VA Peer Specialists Act

Bill: 116-hr-8130
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Rice, Kathleen M. [D-NY-4]
Introduced: 2020-08-28
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Congressional oversight

Employee hiring

Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management

Mental health

Veterans' medical care

Women's employment
Latest action: action_date: 2020-09-10
text: Committee Hearings Held.

Summaries:
action_date: 2020-08-28
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>VA Peer Specialists Act</b></p> <p>This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to consult with its Inspector General to (1) commence an assessment of the capacity of VA peer specialists who are women, and (2) submit a plan to hire additional qualified peer specialists who are women based on the results of the assessment.</p>

tv_txt: I 116th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8130 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES August 28, 2020 Miss Rice of New York (for herself and Mr. Gonzalez of Ohio ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct an assessment of the capacity of peer specialists of the Department of Veterans Affairs who are women, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the VA Peer Specialists Act . 2. Staffing improvement plan for peer specialists of Department of Veterans Affairs who are women (a) Assessment of capacity (1) In general Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs, shall commence an assessment of the capacity of peer specialists of the Department of Veterans Affairs who are women. (2) Elements The assessment required by paragraph (1) shall include an assessment of the following: (A) The geographical distribution of peer specialists of the Department who are women. (B) The geographical distribution of women veterans. (C) The number and proportion of women peer specialists who specialize in peer counseling on mental health or suicide prevention. (D) The number and proportion of women peer specialists who specialize in peer counseling on non-mental health related matters. (E) A description of the duties and responsibilities of women peer specialists, including number of hours worked per week, to better define, delineate, and standardize qualifications, performance goals, performance duties, and performance outcomes for peer specialists and their managers. (F) Department funds and other resources dedicated to supporting the work of women peer specialists. (b) Report Not later than one year after the assessment required by subsection (a) has commenced, 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 detailing the findings of the assessment, including the ratio of how many hours were worked by women peer specialists relative to the population of women veterans at each Department medical center. (c) Staffing improvement plan (1) In general Not later than 180 days after submitting the report under subsection (b), the Secretary, in consultation with the Inspector General, shall submit to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives a plan, based on the results of the assessment required by subsection (a), to hire additional qualified peer specialists who are women, with special consideration for areas that lack peer specialists who are women. (2) Elements The peer specialist positions included in the plan required by paragraph (1)— (A) shall be non-volunteer, paid positions; and (B) may be part-time positions.