Detailed Instructions: In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.
Problem:SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Caring for Wounded Warriors Act of
2008''.

SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAMS ON TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION FOR FAMILY
CAREGIVER PERSONAL CARE ATTENDANTS FOR VETERANS AND
MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES WITH TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.

(a) Pilot Programs Authorized.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall, in collaboration with the Secretary of Defense, carry out up to
three pilot programs to assess the feasibility and advisability of
providing training and certification for family caregivers of veterans
and members of the Armed Forces with traumatic brain injury as personal
care attendants of such veterans and members.
(b) Locations.--Each pilot program under this section shall be
carried out in a medical facility of the Department of Veterans
Affairs. In selecting the locations of the pilot programs, the
Secretary shall give special emphasis to the polytrauma centers of the
Department of Veterans Affairs designated as Tier I polytrauma centers.
(c) Training Curricula.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
develop curricula for the training of personal care attendants
under the pilot programs under this section. Such curricula
shall incorporate--
(A) applicable standards and protocols utilized by
certification programs of national brain injury care
specialist organizations; and
(B) best practices recognized by caregiving
organizations.
(2) Use of existing curricula.--In developing the curricula
required by paragraph (1), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall, to the extent practicable, utilize and expand upon
training curricula developed pursuant to section 744(b) of the
John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2007 (Public Law 109-364; 120 Stat. 2308).
(d) Participation in Programs.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
determine the eligibility of a family member of a veteran or
member of the Armed Forces for participation in the pilot
programs under this section.
(2) Basis for determination.--A determination made under
paragraph (1) shall be based on the needs of the veteran or
member of the Armed Forces concerned, as determined by the
physician of such veteran or member.
(e) Eligibility for Compensation.--A family caregiver of a veteran
or member of the Armed Forces who receives certification as a personal
care attendant under the pilot programs under this section shall be
eligible for compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs for
care provided to such veteran or member.
(f) Costs of Training.--
(1) Training of families of veterans.--Any costs of
training provided under the pilot programs under this section
for family members of veterans shall be borne by the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs.
(2) Training of families of members of the armed forces.--
The Secretary of Defense shall reimburse the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs for any costs of training provided under the
pilot programs for family members of members of the Armed
Forces. Amounts for such reimbursement shall be derived from
amounts available for Defense Health Program for the TRICARE
program.
(g) Assessment of Family Caregiver Needs.--
(1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may
provide to a family caregiver who receives training under a
pilot program under this section--
(A) an assessment of their needs with respect to
their role as a family caregiver; and
(B) a referral to services and support that--
(i) are relevant to any needs identified in
such assessment; and
(ii) are provided in the community where
the family caregiver resides, including such
services and support provided by community-
based organizations, publicly-funded programs,
and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
(2) Use of existing tools.--In developing and administering
an assessment under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall, to the
extent practicable, use and expand upon caregiver assessment
tools already developed and in use by the Department.
(h) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be construed to
require or permit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to deny--
(1) reimbursement for health care services provided to a
veteran with a brain injury to a personal care attendant who is
not a family member of such veteran; or
(2) access to other services and benefits otherwise
available to veterans with a brain injury.

SEC. 3. PILOT PROGRAM ON PROVISION OF RESPITE CARE TO MEMBERS OF THE
ARMED FORCES AND VETERANS WITH TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY BY
STUDENTS IN GRADUATE PROGRAMS OF EDUCATION RELATED TO
MENTAL HEALTH OR REHABILITATION.

(a) Pilot Program Authorized.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall, in collaboration with the Secretary of Defense, carry out a
pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of providing
respite care to members of the Armed Forces and veterans described in
subsection (b) through students enrolled in graduate programs of
education described in subsection (c)(1) to provide--
(1) relief to the family caregivers of such members and
veterans from the responsibilities associated with providing
care to such members and veterans; and
(2) socialization and cognitive skill development to such
members and veterans.
(b) Covered Members and Veterans.--The members of the Armed Forces
and veterans described in this subsection are the individuals as
follows:
(1) Members of the Armed Forces who have been diagnosed
with traumatic brain injury, including limitations of
ambulatory mobility, cognition, and verbal abilities.
(2) Veterans who have been so diagnosed.
(c) Program Locations.--
(1) In general.--The pilot program shall be carried out at
not more than 10 locations selected by the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs for purposes of the pilot program. Each
location so selected shall be a medical facility of the
Department of Veterans Affairs that is in close proximity to,
or that has a relationship, affiliation, or established
partnership with, an institution of higher education that has a
graduate program in an appropriate mental health or
rehabilitation related field, such as social work, nursing,
psychology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, or
interdisciplinary training programs.
(2) Considerations.--In selecting medical facilities of the
Department for the pilot program, the Secretary shall give
special consideration to the following:
(A) The polytrauma centers of the Department
designated as Tier I polytrauma centers.
(B) Facilities of the Department in regions with a
high concentration of veterans with traumatic brain
injury.
(d) Scope of Assistance.--
(1) Use of graduate students.--In carrying out the pilot
program, the Secretary shall--
(A) recruit students enrolled in a graduate program
of education selected by the Secretary under subsection
(c)(1) to provide respite care to the members of the
Armed Forces and veterans described in subsection (b);
(B) train such students to provide respite care to
such members and veterans; and
(C) match such students with such members and
veterans in the student's local area for the provision
of individualized respite care to such members and
veterans.
(2) Reports.--Each student participating in the pilot
program shall submit to the physician of the member of the
Armed Forces or the veteran to whom such graduate is providing
respite care under the pilot program a report setting forth the
status of the member or veteran under such care in such manner
and in such frequency as the Secretary may require.
(3) Coursework credit.--A student that participates in the
pilot program and meets the requirements for successful
participation established under paragraph (4) and the
requirements of paragraph (2), may receive an appropriate
amount of coursework credit for such participation as
determined by the head of the student's graduate program of
education chosen to participate in the pilot program under
subsection (c)(1) in consultation with the Secretary.
(4) Determinations in conjunction with heads of graduate
programs of education.--The Secretary shall determine, in
collaboration with the head of the graduate program of
education chosen to participate in the pilot program under
subsection (c)(1), the following:
(A) The amount of training that a student shall
complete before providing respite care under the pilot
program.
(B) The number of hours of respite care to be
provided by the students who participate in the pilot
program.
(C) The requirements for successful participation
by a student in the pilot program.
(e) Training Standards and Best Practices.--In providing training
under subsection (d)(1)(B), the Secretary shall use--
(1) applicable standards and protocols used by
certification programs of national brain injury care specialist
organizations in the provision of respite care training; and
(2) best practices recognized by caregiving organizations.

SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:
(1) Family caregiver.--With respect to member of the Armed
Forces or a veteran with traumatic brain injury, the term
''family caregiver'' means a relative, partner, or friend of
such member or veteran who is providing care to such member or
veteran for such traumatic brain injury.
(2) Respite care.--The term ''respite care'' means the
temporary provision of care to an individual to provide relief
to the regular caregiver of the individual from the ongoing
responsibility of providing care to such individual.
Solution:
Caring for Wounded Warriors Act of 2008 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out up to three pilot programs to assess the feasibility and advisability of providing training and certification for family caregivers of veterans and members of the Armed Forces with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Requires each pilot program to be carried out in a medical facility of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Requires the Secretary to develop curricula for the training of such caregivers as personal care attendants. Makes a family caregiver who receives certification as a personal care attendant eligible for compensation from the VA for the care provided.

Directs the Secretary to carry out a pilot program to assess the feasibility and advisability of providing respite care to members and veterans who have been diagnosed with TBI through students enrolled in graduate programs in mental health or rehabilitation-related fields. Requires such students to provide: (1) relief to the family caregivers; and (2) socialization and cognitive skill development to the members and veterans. Allows such students to receive coursework credit for such participation.