H. R. 203 

One Hundred Fourteenth Congress 

of the 

United States of America 

AT THE FIRST SESSION 

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday, 

the sixth day of January, two thousand and fifteen 

An Act 

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide for the conduct of annual 

evaluations of mental health care and suicide prevention programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to require a pilot program on loan repayment for 

psychiatrists who agree to serve in the Veterans Health Administration of the 

Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 

the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention 

for American Veterans Act’’ or the ‘‘Clay Hunt SAV Act’’. 

SEC. 2. EVALUATIONS OF MENTAL HEALTH CARE AND SUICIDE 

PREVENTION PROGRAMS OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 

AFFAIRS. 

(a) EVALUATIONS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter I of chapter 17 of title 38, 

United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 

following new section: 

‘‘§ 1709B. Evaluations of mental health care and suicide 

prevention programs 

‘‘(a) EVALUATIONS.—(1) Not less frequently than once during 

each period specified in paragraph (3), the Secretary shall provide 

for the conduct of an evaluation of the mental health care and 

suicide prevention programs carried out under the laws administered by the Secretary. 

‘‘(2) Each evaluation conducted under paragraph (1) shall— 

‘‘(A) use metrics that are common among and useful for 

practitioners in the field of mental health care and suicide 

prevention; 

‘‘(B) identify the most effective mental health care and 

suicide prevention programs conducted by the Secretary, 

including such programs conducted at a Center of Excellence; 

‘‘(C) identify the cost-effectiveness of each program identified under subparagraph (B); 

‘‘(D) measure the satisfaction of patients with respect to 

the care provided under each such program; and 

‘‘(E) propose best practices for caring for individuals who 

suffer from mental health disorders or are at risk of suicide, 

including such practices conducted or suggested by other 

departments or agencies of the Federal Government, including 

the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services. 
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‘‘(3) The periods specified in this paragraph are the following: 

‘‘(A) The period beginning on the date on which the Secretary awards the contract under paragraph (4) and ending 

on September 30, 2018. 

‘‘(B) Each fiscal year beginning on or after October 1, 

2018. 

‘‘(4) Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment 

of this section, the Secretary shall seek to enter into a contract 

with an independent third party unaffiliated with the Department 

of Veterans Affairs to conduct evaluations under paragraph (1). 

‘‘(5) The independent third party that is awarded the contract 

under paragraph (4) shall submit to the Secretary each evaluation 

conducted under paragraph (1). 

‘‘(b) ANNUAL SUBMISSION.—Not later than December 1, 2018, 

and 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 that 

contains the following: 

‘‘(1) The most recent evaluations submitted to the Secretary 

under subsection (a)(5) that the Secretary has not previously 

submitted to such Committees. 

‘‘(2) Any recommendations the Secretary considers appropriate.’’. 

(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at the 

beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the 

item relating to section 1709A the following new item: 

‘‘1709B. Evaluations of mental health care and suicide prevention programs.’’. 

(b) INTERIM REPORTS.—Not later than September 30 of each 

of 2016 and 2017, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in coordination 

with the independent third party awarded a contract by the Secretary pursuant to section 1709B(a)(4) of title 38, United States 

Code, as added by subsection (a)(1), 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 mental 

health care and suicide prevention programs carried out under 

the laws administered by the Secretary that includes, with respect 

to each such program, the following: 

(1) A description of the program. 

(2) The number of veterans served by the program. 

(3) The budget of the program. 

(4) The number of full-time equivalent employees assigned 

to the program. 

(5) Whether veterans may repeat participation in the program or participate in the program in addition to other similar 

programs. 

(6) Any study results or research published regarding the 

efficacy of the program. 

(7) Any other information the Secretary determines appropriate. 

SEC. 3. PUBLICATION OF INTERNET WEBSITE TO PROVIDE INFORMATION REGARDING MENTAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—Using funds made available to the Secretary 

of Veterans Affairs to publish the Internet websites of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary shall survey the existing 

Internet websites and information resources of the Department 
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to publish an Internet website that serves as a centralized source 

to provide veterans with information regarding all of the mental 

health care services provided by the Secretary. 

(b) ELEMENTS.—The Internet website published under subsection (a) shall provide to veterans information regarding all of 

the mental health care services available in the Veteran Integrated 

Service Network that the veteran is seeking such services, 

including, with respect to each medical center, Vet Center (as 

defined in section 1712A of title 38, United States Code), and 

community-based outpatient center in the Veterans Integrated 

Service Network— 

(1) the name and contact information of each social work 

office; 

(2) the name and contact information of each mental health 

clinic; 

(3) a list of appropriate staff; and 

(4) any other information the Secretary determines appropriate. 

(c) UPDATED INFORMATION.—The Secretary shall ensure that 

the information described in subsection (b) that is published on 

the Internet website under subsection (a) is updated not less than 

once every 90 days. 

(d) OUTREACH.—In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall 

ensure that the outreach conducted under section 1720F(i) of title 

38, United States Code, includes information regarding the Internet 

website published under subsection (a). 

SEC. 4. PILOT PROGRAM FOR REPAYMENT OF EDUCATIONAL LOANS 

FOR CERTAIN PSYCHIATRISTS OF VETERANS HEALTH 

ADMINISTRATION. 

(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 

carry out a pilot program to repay loans of individuals described 

in subsection (b) that— 

(1) were used by such individuals to finance education 

relating to psychiatric medicine, including education leading 

to— 

(A) a degree of doctor of medicine; or 

(B) a degree of doctor of osteopathy; and 

(2) were obtained from any of the following: 

(A) A governmental entity. 

(B) A private financial institution. 

(C) A school. 

(D) Any other authorized entity as determined by the 

Secretary. 

(b) ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), an individual 

eligible for participation in the pilot program is an individual 

who— 

(A) either— 

(i) is licensed or eligible for licensure to practice 

psychiatric medicine in the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs; or 

(ii) is enrolled in the final year of a residency 

program leading to a specialty qualification in psychiatric medicine that is approved by the Accreditation 

Council for Graduate Medical Education; and 
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(B) demonstrates a commitment to a long-term career 

as a psychiatrist in the Veterans Health Administration, 

as determined by the Secretary. 

(2) PROHIBITION ON SIMULTANEOUS ELIGIBILITY.—An individual who is participating in any other program of the Federal 

Government that repays the educational loans of the individual 

is not eligible to participate in the pilot program. 

(c) SELECTION.—The Secretary shall select not less than 10 

individuals described in subsection (b) to participate in the pilot 

program for each year in which the Secretary carries out the pilot 

program. 

(d) PERIOD OF OBLIGATED SERVICE.—The Secretary shall enter 

into an agreement with each individual selected under subsection 

(c) in which such individual agrees to serve a period of 2 or more 

years of obligated service for the Veterans Health Administration 

in the field of psychiatric medicine, as determined by the Secretary. 

(e) LOAN REPAYMENTS.— 

(1) AMOUNTS.—Subject to paragraph (2), a loan repayment 

under this section may consist of payment of the principal, 

interest, and related expenses of a loan obtained by an individual who is participating in the pilot program for all educational expenses (including tuition, fees, books, and laboratory 

expenses) of such individual relating to education described 

in subsection (a)(1). 

(2) LIMIT.—For each year of obligated service that an individual who is participating in the pilot program agrees to 

serve under subsection (d), the Secretary may pay not more 

than $30,000 in loan repayment on behalf of such individual. 

(f) BREACH.— 

(1) LIABILITY.—An individual who participates in the pilot 

program and fails to satisfy the period of obligated service 

under subsection (d) shall be liable to the United States, in 

lieu of such obligated service, for the amount that has been 

paid or is payable to or on behalf of the individual under 

the pilot program, reduced by the proportion that the number 

of days served for completion of the period of obligated service 

bears to the total number of days in the period of obligated 

service of such individual. 

(2) REPAYMENT PERIOD.—Any amount of damages that the 

United States is entitled to recover under this subsection shall 

be paid to the United States not later than 1 year after the 

date of the breach of the agreement. 

(g) REPORT.— 

(1) INITIAL REPORT.—Not later than 2 years after the date 

on which the pilot program under subsection (a) commences, 

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 pilot program. 

(2) ELEMENTS.—The report required by paragraph (1) shall 

include the following: 

(A) The number of individuals who participated in 

the pilot program, including the number of new hires. 

(B) The locations in which such individuals were 

employed by the Department, including how many such 

locations were rural or urban locations. 
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(C) An assessment of the quality of the work performed 

by such individuals in the course of such employment, 

including the performance reviews of such individuals. 

(D) The number of psychiatrists the Secretary determines is needed by the Department in the future. 

(3) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 90 days before the date 

on which the pilot program terminates under subsection (i), 

the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ 

Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

of the House of Representatives an update to the report submitted under paragraph (1) and any recommendations that 

the Secretary considers appropriate. 

(h) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary shall prescribe regulations 

to carry out this section, including standards for qualified loans 

and authorized payees and other terms and conditions for the 

making of loan repayments. 

(i) TERMINATION.—The authority to carry out the pilot program 

shall expire on the date that is 3 years after the date on which 

the Secretary commences the pilot program. 

SEC. 5. PILOT PROGRAM ON COMMUNITY OUTREACH. 

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish a pilot program to assist veterans transitioning from serving 

on active duty and to improve the access of veterans to mental 

health services. 

(b) LOCATIONS.—The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program 

under subsection (a) at not less than five Veterans Integrated 

Service Networks that have a large population of veterans who— 

(1) served in the reserve components of the Armed Forces; 

or 

(2) are transitioning into communities with an established 

population of veterans after having recently separated from 

the Armed Forces. 

(c) FUNCTIONS.—The pilot program at each Veterans Integrated 

Service Network described in subsection (b) shall include the following: 

(1) A community oriented veteran peer support network, 

carried out in partnership with an appropriate entity with 

experience in peer support programs, that— 

(A) establishes peer support training guidelines; 

(B) develops a network of veteran peer support counselors to meet the demands of the communities in the 

Veterans Integrated Service Network; 

(C) conducts training of veteran peer support counselors; 

(D) with respect to one medical center selected by 

the Secretary in each such Veterans Integrated Service 

Network, has— 

(i) a designated peer support specialist who acts 

as a liaison to the community oriented veteran peer 

network; and 

(ii) a certified mental health professional designated as the community oriented veteran peer network mentor; and 

(E) is readily available to veterans, including pursuant 

to the Veterans Integrated Service Network cooperating 
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and working with State and local governments and appropriate entities. 

(2) A community outreach team for each medical center 

selected by the Secretary pursuant to paragraph (1)(D) that— 

(A) assists veterans transitioning into communities; 

(B) establishes a veteran transition advisory group to 

facilitate outreach activities; 

(C) includes the participation of appropriate community 

organizations, State and local governments, colleges and 

universities, chambers of commerce and other local business organizations, and organizations that provide legal 

aid or advice; and 

(D) coordinates with the Veterans Integrated Service 

Network regarding the Veterans Integrated Service Network carrying out an annual mental health summit to 

assess the status of veteran mental health care in the 

community and to develop new or innovative means to 

provide mental health services to veterans. 

(d) REPORTS.— 

(1) INITIAL REPORT.—Not later than 18 months after the 

date on which the pilot program under subsection (a) commences, 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 pilot 

program. With respect to each Veterans Integrated Service 

Network described in subsection (b), the report shall include— 

(A) a full description of the peer support model implemented under the pilot program, participation data, and 

data pertaining to past and current mental health related 

hospitalizations and fatalities; 

(B) recommendations on implementing peer support 

networks throughout the Department; 

(C) whether the mental health resources made available under the pilot program for members of the reserve 

components of the Armed Forces is effective; and 

(D) a full description of the activities and effectiveness 

of community outreach coordinating teams under the pilot 

program, including partnerships that have been established 

with appropriate entities. 

(2) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 90 days before the date 

on which the pilot program terminates under subsection (e), 

the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ 

Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

of the House of Representatives an update to the report submitted under paragraph (1). 

(e) CONSTRUCTION.—This section may not be construed to 

authorize the Secretary to hire additional employees of the Department to carry out the pilot program under subsection (a). 

(f) TERMINATION.—The authority of the Secretary to carry out 

the pilot program under subsection (a) shall terminate on the date 

that is 3 years after the date on which the pilot program commences. 
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SEC. 6. COLLABORATION ON SUICIDE PREVENTION EFFORTS 

BETWEEN DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND NONPROFIT MENTAL HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS. 

(a) COLLABORATION.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may 

collaborate with non-profit mental health organizations to prevent 

suicide among veterans as follows: 

(1) To improve the efficiency and effectiveness of suicide 

prevention efforts carried out by the Secretary and non-profit 

mental health organizations. 

(2) To assist non-profit mental health organizations with 

the suicide prevention efforts of such organizations through 

the use of the expertise of employees of the Department of 

Veterans Affairs. 

(3) To jointly carry out suicide prevention efforts. 

(b) EXCHANGE OF RESOURCES.—In carrying out any collaboration under subsection (a), the Secretary and any non-profit mental 

health organization with which the Secretary is collaborating under 

such subsection shall exchange training sessions and best practices 

to help with the suicide prevention efforts of the Department and 

such organization. 

(c) DIRECTOR OF SUICIDE PREVENTION COORDINATION.—The Secretary shall select within the Department a Director of Suicide 

Prevention Coordination to undertake any collaboration with nonprofit mental health organizations under this section or any other 

provision of law. 

SEC. 7. ADDITIONAL PERIOD OF ELIGIBILITY FOR HEALTH CARE FOR 

CERTAIN VETERANS OF COMBAT SERVICE DURING CERTAIN 

PERIODS OF HOSTILITIES AND WAR. 

Paragraph (3) of section 1710(e) of title 38, United States 

Code, is amended to read as follows: 

‘‘(3) In the case of care for a veteran described in paragraph 

(1)(D), hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care may 

be provided under or by virtue of subsection (a)(2)(F) only during 

the following periods: 

‘‘(A) Except as provided by subparagraph (B), with respect 

to a veteran described in paragraph (1)(D) who is discharged 

or released from the active military, naval, or air service after 

January 27, 2003, the five-year period beginning on the date 

of such discharge or release. 

‘‘(B) With respect to a veteran described in paragraph 

(1)(D) who is discharged or released from the active military, 

naval, or air service after January 1, 2009, and before January 

1, 2011, but did not enroll to receive such hospital care, medical 

services, or nursing home care pursuant to such paragraph 

during the five-year period described in subparagraph (A), the 

one-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of 

the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act. 

‘‘(C) With respect to a veteran described in paragraph 

(1)(D) who is discharged or released from the active military, 

naval, or air service on or before January 27, 2003, and did 

not enroll in the patient enrollment system under section 1705 

of this title on or before such date, the three-year period beginning on January 27, 2008.’’. 
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SEC. 8. PROHIBITION ON NEW APPROPRIATIONS. 

No additional funds are authorized to be appropriated to carry 

out this Act and the amendments made by this Act, and this 

Act and such amendments shall be carried out using amounts 

otherwise made available for such purposes. 

Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

Vice President of the United States and

President of the Senate.