Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Military Mental Health 
Empowerment Act’’. 
SEC. 2. PROVISION OF INFORMATION TO MEMBERS OF THE 
ARMED FORCES ON AVAILABILITY OF MEN-
TAL HEALTH SERVICES AND RELATED PRI-
VACY RIGHTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 55 of title 10, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1090a 
the following new section: 
‘‘§ 1090b. Notice to members of the armed forces of 
the availability of mental health services 
and privacy rights related to receipt of 
such services 
‘‘(a) PROVISION OF INFORMATION REQUIRED.—The 
Secretaries of the military departments shall ensure that 
the information described in subsection (b) is provided— 
‘‘(1) to each officer candidate during initial 
training; 
‘‘(2) to each recruit during basic training; and 
‘‘(3) to other members of the armed forces at 
such times as the Secretary of Defense considers ap-
propriate. 
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‘‘(b) REQUIRED INFORMATION.—The information re-
quired to be provided under subsection (a) shall include 
at a minimum the following: 
‘‘(1) Information regarding the availability of 
mental health services under this chapter. 
‘‘(2) Information on the applicability of Depart-
ment of Defense Directive 6025.18 and other regula-
tions regarding privacy prescribed pursuant to the 
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act 
of 1996 (Public Law 104–191) to records regarding 
a member seeking and receiving mental health serv-
ices, including the extent to which— 
‘‘(A) any such records can be shared with 
promotion boards, commanding officers, and 
other members of the armed forces; 
‘‘(B) any adverse actions can be taken 
against the member for seeking and receiving 
mental health services; and 
‘‘(C) a diagnosis of a mental health condi-
tion can result in negative personnel action. 
‘‘(c) REDUCTION OF PERCEIVED STIGMA.—As pro-
vided in section 1090a(b)(1) of this title, in providing in-
formation under subsection (a), the Secretary of a military 
department shall seek to eliminate perceived stigma asso-
ciated with seeking and receiving mental health services 
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and to promote the use of mental health services on a 
basis comparable to the use of other medical and health 
services.’’. 
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 
at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting 
after the item relating to section 1090a the following new 
item: 
‘‘1090b. Notice to members of the armed forces of the availability of mental 
health services and privacy rights related to receipt of such 
services.’’. 
(c) PROVISION OF INFORMATION TO CURRENT MEM-
BERS.—As soon as practicable after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall ensure 
that all members of the Armed Forces, including members 
of the reserve components, serving in the Armed Forces 
as of that date are provided the information required to 
be provided to new recruits and officer candidates pursu-
ant to section 1090b of title 10, United States Code, as 
added by subsection (a). 
Æ 
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