No Veterans Crisis Line Call Should Go Unanswered Act

Bill: 114-hr-5392
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Young, David [R-IA-3]
Introduced: 2016-06-07
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Health care quality

Mental health

Performance measurement

Social work, volunteer service, charitable organizations

Telephone and wireless communication

Veterans' medical care
Latest action: action_date: 2016-11-28
text: Became Public Law No: 114-247.

Summaries:
action_date: 2016-06-07
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><strong>No Veterans Crisis Line Call Should Go Unanswered Act</strong></p> <p>This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to develop: </p> <ul> <li>a quality assurance document for carrying out the toll-free Veterans Crisis Line (VCL), including at backup call centers; and </li> <li>a plan to ensure that each telephone call, text message, and other communications received by the VCL, including at backup call centers, is answered in a timely manner by a person, consistent with the guidance established by the American Association of Suicidology.</li> </ul>

action_date: 2016-09-26
action_desc: Passed House without amendment
text: <p>(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)</p> <p><strong>No Veterans Crisis Line Call Should Go Unanswered Act</strong></p> <p>(Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to develop a quality assurance document for carrying out the toll-free Veterans Crisis Line (VCL), which shall: (1) outline performance indicators and objectives to improve the VCL, including at backup call centers; (2) include time frames to meet such indicators and objectives; and (3) be consistent with guidance issued by the Office of Management and Budget. </p> <p>The VA shall develop a plan to ensure that each telephone call, text message, and other communications received by the VCL, including at backup call centers, is answered in a timely manner by a person, consistent with the guidance established by the American Association of Suicidology. The plan shall include guidelines for periodic VCL testing. </p> <p> The VA shall submit the document and plan within 180 days.</p>

action_date: 2016-11-16
action_desc: Passed Senate without amendment
text: <p>(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House passed version is repeated here.)</p> <p><strong>No Veterans Crisis Line Call Should Go Unanswered Act</strong></p> <p>(Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to develop a quality assurance document for carrying out the toll-free Veterans Crisis Line (VCL), which shall: (1) outline performance indicators and objectives to improve the VCL, including at backup call centers; (2) include time frames to meet such indicators and objectives; and (3) be consistent with guidance issued by the Office of Management and Budget. </p> <p>The VA shall develop a plan to ensure that each telephone call, text message, and other communications received by the VCL, including at backup call centers, is answered in a timely manner by a person, consistent with the guidance established by the American Association of Suicidology. The plan shall include guidelines for periodic VCL testing. </p> <p> The VA shall submit the document and plan within 180 days.</p>

action_date: 2016-11-28
action_desc: Public Law
text: <p>(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the House passed version is repeated here.)</p> <p><strong>No Veterans Crisis Line Call Should Go Unanswered Act</strong></p> <p>(Sec. 2) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to develop a quality assurance document for carrying out the toll-free Veterans Crisis Line (VCL), which shall: (1) outline performance indicators and objectives to improve the VCL, including at backup call centers; (2) include time frames to meet such indicators and objectives; and (3) be consistent with guidance issued by the Office of Management and Budget. </p> <p>The VA shall develop a plan to ensure that each telephone call, text message, and other communications received by the VCL, including at backup call centers, is answered in a timely manner by a person, consistent with the guidance established by the American Association of Suicidology. The plan shall include guidelines for periodic VCL testing. </p> <p> The VA shall submit the document and plan within 180 days.</p>

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5392 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 7, 2016 Mr. Young of Iowa introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs A BILL To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve the Veterans Crisis Line.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the No Veterans Crisis Line Call Should Go Unanswered Act . 2. Improvements to Veterans Crisis Line (a) Quality assurance document The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall develop a quality assurance document to use in carrying out the Veterans Crisis Line. Such document shall— (1) outline clearly defined and measurable performance indicators and objectives to improve the responsiveness and performance of the Veterans Crisis Line, including at backup call centers; (2) include quantifiable timeframes to meet designated objectives to assist the Secretary in tracking the progress of the Veterans Crisis Line and such backup call centers in meeting the performance indicators and objectives specified in paragraph (1); and (3) with respect to such timeframes and objectives, be consistent with guidance issued by the Office of Management and Budget. (b) Plan The Secretary shall develop a plan to ensure that each telephone call, text message, and other communications received by the Veterans Crisis Line, including at backup call centers, is answered in a timely manner by a person, consistent with the guidance established by the American Association of Suicidology. Such plan shall include guidelines to carry out periodic testing of the Veterans Crisis Line, including such backup centers, during each fiscal year to identify and correct any problems in a timely manner. (c) Submission Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report containing the document developed under subsection (a) and the plan developed under subsection (b). (d) Veterans Crisis Line defined In this section, the term Veterans Crisis Line means the toll-free hotline for veterans established under section 1720F(h) of title 38, United States Code.

tv_txt: II 114th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5392 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 27, 2016 Received AN ACT To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve the Veterans Crisis Line.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the No Veterans Crisis Line Call Should Go Unanswered Act . 2. Improvements to Veterans Crisis Line (a) Quality assurance document The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall develop a quality assurance document to use in carrying out the Veterans Crisis Line. Such document shall— (1) outline clearly defined and measurable performance indicators and objectives to improve the responsiveness and performance of the Veterans Crisis Line, including at backup call centers; (2) include quantifiable timeframes to meet designated objectives to assist the Secretary in tracking the progress of the Veterans Crisis Line and such backup call centers in meeting the performance indicators and objectives specified in paragraph (1); and (3) with respect to such timeframes and objectives, be consistent with guidance issued by the Office of Management and Budget. (b) Plan The Secretary shall develop a plan to ensure that each telephone call, text message, and other communications received by the Veterans Crisis Line, including at backup call centers, is answered in a timely manner by a person, consistent with the guidance established by the American Association of Suicidology. Such plan shall include guidelines to carry out periodic testing of the Veterans Crisis Line, including such backup centers, during each fiscal year to identify and correct any problems in a timely manner. (c) Submission Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report containing the document developed under subsection (a) and the plan developed under subsection (b). (d) Veterans Crisis Line defined In this section, the term Veterans Crisis Line means the toll-free hotline for veterans established under section 1720F(h) of title 38, United States Code.

Passed the House of Representatives September 26, 2016. Karen L. Haas, Clerk

tv_txt: I 114th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5392 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AN ACT To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve the Veterans Crisis Line.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the No Veterans Crisis Line Call Should Go Unanswered Act . 2. Improvements to Veterans Crisis Line (a) Quality assurance document The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall develop a quality assurance document to use in carrying out the Veterans Crisis Line. Such document shall— (1) outline clearly defined and measurable performance indicators and objectives to improve the responsiveness and performance of the Veterans Crisis Line, including at backup call centers; (2) include quantifiable timeframes to meet designated objectives to assist the Secretary in tracking the progress of the Veterans Crisis Line and such backup call centers in meeting the performance indicators and objectives specified in paragraph (1); and (3) with respect to such timeframes and objectives, be consistent with guidance issued by the Office of Management and Budget. (b) Plan The Secretary shall develop a plan to ensure that each telephone call, text message, and other communications received by the Veterans Crisis Line, including at backup call centers, is answered in a timely manner by a person, consistent with the guidance established by the American Association of Suicidology. Such plan shall include guidelines to carry out periodic testing of the Veterans Crisis Line, including such backup centers, during each fiscal year to identify and correct any problems in a timely manner. (c) Submission Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report containing the document developed under subsection (a) and the plan developed under subsection (b). (d) Veterans Crisis Line defined In this section, the term Veterans Crisis Line means the toll-free hotline for veterans established under section 1720F(h) of title 38, United States Code.

Passed the House of Representatives September 26, 2016. Karen L. Haas, Clerk.

tv_txt: I One Hundred Fourteenth Congress of the United States of America At the Second Session Begun and held at the City of Washington on Monday, the fourth day of January, two thousand and sixteen H. R. 5392 AN ACT To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve the Veterans Crisis Line.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the No Veterans Crisis Line Call Should Go Unanswered Act . 2. Improvements to Veterans Crisis Line (a) Quality assurance document The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall develop a quality assurance document to use in carrying out the Veterans Crisis Line. Such document shall— (1) outline clearly defined and measurable performance indicators and objectives to improve the responsiveness and performance of the Veterans Crisis Line, including at backup call centers; (2) include quantifiable timeframes to meet designated objectives to assist the Secretary in tracking the progress of the Veterans Crisis Line and such backup call centers in meeting the performance indicators and objectives specified in paragraph (1); and (3) with respect to such timeframes and objectives, be consistent with guidance issued by the Office of Management and Budget. (b) Plan The Secretary shall develop a plan to ensure that each telephone call, text message, and other communications received by the Veterans Crisis Line, including at backup call centers, is answered in a timely manner by a person, consistent with the guidance established by the American Association of Suicidology. Such plan shall include guidelines to carry out periodic testing of the Veterans Crisis Line, including such backup centers, during each fiscal year to identify and correct any problems in a timely manner. (c) Submission Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report containing the document developed under subsection (a) and the plan developed under subsection (b). (d) Veterans Crisis Line defined In this section, the term Veterans Crisis Line means the toll-free hotline for veterans established under section 1720F(h) of title 38, United States Code.

Speaker of the House of Representatives. Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate.