A bill to authorize the Transition Assistance Advisor program of the Department of Defense, and for other purposes.

Summary: Transition Assistance Advisor Act of 2012 - Directs the Secretary of Defense to establish, as part of the Transition Assistance Program of the Department of Defense (DOD), a Transition Assistance Advisor (TAA) program to provide professionals in each state to serve as statewide contacts to assist members of the Armed Forces in accessing benefits and health care furnished by DOD and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Requires a minimum number of TAAs in each state based on the number of Army and Air National Guard members in such state. Provides additional TAA duties, including the provision of a military-to-civilian transition plan for such members and their families.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Transition Assistance Advisor Act of 
2012''.

SEC. 2. TRANSITION ASSISTANCE ADVISOR PROGRAM.

    (a) Program Authorized.--
            (1) In general.--Chapter 58 of title 10, United States 
        Code, is amended by inserting after section 1144 the following 
        new section:
``Sec. 1144A. Transition Assistance Advisors
    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary of Defense shall establish as part 
of the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) a Transition Assistance 
Advisor (TAA) program to provide professionals in each State to serve 
as statewide points of contact to assist members of the armed forces in 
accessing benefits and health care furnished under laws administered by 
the Secretary of Defense and benefits and health care furnished under 
laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
    ``(b) Number of Advisors.--The Secretary of Defense shall ensure 
that the minimum number of Transition Assistance Advisors in each State 
is as follows:
            ``(1) During the period beginning 180 days before the 
        commencement of a contingency operation (or, if later, as soon 
        before as is otherwise practicable) and ending 180 days after 
        the conclusion of such contingency operation--
                    ``(A) in the case of a State with fewer than 1,500 
                members of the Army National Guard of the United States 
                and the Air National Guard of the United States 
                residing in the State, not less than one Transition 
                Assistance Advisor; and
                    ``(B) in the case of a State with 1,500 or more 
                members of the Army National Guard of the United States 
                and the Air National Guard of the United States who 
                reside in such State, not less than one Transition 
                Assistance Advisor for each 1,500 members of the Army 
                National Guard of the United States and the Air 
                National Guard of the United States who reside in such 
                State.
            ``(2) At any time not covered by paragraph (1)--
                    ``(A) in the case of a State with fewer than 5,000 
                members of the Army National Guard of the United States 
                and the Air National Guard of the United States 
                residing in the State, not less than one Transition 
                Assistance Advisor; and
                    ``(B) in the case of a State with 5,000 or more 
                members of the Army National Guard of the United States 
                and the Air National Guard of the United States who 
                reside in such State, not less than one Transition 
                Assistance Advisor for each 1,500 members of the Army 
                National Guard of the United States and the Air 
                National Guard of the United States who reside in such 
                State.
    ``(c) Duties.--The duties of a Transition Assistance Advisor 
includes the following:
            ``(1) To assist with the creation and execution of 
        individual transition plans for members of the National Guard 
        described in subsection (d)(2) and their families for the 
        reintegration of such members into civilian life.
            ``(2) To provide employment support services to members of 
        the National Guard and their families, including assistance 
        with discovering employment opportunities and identifying and 
        obtaining assistance from programs within and outside of the 
        Federal Government.
            ``(3) Provide information on relocation, health care, 
        mental health care, and financial support services available to 
        members of the National Guard or their families from the 
        Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and 
        other Federal, State, and local agencies.
            ``(4) Provide information on educational support services 
        available to members of the National Guard, including Post-9/11 
        Educational Assistance under chapter 33 of title 38.
    ``(d) Transition Plans.--(1) Each individual plan created under 
subsection (c)(1) for a member of the National Guard described in 
paragraph (2) shall include the following:
            ``(A) A plan for the transition of the member to life in 
        the civilian world, including with respect to employment, 
        education, and health care.
            ``(B) A description of the transition services that the 
        member and the member's family will need to achieve their 
        transition objectives, including information on any forms that 
        such member will need to fill out to be eligible for such 
        services.
            ``(C) A point of contact for each agency or entity that can 
        provide the transition services described in subparagraph (B).
    ``(2) A member of the National Guard described in this paragraph is 
any member of the National Guard who has served on active duty in the 
armed forces for a period of more than 180 days.
    ``(e) State Defined.--In this section, the term `State' means each 
of the several States of the United States, the District of Columbia, 
and any territory of the United States.
    ``(f) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section--
            ``(1) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2013; and
            ``(2) such sums as may be necessary for each fiscal year 
        thereafter.''.
            (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
        beginning of chapter 58 of such title is amended by inserting 
        after the item relating to section 1144 the following new item:

``1144A. Transition Assistance Advisors.''.
    (b) Report.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report 
setting forth a description of the efforts of the Secretary to 
implement the requirements of section 1144A of title 10, United States 
Code, as added by subsection (a)(1).