Veterans' Access to Child Care Act

To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide child care assistance to veterans receiving certain medical services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans’ Access to Child Care Act 2. Child care assistance for veterans receiving mental health care and other intensive health care services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (a) In general Subchapter III of chapter 17 1730B. Child care assistance for veterans receiving mental health care and other intensive health care services (a) In general The Secretary shall provide child care assistance to an eligible veteran for any period that the veteran— (1) receives covered health care services at a facility of the Department; and (2) is required travel to and return from such facility for the receipt of such health care services. (b) Child Care Assistance (1) Child care assistance provided under this section may include any of the following: (A) A stipend for the payment of child care offered by a licensed child care center (either directly or through a voucher program) which shall be, to the extent practicable, modeled after the Department of Veterans Affairs Child Care Subsidy Program established pursuant to section 590 of title 40. (B) Direct provision of child care at an on-site facility of the Department. (C) A payment made directly to a private child care agency. (D) A collaboration with a facility or program of another Federal department or agency. (E) Such other form of assistance as the Secretary considers appropriate. (2) In the case that child care assistance under this section is provided as a stipend under paragraph (1)(A), such stipend shall cover the full cost of such child care. (c) Definitions In this section: (1) The term eligible veteran (A) is the primary caretaker of a child or children; and (B) is— (i) receiving covered health care services from the Department; or (ii) in need of covered health care services, and but for lack of child care services, would receive such covered health care services from the Department. (2) The term covered health care services (A) regular mental health care services; (B) intensive mental health care services; or (C) such other intensive health care services that the Secretary determines that provision of assistance to the veteran to obtain child care would improve access to such health care services by the veteran. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1730A the following new item: 1730B. Child care for veterans receiving mental health care and other intensive health care services. .

Summary: Veterans' Access to Child Care Act Directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide child care assistance to an eligible veteran for any period that the veteran: (1) receives covered health care services at a VA facility, and (2) is required to travel to and return from such facility for the receipt of such services. Defines: (1) "covered health care services" to mean regular mental health care services, intensive mental health care services, or such other intensive health care services to which the VA determines that provision of child care assistance would improve the veteran's access; and (2) "eligible veteran" as a veteran who is the primary caretaker of a child and who is receiving covered health care services from the VA or who is in need of, and who would receive, such services from the VA but for lack of child care. Includes among child care assistance to be provided under this Act: a stipend for the payment of the full cost of child care offered by a licensed child care center, which shall be modeled after the VA's Child Care Subsidy Program; direct provision of child care at an on-site VA facility; a payment made directly to a private child care agency; and collaboration with a facility or program of another federal department or agency.