Lethal Means Safety Training Act

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to update the Lethal Means Safety and Suicide Prevention training course of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Lethal Means Safety Training Act 2. Suicide risk management and prevention and lethal means training (a) In general (1) Initial update Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with entities described in subsection (c), shall update the Lethal Means Safety and Suicide Prevention training course of the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure that it is culturally appropriate and uses best practices identified by appropriate subject matter experts. (2) Subsequent updates Not less frequently than once each year, the Secretary shall update the training as appropriate, taking into consideration best practices, and publish a report on the internet website of the Department that includes the percentage of individuals in each category described in paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of subsection (b) who completed the training referred to in paragraph (1) during the year covered by the report. (b) Training (1) In general The Secretary shall require each employee referred to in paragraph (2) to take the most recently updated version of the training course referred to in subsection (a)— (A) not later than 90 days after the date such person is initially hired by the Department; and (B) at least once every year thereafter. (2) Covered employee An employee described in this paragraph is any of the following: (A) An employee of the Veterans Health Administration or Veterans Benefits Administration who regularly interacts with veterans in the course of performing the employee’s responsibilities. (B) A compensation and pension examiner, including an employee of a contractor of the Department who performs compensation and pension examinations. (C) An employee of a Veterans Center or vocational rehabilitation facility. (3) Community care providers As a condition of furnishing care through a non-Department provider under section 1703 of title 38, United States Code, the Secretary shall require any employee of such provider who provides such care to take the most recently updated version of the training course referred to in subsection (a)— (A) not later than 90 days after the date on which the Secretary first agrees to furnish any such care through such provider; and (B) at least once every year thereafter. (4) Family caregivers As a condition of providing support to a family caregiver under section 1720G of title 38, United States Code, the Secretary shall require the caregiver to take the most recently updated version of the training course referred to in subsection (a)— (A) not later than 90 days after the date on which the caregiver first receives support under such section; and (B) at least once every year thereafter. (c) Entities described The entities described in the subsection are the following: (1) The Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Directors of the National Institute of Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and other appropriate Federal agencies. (2) Experts in the assessment, treatment, and management of individuals at risk for suicide. (3) Professional associations that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines are appropriate. (4) Federal firearms license dealers and instructors. (5) Experts in lethal means safety counseling practice and education. (6) The Department of Veterans Affairs Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Centers. (7) Veterans service organizations. (d) Public availability The Secretary shall make the training course referred to in subsection (a) publicly available on an internet website of the Department.

Summary: Lethal Means Safety Training Act This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to update its Lethal Means Safety and Suicide Prevention training course at least once a year to ensure it is culturally appropriate and uses best practices identified by subject matter experts (e.g., veterans service organizations). The bill requires certain VA employees and care providers to take the most recently updated version of the training course within 90 days after the person is hired, agrees to furnish care, or receives support and at least annually thereafter. Specifically, the bill requires the following categories of VA employees or care providers to take the training course: employees of the Veterans Health Administration or Veterans Benefits Administration who regularly interact with veterans, compensation and pension examiners, employees of Veterans Centers or vocational rehabilitation facilities, employees of Veterans Community Care Providers who provide care to veterans, and family caregivers receiving support under the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers. The VA must publish the training course on a publicly available VA website. Additionally, the VA must publish a report on its website that includes the percentage of individuals in each category who have completed such training.