Veterans Mobility Safety Act of 2016

Bill: 114-hr-3471
Sponsor: Rep. Walorski, Jackie [R-IN-2]
Introduced: 2015-09-10 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Disability and paralysis
Motor vehicles
Transportation safety and security
Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Summary:
action_date: 2015-09-10
text: 

Veterans Mobility Safety Act of 2015

 
This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure that an eligible disabled veteran provided an automobile or other conveyance is given the opportunity to make personal selections relating to the automobile or other conveyance.
 
 Minimum standards of safety and quality for adaptive equipment shall include that: 
 
 
the provider of any adaptive equipment modification services be certified by a certification organization or the manufacturer of the adaptive equipment; 
 
any individual performing such modification services on an automobile be certified by a certification organization, the manufacturer, or the state; and 
 
the provider of the automobile or adaptive equipment or the provider of the modification services adhere to specified requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
 

action_date: 2016-09-06
text: 

Veterans Mobility Safety Act of 2016

 
(Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to ensure that an eligible disabled veteran provided an automobile or other conveyance is given the opportunity to make personal selections relating to such conveyance. 
 
(Sec. 3) The VA shall develop a comprehensive policy regarding quality standards for providers of modification services to veterans under the automobile adaptive equipment program. 
 
Such policy shall cover: (1) management of the automobile adaptive equipment program, (2) development and application of safety and quality standards for equipment and installation, (3) provider certification by a third party organization or manufacturer, (4) education and training of VA personnel, (5) provider compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and (6) allowance for veterans to receive modifications at their residence or location of choice. 
 
The VA shall: (1) within one year and at least every six years thereafter, update VHA Handbook 1173.4 in accordance with such policy; and (2) within one year of such update and biennially thereafter through 2022, report on policy implementation and facility compliance. 
 
The VA shall: (1) develop and revise such policy in consultation with veteran service organizations, the National Highway Transportation Administration, industry representatives, manufacturers of automobile adaptive equipment, and other entities with relevant expertise; and (2) ensure against the use of a certifying entity that has a financial conflict of interest regarding the certification of an eligible provider. 
 
(Sec. 4) The VA may appoint licensed hearing aid specialists to the Veterans Health Administration.
 
The VA shall ensure that: (1) a hearing aid specialist may only perform hearing services consistent with the specialist's state license related to the practice of fitting and dispensing hearing aids, without excluding other qualified professionals from rendering services in overlapping practice areas; (2) services provided to veterans by hearing aid specialists shall be provided as part of the non-medical treatment plan developed by an audiologist; and (3) VA medical facilities provide veterans with access to the full range of audiologist services.
 
The VA shall, within one year and annually thereafter for the next five years, report on: (1) veterans access to such hearing health services; and (2) VA contracting policies for providing hearing health services to veterans in non-VA facilities, including the number of veterans referred to audiologists and hearing aid specialists.

action_date: 2016-09-12
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on September 6, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
 

Veterans Mobility Safety Act of 2016

 
(Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to ensure that an eligible disabled veteran provided an automobile or other conveyance is given the opportunity to make personal selections relating to such conveyance. 
 
(Sec. 3) The VA shall develop a comprehensive policy regarding quality standards for providers of modification services to veterans under the automobile adaptive equipment program. 
 
Such policy shall cover: (1) management of the automobile adaptive equipment program, (2) development and application of safety and quality standards for equipment and installation, (3) provider certification by a third party organization or manufacturer, (4) education and training of VA personnel, (5) provider compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and (6) allowance for veterans to receive modifications at their residence or location of choice. 
 
The VA shall: (1) within one year and at least every six years thereafter, update VHA Handbook 1173.4 in accordance with such policy; and (2) within one year of such update and biennially thereafter through 2022, report on policy implementation and facility compliance. 
 
The VA shall: (1) develop and revise such policy in consultation with veteran service organizations, the National Highway Transportation Administration, industry representatives, manufacturers of automobile adaptive equipment, and other entities with relevant expertise; and (2) ensure against the use of a certifying entity that has a financial conflict of interest regarding the certification of an eligible provider. 
 
(Sec. 4) The VA may appoint licensed hearing aid specialists to the Veterans Health Administration.
 
The VA shall ensure that: (1) a hearing aid specialist may only perform hearing services consistent with the specialist's state license related to the practice of fitting and dispensing hearing aids, without excluding other qualified professionals from rendering services in overlapping practice areas; (2) services provided to veterans by hearing aid specialists shall be provided as part of the non-medical treatment plan developed by an audiologist; and (3) VA medical facilities provide veterans with access to the full range of audiologist services.
 
The VA shall, within one year and annually thereafter for the next five years, report on: (1) veterans access to such hearing health services; and (2) VA contracting policies for providing hearing health services to veterans in non-VA facilities, including the number of veterans referred to audiologists and hearing aid specialists.

action_date: 2016-11-17
text: 

Veterans Mobility Safety Act of 2016

 
(Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to ensure that an eligible disabled veteran provided an automobile or other conveyance is given the opportunity to make personal selections relating to such conveyance. 
 
(Sec. 3) The VA shall develop a comprehensive policy regarding quality standards for providers of modification services to veterans under the automobile adaptive equipment program. 
 
Such policy shall cover: (1) management of the automobile adaptive equipment program, (2) development and application of safety and quality standards for equipment and installation, (3) provider certification by a third party organization or manufacturer, (4) manufacturer certification of a provider, (5) education and training of VA personnel, (6) provider compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and (7) allowance for veterans to receive modifications at their residence or location of choice.
 
 The VA shall approve a manufacturer as a certifying manufacturer if such manufacturer demonstrates that its certification standards meet or exceed the quality standards provided for by this bill.
 
 The VA may approve two or more private, nonprofit organizations as third party, nonprofit certifying organizations. 
 
 The VA shall: (1) within one year and at least every six years thereafter, update VHA Handbook 1173.4 in accordance with such policy; and (2) within one year of such update and biennially thereafter through 2022, report on policy implementation and facility compliance. 
 
The VA shall: (1) develop and revise such policy in consultation with veteran service organizations, the National Highway Transportation Administration, industry representatives, manufacturers of automobile adaptive equipment, and other entities with relevant expertise; and (2) ensure against the use of a certifying entity that has a financial conflict of interest regarding the certification of an eligible provider. 
 
(Sec. 4) The VA may appoint licensed hearing aid specialists to the Veterans Health Administration.
 
The VA shall ensure that: (1) a hearing aid specialist may only perform hearing services consistent with the specialist's state license related to the practice of fitting and dispensing hearing aids, without excluding other qualified professionals from rendering services in overlapping practice areas; (2) services provided to veterans by hearing aid specialists shall be provided as part of the non-medical treatment plan developed by an audiologist; and (3) VA medical facilities provide veterans with access to the full range of audiologist services.
 
The VA shall, within one year and annually thereafter for the next five years, report on: (1) veterans access to such hearing health services; and (2) VA contracting policies for providing hearing health services to veterans in non-VA facilities, including the number of veterans referred to audiologists and hearing aid specialists.

action_date: 2016-12-14
text: 
(This measure has not been amended since it was passed by the Senate on November 17, 2016. The summary of that version is repeated here.)
 

Veterans Mobility Safety Act of 2016

 
(Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to ensure that an eligible disabled veteran provided an automobile or other conveyance is given the opportunity to make personal selections relating to such conveyance. 
 
(Sec. 3) The VA shall develop a comprehensive policy regarding quality standards for providers of modification services to veterans under the automobile adaptive equipment program. 
 
Such policy shall cover: (1) management of the automobile adaptive equipment program, (2) development and application of safety and quality standards for equipment and installation, (3) provider certification by a third party organization or manufacturer, (4) manufacturer certification of a provider, (5) education and training of VA personnel, (6) provider compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and (7) allowance for veterans to receive modifications at their residence or location of choice.
 
 The VA shall approve a manufacturer as a certifying manufacturer if such manufacturer demonstrates that its certification standards meet or exceed the quality standards provided for by this bill.
 
 The VA may approve two or more private, nonprofit organizations as third party, nonprofit certifying organizations. 
 
 The VA shall: (1) within one year and at least every six years thereafter, update VHA Handbook 1173.4 in accordance with such policy; and (2) within one year of such update and biennially thereafter through 2022, report on policy implementation and facility compliance. 
 
The VA shall: (1) develop and revise such policy in consultation with veteran service organizations, the National Highway Transportation Administration, industry representatives, manufacturers of automobile adaptive equipment, and other entities with relevant expertise; and (2) ensure against the use of a certifying entity that has a financial conflict of interest regarding the certification of an eligible provider. 
 
(Sec. 4) The VA may appoint licensed hearing aid specialists to the Veterans Health Administration.
 
The VA shall ensure that: (1) a hearing aid specialist may only perform hearing services consistent with the specialist's state license related to the practice of fitting and dispensing hearing aids, without excluding other qualified professionals from rendering services in overlapping practice areas; (2) services provided to veterans by hearing aid specialists shall be provided as part of the non-medical treatment plan developed by an audiologist; and (3) VA medical facilities provide veterans with access to the full range of audiologist services.
 
The VA shall, within one year and annually thereafter for the next five years, report on: (1) veterans access to such hearing health services; and (2) VA contracting policies for providing hearing health services to veterans in non-VA facilities, including the number of veterans referred to audiologists and hearing aid specialists.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2016-12-14
text: Became Public Law No: 114-256.
action_date: 2016-12-14
text: Became Public Law No: 114-256.
action_date: 2016-12-14
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2016-12-14
text: Signed by President.
action_date: 2016-12-02
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2016-12-02
text: Presented to President.
action_date: 2016-11-29
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2016-11-29
text: On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection. (text as House agreed to Senate Amendment: CR H6354-6355)
action_date: 2016-11-29
text: Resolving differences -- House actions: On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection.(text as House agreed to Senate Amendment: CR H6354-6355)
action_date: 2016-11-29
text: Mrs. Walorski asked unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table and agree to the Senate amendment. (consideration: CR H6353-6355)
action_date: 2016-11-18
text: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
action_date: 2016-11-17
text: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2016-11-17
text: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2016-11-17
text: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S6493)
action_date: 2016-11-17
text: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2016-11-17
text: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2016-09-13
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2016-09-12
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2016-09-12
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5277-5278)
action_date: 2016-09-12
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H5277-5278)
action_date: 2016-09-12
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3471.
action_date: 2016-09-12
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5277-5279)
action_date: 2016-09-12
text: Mr. Miller (FL) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2016-09-06
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 548.
action_date: 2016-09-06
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 114-709.
action_date: 2016-09-06
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 114-709.
action_date: 2016-05-18
text: Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2016-05-18
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2016-04-29
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote .
action_date: 2016-04-29
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2015-11-17
text: Subcommittee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2015-09-25
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
action_date: 2015-09-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2015-09-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2015-09-10
text: Introduced in House

Enacted as: number: 114-256