profit entity to provide for the operation of a national, toll-
free telephone hotline to provide information and assist-
ance to veterans and their families, including crisis inter-
vention counseling, general information with respect to
veterans benefits under title 38, United States Code, refer-
rals to appropriate individuals with expertise in such vet-
erans benefits, and information with respect to the provi-
sion of emergency shelter and food, substance abuse reha-
bilitation, employment training and opportunities, and
small business assistance programs.
(b) DURATION.—A grant under this section may ex-
tend over a period of not more than two years.
(c) ANNUAL APPROVAL.—The provision of payments
under a grant under this section shall be subject to annual
approval by the Secretary and subject to the availability
of appropriations for each fiscal year to make the pay-
ments.
(d) ACTIVITIES.—Funds received by an entity under
this section shall be used to establish and operate a na-
tional, toll-free telephone hotline to provide information
and assistance to veterans. In establishing and operating
the hotline, a private, nonprofit entity shall—
(1) contract with a carrier for the use of a toll-
free telephone line;
(2) employ, train, and supervise personnel to
answer incoming calls and provide counseling and
referral services to callers on a 24-hour-a-day basis;
(3) assemble and maintain a current database
of information relating to services for veterans to
which callers may be referred throughout the United
States; and
(4) publicize the hotline to potential users
throughout the United States.
(e) APPLICATION.—A grant may not be made under
this section unless an application for such grant has been
approved by the Secretary. To be approved by the Sec-
retary under this subsection an application shall—
(1) contain such agreements, assurances, and
information, be in such form and be submitted in
such manner as the Secretary shall prescribe
through notice in the Federal Register;
(2) include a complete description of the appli-
cant’s plan for the operation of a national veterans
assistance hotline grant, including descriptions of—
(A) the training program for hotline per-
sonnel;
(B) the hiring criteria for hotline per-
sonnel;
(C) the methods for the creation, mainte-
nance and updating of a resource database;
(D) a plan for publicizing the availability
of the hotline;
(E) a plan for providing service to non-
English speaking callers, including hotline per-
sonnel who speak Spanish; and
(F) a plan for facilitating access to the
hotline by persons with hearing impairments;
(3) demonstrate that the applicant has nation-
ally recognized expertise in the area of furnishing
assistance to veterans and a record of high quality
service in furnishing such assistance, including a
demonstration of support from advocacy groups,
such as Veterans Service Organizations; and
(4) contain such other information as the Sec-
retary may require.
(f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out this section $2,000,000 for
each of fiscal years 2000 and 2001.
(2) AVAILABILITY.—Funds authorized to be ap-
propriated under paragraph (1) shall remain avail-
able until expended.
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