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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Readjustment Counseling Service
Amendments of 1995''.

SEC. 2. ORGANIZATION OF THE READJUSTMENT COUNSELING SERVICE IN THE
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

(a) In General.--Section 7305 of title 38, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph (8); and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (6) the following new
paragraph (7):
''(7) A Readjustment Counseling Service.''.
(b) Organization.--The Readjustment Counseling Service shall have
the organizational structure and administrative structure of that
service as such structures were in existence on January 1, 1993.
(c) Revision of Organizational Structure.--(1) The Secretary of
Veterans Affairs may not alter or revise the organizational structure
or the administrative structure of the Readjustment Counseling Service
until--
(A) the Secretary has submitted to the Committees on
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a
report containing a full and complete statement of the proposed
alteration or revision; and
(B) a period of 60 days has elapsed after the date on which
the report is received by the committees.
(2) In the computation of the 60-day period under paragraph (1)(B),
there shall be excluded any day on which either House of Congress is
not in session because of an adjournment of more than 3 calendar days
to a day certain.
(d) Budget Information Relating to the Service.--Each budget
submitted to Congress by the President under section 1105 of title 31,
United States Code, shall set forth the amount requested in the budget
for the operation of the Readjustment Counseling Service in the fiscal
year covered by the budget and shall set forth separately the amount
requested for administrative oversight of the activities of the service
(including the amount requested for funding of the Advisory Committee
on Readjustment of Veterans).

SEC. 3. DIRECTOR OF THE READJUSTMENT COUNSELING SERVICE.

(a) Director.--Section 7306(b) of title 38, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) by striking out ''and'' at the end of paragraph (2);
(2) by striking out the period at the end of paragraph (3)
and inserting in lieu thereof ''; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
''(4) one shall be a person who (A)(i) is a qualified
psychiatrist, (ii) is a qualified psychologist holding a
diploma as a doctorate in clinical or counseling psychology
from an authority approved by the American Psychological
Association and has successfully undergone an internship
approved by that association, (iii) is a qualified holder of a
master in social work degree, or (iv) is a registered nurse
holding a master of science in nursing degree in psychiatric
nursing or any other mental-health related degree approved by
the Secretary, and (B) has at least 3 years of clinical
experience and 2 years of administrative experience in the
Readjustment Counseling Service or other comparable mental
health care counseling service (as determined by the
Secretary), who shall be the director of the Readjustment
Counseling Service.''.
(b) Status of Director.--Section 7306(a)(3) of such title is
amended by striking out ''eight'' and inserting in lieu thereof
''nine''.
(c) Organizational Requirement.--The Director of the Readjustment
Counseling Service shall report to the Under Secretary for Health of
the Department of Veterans Affairs through the Associate Deputy Under
Secretary for Health for Clinical Programs.

SEC. 4. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR READJUSTMENT COUNSELING AND
CERTAIN RELATED COUNSELING SERVICES.

(a) Readjustment Counseling.--(1) Subsection (a) of section 1712A
of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:
''(a)(1)(A) Upon the request of any veteran referred to in
subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, the Secretary shall furnish
counseling to the veteran to assist the veteran in readjusting to
civilian life.
''(B) A veteran referred to in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph
is any veteran who--
''(i) served on active duty during the Vietnam era; or
''(ii) served on active military, naval, or air service in
a theater of combat operations (as determined by the Secretary,
in consultation with the Secretary of Defense) during a period
of war or in any other area during a period in which
hostilities (as defined in subparagraph (D) of this paragraph)
occurred in such area.
''(C) Upon the request of any veteran other than a veteran referred
to in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, the Secretary may furnish
counseling to the veteran to assist the veteran in readjusting to
civilian life.
''(D) For the purposes of subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, the
term 'hostilities' means an armed conflict in which the members of the
Armed Forces are subjected to danger comparable to the danger to which
members of the Armed Forces have been subjected in combat with enemy
armed forces during a period of war, as determined by the Secretary in
consultation with the Secretary of Defense.
''(2) The counseling referred to in paragraph (1) shall include a
general mental and psychological assessment of a covered veteran to
ascertain whether such veteran has mental or psychological problems
associated with readjustment to civilian life.''.
(2) Subsection (c) of such section is repealed.
(b) Other Counseling.--Such section is further amended by inserting
after subsection (b) the following new subsection (c):
''(c)(1) The Secretary shall provide the counseling services
described in section 1701(6)(B)(ii) of this title to the surviving
parents, spouse, and children of any member of the Armed Forces who is
killed during service on active military, naval, or air service in a
theater of combat operations (as determined by the Secretary, in
consultation with the Secretary of Defense) during a period of war or
in any other area during a period in which hostilities (as defined in
subsection (a)(1)(D) of this section) occurred in such area.
''(2) The Secretary may provide the counseling services referred to
in paragraph (1) to the surviving parents, spouse, and children of any
member of the Armed Forces who dies while serving on active duty or
from a condition (as determined by the Secretary) incurred in or
aggravated by such service.''.
(c) Authority To Contract for Counseling Services.--Subsection (e)
of such section is amended by striking out ''subsections (a) and (b)''
each place it appears and inserting in lieu thereof ''subsections (a),
(b), and (c)''.

SEC. 5. ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON THE READJUSTMENT OF VETERANS.

(a) In General.--(1) Subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 38,
United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1712B the
following:
''Sec. 1712C. Advisory Committee on the Readjustment of Veterans
''(a)(1) There is in the Department the Advisory Committee on the
Readjustment of Veterans (hereafter in this section referred to as the
'Committee').
''(2) The Committee shall consist of not more than 18 members
appointed by the Secretary from among veterans who--
''(A) have demonstrated significant civic or professional
achievement; and
''(B) have experience with the provision of veterans
benefits and services by the Department.
''(3) The Secretary shall seek to ensure that members appointed to
the Committee include persons from a wide variety of geographic areas
and ethnic backgrounds, persons from veterans service organizations,
and women.
''(4) The Secretary shall determine the terms of service and pay
and allowances of the members of the Committee, except that a term of
service may not exceed 2 years. The Secretary may reappoint any member
for additional terms of service.
''(b)(1) The Secretary shall, on a regular basis, consult with and
seek the advice of the Committee with respect to the provision by the
Department of benefits and services to veterans in order to assist
veterans in the readjustment to civilian life.
''(2)(A) In providing advice to the Secretary under this
subsection, the Committee shall--
''(i) assemble and review information relating to the needs
of veterans in readjusting to civilian life;
''(ii) provide information relating to the nature and
character of psychological problems arising from service in the
Armed Forces;
''(iii) provide an on-going assessment of the effectiveness
of the policies, organizational structures, and services of the
Department in assisting veterans in readjusting to civilian
life; and
''(iv) provide on-going advice on the most appropriate
means of responding to the readjustment needs of veterans in
the future.
''(B) In carrying out its duties under subparagraph (A), the
Committee shall take into special account veterans of the Vietnam era,
and the readjustment needs of such veterans.
''(c)(1) Not later than March 31 of each year, the Committee shall
submit to the Secretary a report on the programs and activities of the
Department that relate to the readjustment of veterans to civilian
life. Each such report shall include--
''(A) an assessment of the needs of veterans with respect
to readjustment to civilian life;
''(B) a review of the programs and activities of the
Department designed to meet such needs; and
''(C) such recommendations (including recommendations for
administrative and legislative action) as the Committee
considers appropriate.
''(2) Not later than 90 days after the receipt of each report under
paragraph (1), the Secretary shall transmit to the Committees on
Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a copy of
the report, together with any comments and recommendations concerning
the report that the Secretary considers appropriate.
''(3) The Committee may also submit to the Secretary such other
reports and recommendations as the Committee considers appropriate.
''(4) The Secretary shall submit with each annual report submitted
to the Congress pursuant to section 529 of this title a summary of all
reports and recommendations of the Committee submitted to the Secretary
since the previous annual report of the Secretary submitted pursuant to
that section.
''(d)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the provisions of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall apply to the
activities of the Committee under this section.
''(2) Section 14 of such Act shall not apply to the Committee.''.
(2) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 17 of such
title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1712B
the following:

''1712C. Advisory Committee on the Readjustment of Veterans.''.
(b) Original Members.--(1) Notwithstanding subsection (a)(2) of
section 1712C of such title (as added by subsection (a)), the members
of the Advisory Committee on the Readjustment of Vietnam and Other War
Veterans on the date of the enactment of this Act shall be the original
members of the advisory committee recognized under such section.
(2) The original members shall so serve until the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs carries out appointments under such subsection (a)(2).
The Secretary shall carry out such appointments as soon after such date
as is practicable. The Secretary may make such appointments from among
such original members.

SEC. 6. PLAN FOR EXPANSION OF VIETNAM VETERAN RESOURCE CENTER PILOT
PROGRAM.

(a) Requirement.--(1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House
of Representatives a plan for the expansion of the Vietnam Veteran
Resource Center program established pursuant to the amendment made by
section 105 of the Veterans' Administration Health-Care Amendments of
1985 (Public Law 99-166; 99 Stat. 944). The plan shall include a
schedule for, and an assessment of the cost of, the implementation of
the program at or through all Department of Veterans Affairs
readjustment counseling centers.
(2) The Secretary shall submit the plan not later than 4 months
after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(b) Definition.--In this section, the term ''Department of Veterans
Affairs readjustment counseling centers'' has the same meaning given
the term ''center'' in section 1712A(i)(1) of title 38, United States
Code.

SEC. 7. REPORT ON COLLOCATION OF VET CENTERS AND DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS OUTPATIENT CLINICS.

(a) Requirement.--(1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House
of Representatives a report on the feasibility and desirability of the
collocation of Vet Centers and outpatient clinics (including rural
mobile clinics) of the Department of Veterans Affairs as current leases
for such centers and clinics expire.
(2) The Secretary shall submit the report not later than 6 months
after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(b) Covered Matters.--The report under this section shall include
an assessment of the following:
(1) The results of any collocation of Vet Centers and
outpatient clinics carried out by the Secretary before the date
of the enactment of this Act, including the effects of such
collocation on the quality of care provided at such centers and
clinics.
(2) The effect of such collocation on the capacity of such
centers to carry out their primary mission.
(3) The extent to which such collocation will impair the
operational independence or administrative integrity of such
centers.
(4) The feasibility of combining the services provided by
such centers and clinics in the course of the collocation of
such centers and clinics.
(5) The advisability of the collocation of centers and
clinics of significantly different size.
(6) The effect of the locations (including urban and rural
locations) of the centers and clinics on the feasibility and
desirability of such collocation.
(7) The amount of any costs savings to be achieved by
Department as a result of such collocation.
(8) The desirability of such collocation in light of plans
for the provision of health care services by the Department
under national health care reform.
(9) Any other matters that the Secretary determines
appropriate.

SEC. 8. VET CENTER HEALTH CARE PILOT PROGRAM.

(a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out
a pilot program for the provision of health-related services to
eligible veterans at readjustment counseling centers. The Secretary
shall carry out the pilot program in accordance with this section.
(b) Services.--(1) In carrying out the pilot program, the Secretary
shall provide the services referred to in paragraph (2) at not less
than 10 readjustment counseling centers in existence on the date of the
enactment of this Act.
(2) The Secretary shall provide basic ambulatory services and
health care screening services by such personnel as the Secretary
considers appropriate at each readjustment counseling center under the
pilot program. The Secretary shall assign not less than one-half of a
full-time employee equivalent at each such center in order to provide
such services under the pilot program.
(3) In determining the location of the readjustment counseling
centers at which to provide services under the pilot program, the
Secretary shall select centers that are located in a variety of
geographic areas and that serve veterans of a variety of economic,
social, and ethnic backgrounds.
(c) Period of Operation.--(1) The Secretary shall commence the
provision of health-related services at readjustment counseling centers
under the pilot program not later than 4 months after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
(2) The pilot program shall terminate 2 years after the date on
which the Secretary commences the provision of services under paragraph
(1).
(d) Report.--(1) The Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on
the pilot program established under this section. The report shall
include the following:
(A) A description of the program, including information
on--
(i) the number of veterans provided basic
ambulatory services and health care screening services
under the pilot program;
(ii) the number of such veterans referred to
Department of Veterans Affairs general health-care
facilities in order to provide such services to such
veterans; and
(iii) the cost to the Department of Veterans
Affairs of the pilot program.
(B) An analysis of the effectiveness of the services
provided to veterans under the pilot program.
(C) The recommendations of the Secretary for means of
improving the pilot program, and an estimate of the cost to the
Department of implementing such recommendations.
(D) An assessment of the desirability of expanding the type
or nature of services provided under the pilot program in light
of plans for the provision of health care services by the
Department under national health care reform.
(E) An assessment of the extent to which the provision of
services under the pilot program impairs the operational or
administrative independence of the readjustment counseling
centers at which such services are provided.
(F) An assessment of the effect of the location of the
centers on the effectiveness for the Department and for
veterans of the services provided under the pilot program.
(G) Such other information as the Secretary considers
appropriate.
(2) The Secretary shall submit the report not later than 18 months
after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(e) Definitions.--For the purposes of this section:
(1) The term ''Department of Veterans Affairs general
health-care facility'' has the meaning given such term in
section 1712A(i)(2) of title 38, United States Code.
(2) The term ''eligible veteran'' means any veteran
eligible for outpatient services under paragraph (1), (2), or
(3) of section 1712(a) of such title.
(3) The term ''readjustment counseling center'' has the
same meaning given the term ''center'' in section 1712A(i)(1)
of such title.

S 403 IS----2
Readjustment Counseling Service Amendments of 1995 - Includes a Readjustment Counseling Service (RCS) as part of the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Prohibits the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from altering or revising the organizational structure of RCS until the Secretary has notified specified congressional committees and 60 days have elapsed since such notification. Requires RCS budget information to be included annually in the President's budget submitted to the Congress.
Outlines eligibility requirements for one of the Assistant Under Secretaries for Health in the Department, including at least three years of clinical experience and two years of administrative experience in RCS or other comparable mental health care counseling service. Makes such a qualified person the director of RCS.
Increases from eight to nine the authorized number of Assistant Under Secretaries for Health.
Directs the Secretary to furnish readjustment counseling to any veteran who: (1) served on active duty during the Vietnam era; or (2) served on active duty in a theater of combat during a period of war (currently, only after May 7, 1975) in any area in which hostilities occurred. Authorizes the Secretary to furnish such assistance to any other veteran upon request. Directs the Secretary to provide counseling to survivors and dependents of members of the armed forces killed while performing such duty. Allows the Secretary to provide such counseling to the survivors and dependents of other members killed during active duty or from a condition incurred in or aggravated by such service.
Establishes in the Department the Advisory Committee on the Readjustment of Veterans to perform advisory services with respect to veterans' readjustment, taking into special account Vietnam era veterans. Requires specified reports from the Advisory Committee and the Secretary.
Directs the Secretary to report to the congressional veterans' affairs committees: (1) a plan for the expansion of the Vietnam Veteran Resource Center program; and (2) on the feasibility and desirability of the collocation of Vet Centers and outpatient clinics of the Department as current leases for such centers and clinics expire.
Directs the Secretary to carry out and report to the Congress on a pilot program for the provision of health-related services to eligible veterans at readjustment counseling centers.