Title: Department of Defense Service Dog Training Therapy Act
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
Department of Defense Service Dog Training Therapy Act
This bill requires the Defense Health Agency of the Department of Defense (DOD) to carry out a program under which members of the Armed Forces with post-traumatic stress disorder or other post-deployment mental health conditions train service dogs for veterans with disabilities. DOD shall carry out the program in a manner that ensures that such training is a form of therapy that addresses such post-traumatic stress disorder or other post-deployment mental health conditions.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5918 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5918

 To direct the Secretary of Defense to carry out a program on service 
dog training for members of the Armed Forces with post-traumatic stress 
      disorder or other post-deployment mental health conditions.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 22, 2018

Ms. Shea-Porter (for herself, Mr. LoBiondo, Mr. Norcross, Mr. Walz, and 
  Mr. Jones) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                      Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
 To direct the Secretary of Defense to carry out a program on service 
dog training for members of the Armed Forces with post-traumatic stress 
      disorder or other post-deployment mental health conditions.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Department of Defense Service Dog 
Training Therapy Act''.

SEC. 2. SERVICE DOG TRAINING THERAPY FOR MEMBERS WITH POST-TRAUMATIC 
              STRESS DISORDER OR OTHER POST-DEPLOYMENT MENTAL HEALTH 
              CONDITIONS.

    (a) Program.--The Secretary of Defense, acting through the Director 
of the Defense Health Agency, shall carry out a program under which 
members of the Armed Forces with post-traumatic stress disorder or 
other post-deployment mental health conditions train service dogs for 
veterans with disabilities. The Secretary shall carry out the program 
in a manner that ensures that such training is a form of therapy that 
addresses such post-traumatic stress disorder or other post-deployment 
mental health conditions.
    (b) Appropriate Nongovernment Entities.--The Secretary shall carry 
out the program under subsection (a) by entering into a contract with 
one or more appropriate nongovernment entities that are certified in 
the training and handling of service dogs and have experience carrying 
out such a program.
    (c) Member Eligibility.--A member of the Armed Forces may 
participate in the program under subsection (a) if the Secretary 
determines that--
            (1) such member has post-traumatic stress disorder or other 
        post-deployment mental health conditions; and
            (2) there are adequate program resources available for the 
        member to participate at the location of the member.
    (d) Locations.--The Secretary shall seek to enter into a contract 
under subsection (b) with appropriate nongovernment entities located in 
close proximity to military medical treatment facilities.
    (e) Training Area.--The Secretary shall provide to a nongovernment 
entity with which the Secretary enters into a contract under subsection 
(b) access to a training area in a facility of the Department that 
would be appropriate for use in educating members of the Armed Forces 
participating in the program in the art and science of service dog 
training and handling. Such training area shall--
            (1) include a dedicated space that is suitable for grooming 
        and training dogs indoors;
            (2) be wheelchair accessible;
            (3) include classroom or lecture space;
            (4) include office space for staff;
            (5) include a suitable space for storing training 
        equipment;
            (6) provide for periodic use of other training areas for 
        training the dogs with wheelchairs and conducting other 
        exercises;
            (7) include outdoor exercise and toileting space for dogs; 
        and
            (8) provide transportation for weekly field trips to train 
        dogs in other environments.
    (f) Design of Program.--Each contract entered into under subsection 
(b) shall provide that the nongovernment entity shall--
            (1) employ at least one person with clinical experience 
        related to mental health;
            (2) ensure that members of the Armed Forces participating 
        in the program receive training from certified service dog 
        training instructors;
            (3) ensure that each service dog in training participating 
        in the program is taught all essential commands pertaining to 
        service dog skills;
            (4) ensure that the program involves both lecture of 
        service dog training methodologies and practical hands-on 
        training and grooming of service dogs; and
            (5) ensure that the program is designed to--
                    (A) maximize the therapeutic benefits to members of 
                the Armed Forces participating in the program; and
                    (B) provide well-trained service dogs to veterans 
                with disabilities.
    (g) Administration.--In order to carry out the program under 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall--
            (1) administer the program through the Defense Health 
        Agency under the direction of a certified occupational 
        recreational therapist with sufficient administrative 
        experience to help oversee the program; and
            (2) establish a director of therapeutic service dog 
        training with a background working in social services, 
        experience in teaching others to train service dogs in a 
        military medical treatment facility setting, and at least one 
        year of experience working with veterans or active duty service 
        members with post-traumatic stress disorder in a clinical 
        setting.
    (h) Collection of Data.--The Secretary shall collect data on the 
program under subsection (a) to determine how effective the program is 
for the members of the Armed Forces participating in the program. Such 
data shall include data to determine how effectively the program 
assists members in--
            (1) reducing stigma associated with post-traumatic stress 
        disorder or other post-deployment mental health conditions;
            (2) improving emotional regulation;
            (3) improving patience;
            (4) instilling or re-establishing a sense of purpose;
            (5) providing an opportunity to help veterans;
            (6) reintegrating into the community;
            (7) exposing the dog to new environments and in doing so, 
        helping the member reduce social isolation and withdrawal;
            (8) building relationship skills, including parenting 
        skills;
            (9) relaxing the hyper-vigilant survival state;
            (10) improving sleep patterns; and
            (11) enabling members to decrease the use of pain 
        medication.
    (i) Reports.--Each year the Secretary shall submit to the 
Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representatives and the 
Senate a report on the program under subsection (a). Each such report 
shall include--
            (1) the number of members of the Armed Forces participating 
        in the program;
            (2) a description of the services carried out under the 
        program;
            (3) the effects that participating in the program has on--
                    (A) symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and 
                post-deployment adjustment difficulties, including 
                depression, maintenance of sobriety, suicidal 
                ideations, and homelessness;
                    (B) potentially relevant physiological markers that 
                possibly relate to the interactions with the service 
                dogs;
                    (C) family dynamics;
                    (D) insomnia and pain management; and
                    (E) overall well-being; and
            (4) the recommendations of the Secretary with respect to 
        the expansion of the program.
    (j) Service Dog Training Instructor Defined.--In this section, the 
term ``service dog training instructor'' means an instructor who 
provides the direct training of members of the Armed Forces with post-
traumatic stress disorder and other post-deployment mental health 
conditions in the art and science of service dog training and handling.
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