A bill to require a Comptroller General of the United States report on the impact of certain mental and physical trauma on the discharge of members of the Armed Forces for misconduct.

Bill: 113-s-1668
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO]
Introduced: 2013-11-07
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Government studies and investigations

Mental health

Military medicine

Military personnel and dependents

Veterans' pensions and compensation
Latest action: action_date: 2013-11-07
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

Summaries:
action_date: 2013-11-07
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p>Requires the Comptroller General (GAO) to report on the impact of mental and physical trauma relating to post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury, behavioral health matters not related to PTSD, and other neurological combat traumas on the discharge of members of the Armed Forces for misconduct.</p> <BR>

tv_txt: II 113th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1668 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES November 7, 2013 Mr. Bennet introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services A BILL To require a Comptroller General of the United States report on the impact of certain mental and physical trauma on the discharge of members of the Armed Forces for misconduct.

1. Comptroller General of the United States report on impact of certain mental and physical trauma on discharges from military service for misconduct (a) Report required The Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a report on the impact of mental and physical trauma relating to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), behavioral health matters not related to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and other neurological combat traumas (in this section referred to as covered traumas ) on the discharge of members of the Armed Forces from the Armed Forces for misconduct. (b) Elements The report required by subsection (a) shall include the following: (1) An assessment of the extent to which the Armed Forces have in place processes for the consideration of the impact of mental and physical trauma relating to covered traumas on members of the Armed Forces who are being considered for discharge from the Armed Forces for misconduct, including the compliance of the Armed Forces with such processes and mechanisms in the Department of Defense for ensuring the compliance of the Armed Forces with such processes. (2) An assessment of the extent to which the Armed Forces provide members of the Armed Forces, including commanding officers, junior officers, and noncommissioned officers, training on the symptoms of covered traumas and the identification of the presence of such conditions in members of the Armed Forces. (3) An assessment of the extent to which members of the Armed Forces who receive treatment for a covered trauma before discharge from the Armed Forces are later discharged from the Armed Forces for misconduct. (4) An identification of the number of members of the Armed Forces discharged as described in paragraph (3) who are ineligible for benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs based on characterization of discharge. (5) An assessment of the extent to which members of the Armed Forces who accept a discharge from the Armed Forces for misconduct in lieu of trial by court-martial are counseled on the potential for ineligibility for benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs as a result of such discharge before acceptance of such discharge.