

5.  Directs VA to provide for referral of veterans at risk for suicide
    for appropriate counseling and treatment.

6.  Requires VA to designate a suicide prevention counselor at each
    VAMC.

7.  Mandates VA to research the best practices for suicide prevention
    among veterans, including best practices for helping veterans who
    have experienced military sexual trauma.

8.  Requires VA to work with HHS, NIH, CDC, and the Substance Abuse and
    Mental Health Service Administration when conducting research.
    Requires VA to conduct mental health research on veterans who have
    experienced military sexual trauma.

9.  Requires VA to provide for the availability of 24-hour mental health
    care for veterans.

10. Provides for a toll-free hotline to be available at all times.

11. Provides outreach and education for veterans and their families to
    promote mental health.

12. Creates a peer support-counseling program where veterans can
    volunteer as peer counselors to assist other veterans with mental
    health and readjustment problems.

13. Requires the VA to report within 90 days of implementation on
    status, timeline and costs for complete implementation within 2
    years, and recommendations for further legislation to improve
    suicide prevention programs.

**Effective Date:** Date of Enactment

**Cost:** CBO estimates that implementing this bill will have little, if
any, cost because VA already has or soon will implement all the specific
requirements of the bill. Enacting the bill would not affect direct
spending or receipts.

**Legislative History:**

> Mar. 13, 2007: Subcommittee on Health Markup.
>
> Mar. 15, 2007: Ordered reported, as amended, by the Committee on
> Veterans' Affairs.
>
> Mar. 20, 2007: Reported, as amended, H. Rept. 110-55.
>
> Mar. 21, 2007: Passed the House by the Yeas and Nays: 423-0 (Roll No.
> 174)
>
> Sep. 27, 2007: Passed the Senate with an amendment by Unanimous
> Consent.
>
> Oct. 23, 2007: Passed the House by the Yeas and Nays: 417-0 (Roll No.
> 987)
>
> Nov. 5, 2007: Signed by the President. P.L. 110-110