I 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8033 
To improve the ability of veterans to access suicide prevention coordinators 
of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
AUGUST 14, 2020 
Mr. BRINDISI (for himself, Mr. BOST, and Mr. BANKS) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
A BILL 
To improve the ability of veterans to access suicide preven-
tion coordinators of the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
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 ‘‘Access to Suicide Pre-
vention Coordinators Act’’. 
SEC. 2. SUICIDE PREVENTION COORDINATORS. 
(a) STAFFING REQUIREMENT.—Beginning not later 
than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall— 
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(1) ensure that each medical center of the De-
partment of Veterans Affairs has no fewer than one 
full-time employee whose primary job responsibility 
is serving as a suicide prevention coordinator; 
(2) ensure that all Department medical centers 
report to the Office of Mental Health and Suicide 
Prevention of the Department regarding their hiring 
plans to reach the number of recommended suicide 
prevention coordinators based on the current staff-
ing model; and 
(3) consider and implement findings from the 
assessment of the Comptroller General of the United 
States of the responsibilities, workload, and vacancy 
rates for suicide prevention coordinators, as required 
under section 2 of the Support for Suicide Preven-
tion Coordinators Act (Public Law 116–96). 
(b) STUDY ON REORGANIZATION.— 
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than one year 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary, in consultation with the Office of Mental 
Health and Suicide Prevention of the Department, 
shall commence the conduct of a study to determine 
the feasibility and advisability of— 
(A) the realignment and reorganization of 
suicide prevention coordinators within the Of-
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fice of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention; 
and 
(B) the creation of a suicide prevention co-
ordinator program office. 
(2) PROGRAM OFFICE REALIGNMENT.—In con-
ducting the study under paragraph (1), the Sec-
retary shall assess the feasibility of advisability of, 
within the suicide prevention coordinator program 
office described in paragraph (1)(B), aligning suicide 
prevention coordinators and case managers within 
the organizational structure and chart of the Suicide 
Prevention Program of the Department, with the Di-
rector of the Suicide Prevention program having ul-
timate supervisory oversight and responsibility over 
the suicide prevention coordinator program office. 
(c) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after the com-
pletion of the study under subsection (b), 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 such study, includ-
ing the following: 
(1) An assessment of the feasibility and advis-
ability of creating a suicide prevention coordinator 
program office to oversee and monitor suicide pre-
vention coordinators and suicide prevention case 
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managers across all medical centers of the Depart-
ment. 
(2) A review of current staffing ratios for sui-
cide prevention coordinators and suicide prevention 
case managers in comparison with current staffing 
ratios for mental health providers within each med-
ical center of the Department. 
(3) A description of the duties and responsibil-
ities for suicide prevention coordinators across the 
Department to better define, delineate, and stand-
ardize qualifications, performance goals, perform-
ance duties, and performance outcomes for suicide 
prevention coordinators and suicide prevention case 
managers. 
Æ 
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