COMFORT Act

Bill: 118-s-456
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Sinema, Kyrsten [I-AZ]
Introduced: 2023-02-15
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Latest action: action_date: 2023-02-15
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-02-15
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>Comforting Our Military Families through On-base or Remote Treatment Act or the COMFORT Act</b></p> <p>This bill authorizes mental health professionals to provide nonmedical counseling services to military families regardless of where the provider or recipient is located, so long as the provision of services is (1) in the United States or a U.S. territory or possession, and (2) within the scope of the authorized duties of the provider. </p> <p>For purposes of the bill, mental health professionals include individuals who are licensed or certified mental health providers and are members of the uniformed services, civilian Department of Defense (DOD) employees, or DOD contractors.</p>

tv_txt: II 118th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 456 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES February 15, 2023 Ms. Sinema (for herself and Mr. Sullivan ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services A BILL To amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize non-medical counseling services, provided by certain mental health professionals, to military families.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Comforting Our Military Families through On-base or Remote Treatment Act or the COMFORT Act . 2. Non-medical counseling services for military families (a) Non-Medical counseling services Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a mental health professional described in subsection (b) may provide non-medical counseling services to military families at any location in a State, the District of Columbia, or a territory or possession of the United States, without regard to where the provider or recipient of such services is located, if the provision of such services is within the scope of the authorized Federal duties of the provider. (b) Covered mental health professionals A mental health professional described in this subsection is a person who is— (1) a currently licensed or certified mental health care provider who holds an unrestricted license or certification that is— (A) issued by a State, the District of Columbia, or a territory or possession of the United States; and (B) recognized by the Secretary of Defense; (2) a member of the uniformed services, a civilian employee of the Department of Defense, or a contractor designated by the Secretary; and (3) performing authorized duties for the Department of Defense under a program or activity referred to in subsection (a).