S 3309 ISCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

112th CONGRESSCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

2d SessionCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

S. 3309CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the assistance provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs to homeless veterans, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATESCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

June 18, 2012CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Mrs. MURRAY introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ AffairsCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

A BILLCommentsClose CommentsPermalink

To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the assistance provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs to homeless veterans, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

(a) Short Title- This Act may be cited as the ‘Homeless Veterans Assistance Improvement Act of 2012’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Table of Contents- The table of contents for this Act is as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 2. Requirement that recipients of grants from Department of Veterans Affairs for comprehensive service programs for homeless veterans meet physical privacy, safety, and security needs of such veterans.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 3. Modification of authority of Department of Veterans Affairs to provide capital improvement grants for comprehensive service programs that assist homeless veterans.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 4. Funding for furnishing legal services to very low-income veteran families in permanent housing.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 5. Modifications to requirements relating to per diem payments for services furnished to homeless veterans.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 6. Authorization of grants by Department of Veterans Affairs to centers that provide services to homeless veterans for operational expenses.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 7. Expansion of Department of Veterans Affairs authority to provide dental care to homeless veterans.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





Sec. 8. Extensions of authorities and programs affecting homeless veterans.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 2. REQUIREMENT THAT RECIPIENTS OF GRANTS FROM DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FOR COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE PROGRAMS FOR HOMELESS VETERANS MEET PHYSICAL PRIVACY, SAFETY, AND SECURITY NEEDS OF SUCH VETERANS.

Section 2011(f) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(6) To meet the physical privacy, safety, and security needs of homeless veterans receiving services through the project.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 3. MODIFICATION OF AUTHORITY OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO PROVIDE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT GRANTS FOR COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE PROGRAMS THAT ASSIST HOMELESS VETERANS.

Section 2011(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended, in the matter before paragraph (1), by inserting ‘and maintaining’ after ‘in establishing’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 4. FUNDING FOR FURNISHING LEGAL SERVICES TO VERY LOW-INCOME VETERAN FAMILIES IN PERMANENT HOUSING.

Section 2044(e) of title 38, United States Code, is amended--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new paragraph (2):CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) Of amounts made available under paragraph (1), not less than one percent shall be available for the furnishing of services described in subsection (b)(1)(D)(vii).’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 5. MODIFICATIONS TO REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO PER DIEM PAYMENTS FOR SERVICES FURNISHED TO HOMELESS VETERANS.

(a) Authorization of Per Diem Payments for Furnishing Care to Dependents of Certain Homeless Veterans- Section 2012(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(4) Services for which a recipient of a grant under section 2011 of this title (or an entity described in paragraph (1)) may receive per diem payments under this subsection may include furnishing care for a dependent of a homeless veteran who is under the care of such homeless veteran while such homeless veteran receives services from the grant recipient (or entity).’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Provision of Funds for Per Diem Payments for Nonconforming Entities-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(1) IN GENERAL- Section 2012(d)(1) of such title is amended, in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking ‘may make’ and inserting ‘shall make’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(2) REGULATIONS REQUIRED- Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to implement the amendment made by paragraph (1).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF GRANTS BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO CENTERS THAT PROVIDE SERVICES TO HOMELESS VETERANS FOR OPERATIONAL EXPENSES.

(a) In General- Subchapter II of chapter 20 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 2012 the following new section:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

‘Sec. 2012A. Service center operational grants

‘(a) In General- Subject to the availability of appropriations provided for such purpose, the Secretary may award to a recipient of a grant under section 2011 of this title for the establishment of a service center described in subsection (g) of such section a grant for the operational expenses of such service center not otherwise covered by the receipt of per diem payments under section 2012 of this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(b) Limitation- The aggregate amount of all grants awarded under subsection (a) in any fiscal year may not exceed $500,000.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Clerical Amendment- The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 2012 the following new item:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘2012A. Service center operational grants.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Regulations- The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall promulgate regulations to carry out section 2012A of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 7. EXPANSION OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AUTHORITY TO PROVIDE DENTAL CARE TO HOMELESS VETERANS.

Subsection (b) of section 2062 of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(a) Eligible Veterans- (1) Subsection (a) applies to a veteran who--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(A) is enrolled for care under section 1705(a) of this title; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(B) for a period of 60 consecutive days, is receiving--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(i) assistance under section 8(o) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)); orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(ii) care (directly or by contract) in any of the following settings:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(I) A domiciliary under section 1710 of this title.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(II) A therapeutic residence under section 2032 of this title.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(III) Community residential care coordinated by the Secretary under section 1730 of this title.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(IV) A setting for which the Secretary provides funds for a grant and per diem provider.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(2) For purposes of paragraph (1), in determining whether a veteran has received assistance or care for a period of 60 consecutive days, the Secretary may disregard breaks in the continuity of assistance or care for which the veteran is not responsible.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink

SEC. 8. EXTENSIONS OF AUTHORITIES AND PROGRAMS AFFECTING HOMELESS VETERANS.

(a) Comprehensive Service Programs- Section 2013 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking paragraph (5) and inserting the following new paragraphs:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(5) $250,000,000 for fiscal year 2013.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(6) $150,000,000 for fiscal year 2014 and each subsequent fiscal year.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(b) Homeless Veterans Reintegration Programs- Section 2021(e)(1)(F) of such title is amended by striking ‘2012’ and inserting ‘2013’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(c) Outreach, Care, Treatment, Rehabilitation, and Therapeutic Transitional Housing for Veterans Suffering From Serious Mental Illness- Section 2031(b) of such title is amended by striking ‘December 31, 2012’ and inserting ‘December 31, 2014’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(d) Program To Expand and Improve Provision of Benefits and Services by Department of Veterans Affairs to Homeless Veterans- Section 2033(d) of such title is amended by striking ‘December 31, 2012’ and inserting ‘December 31, 2014’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(e) Housing Assistance for Homeless Veterans- Section 2041(c) of such title is amended by striking ‘December 31, 2012’ and inserting ‘December 31, 2013’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(f) Financial Assistance for Supportive Services for Very Low-Income Veteran Families in Permanent Housing- Section 2044(e)(1) of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





‘(E) $300,000,000 for fiscal year 2013.’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(g) Grant Program for Homeless Veterans With Special Needs- Section 2061(c)(1) of such title is amended by striking ‘through 2012’ and inserting ‘through 2015’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink





(h) Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans- Section 2066(d) of such title is amended by striking ‘December 31, 2012’ and inserting ‘December 31, 2014’.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink