I 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 3471 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in 

the provision of automobiles and adaptive equipment by the Department 

of Veterans Affairs. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 10, 2015 

Mrs. WALORSKI (for herself, Ms. BROWNLEY of California, Mr. RUIZ, Mr. 

DUNCAN of Tennessee, Mr. BARR, and Mr. CURBELO of Florida) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

A BILL 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain 

improvements in the provision of automobiles and adaptive equipment by the Department of Veterans Affairs. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Veterans Mobility 

5 Safety Act of 2015’’. 


rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
2 

•HR 3471 IH

1 SEC. 2. IMPROVEMENT OF PROVISION OF AUTOMOBILES 

2 AND ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT BY DEPARTMENT 

3 OF VETERANS AFFAIRS. 

4 (a) AUTOMOBILES AND ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT.— 

5 Section 3903 of title 38, United States Code, is amend6 ed— 

7 (1) in subsection (b)— 

8 (A) by striking ‘‘Except’’ and inserting 

9 ‘‘(1) Except’’; and 

10 (B) by adding at the end the following new 

11 paragraph: 

12 ‘‘(2) The Secretary shall ensure that to the extent 

13 practicable an eligible person who is provided an auto14 mobile or other conveyance under this chapter is given the 

15 opportunity to make personal selections relating to such 

16 automobile or other conveyance.’’; 

17 (2) in subsection (d)— 

18 (A) by striking ‘‘Adaptive’’ and inserting 

19 ‘‘(1) Adaptive’’; and 

20 (B) by adding at the end the following new 

21 paragraphs: 

22 ‘‘(2) For purposes of this subsection, minimum 

23 standards shall include that— 

24 ‘‘(A) the provider of any adaptive equipment 

25 modification services, including the repair, mainte26 nance, or replacement of such equipment, shall be 


rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
3 

•HR 3471 IH

1 certified in the provision of the modification service 

2 performed by— 

3 ‘‘(i) a certification organization; or 

4 ‘‘(ii) the manufacturer of the adaptive 

5 equipment for which the modification services 

6 are performed; 

7 ‘‘(B) any individual performing such modifica8 tion services on an automobile shall— 

9 ‘‘(i) be certified in the provision of the 

10 modification service performed by— 

11 ‘‘(I) a certification organization; or 

12 ‘‘(II) the manufacturer of the adapt13 ive equipment for the modification services 

14 are performed; or 

15 ‘‘(ii) be licensed or certified by the State in 

16 which the modification service is performed if 

17 such service is within the scope of practice, as 

18 determined by the State for the service; and 

19 ‘‘(C) the provider of the automobile or adaptive 

20 equipment or the provider of the modification serv21 ices for such automobile or adaptive equipment 

22 shall— 

23 ‘‘(i) adhere to chapter 126 of title 42 

24 (commonly known as the ‘Americans with Dis25 abilities Act of 1990’); and 


rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
4 

•HR 3471 IH

1 ‘‘(ii) adhere to the ‘make inoperative man2 dates’ of the National Highway Traffic Safety 

3 Administration Federal Motor Vehicle Safety 

4 Standards prescribed pursuant to section 30122 

5 of title 49. 

6 ‘‘(3) In this subsection: 

7 ‘‘(A) The term ‘certification organization’ 

8 means an organization that— 

9 ‘‘(i) is recognized as being qualified by the 

10 Secretary; 

11 ‘‘(ii) is a nonprofit organization; 

12 ‘‘(iii) is a national or international organi13 zation with an accreditation program for auto14 motive adaptive equipment; and 

15 ‘‘(iv) has established standards for record16 keeping and to minimize the possibility of con17 flicts of interest as determined by the Sec18 retary. 

19 ‘‘(B) The term ‘modification services’ means 

20 structural modifications or the addition or installa21 tion of adaptive equipment intended to increase, 

22 maintain, or improve the functional capacity of a 

23 disabled driver to safely drive or ride as a pas24 senger.’’. 


rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with BILLS
5 

•HR 3471 IH

1 (b) REHABILITATIVE SERVICES.—Section 1718 of 

2 such title is amended by adding at the end the following 

3 new subsection: 

4 ‘‘(h) In providing rehabilitative services under this 

5 chapter, if the Secretary provides adaptive equipment, the 

6 Secretary shall ensure that such equipment meets the min7 imum standards prescribed under section 3903(d)(2) of 

8 this title.’’. 

9 (c) VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION.—Section 3104 of 

10 such title is amended by adding at the end the following 

11 new subsection: 

12 ‘‘(c) In providing a rehabilitation program under this 

13 chapter, if the Secretary provides adaptive equipment, the 

14 Secretary shall ensure that such equipment meets the min15 imum standards prescribed under section 3903(d)(2) of 

16 this title.’’. 

17 (d) DEADLINE FOR REGULATIONS.—Not later than 

18 one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the 

19 Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall prescribe regulations 

20 to carry out the amendments made by this section. 

Æ 


rfrederick on DSK6VPTVN1PROD with BILLS