[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5324 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5324
To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot
program on information sharing between the Department of Veterans
Affairs and designated relatives and friends of veterans regarding the
assistance and benefits available to the veterans, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 5, 2019
Mr. Peters (for himself, Mr. Banks, Mrs. Davis of California, and Mr.
Cisneros) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot
program on information sharing between the Department of Veterans
Affairs and designated relatives and friends of veterans regarding the
assistance and benefits available to the veterans, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Sergeant Daniel Somers Veterans
Network of Support Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM ON INFORMATION SHARING BETWEEN DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS AND DESIGNATED RELATIVES AND FRIENDS OF
VETERANS REGARDING THE ASSISTANCE AND BENEFITS AVAILABLE
TO THE VETERANS.
(a) Pilot Program Required.--
(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
shall commence carrying out a pilot program--
(A) to encourage members of the Armed Forces who
are transitioning from service in the Armed Forces to
civilian life, before separating from such service, to
designate up to 10 persons to whom information
regarding the assistance and benefits available to the
veterans under laws administered by the Secretary shall
be disseminated using the contact information obtained
under paragraph (7); and
(B) provides such persons, within 30 days after the
date on which such persons are designated under
subparagraph (A), the option to elect to receive such
information.
(2) Duration.--The Secretary shall carry out the pilot
program during a period beginning on the date of the
commencement of the pilot program that is not less than two
years.
(3) Dissemination.--The Secretary shall disseminate
information described in paragraph (1)(A) under the pilot
program no less than quarterly.
(4) Types of information.--The types of information to be
disseminated under the pilot program to persons who elect to
receive such information shall include information regarding
the following:
(A) Services and benefits offered to veterans and
their family members by the Department of Veterans
Affairs.
(B) Challenges and stresses that might accompany
transitioning from service in the Armed Forces to
civilian life.
(C) Services available to veterans and their family
members to cope with the experiences and challenges of
service in the Armed Forces and transition from such
service to civilian life.
(D) Services available through community partner
organizations to support veterans and their family
members.
(E) Services available through Federal, State, and
local government agencies to support veterans and their
family members.
(F) The environmental health registry program,
health and wellness programs, and resources for
preventing and managing diseases and illnesses.
(G) A toll-free telephone number through which such
persons who elect to receive information under the
pilot program may request information regarding the
program.
(H) Such other matters as the Secretary, in
consultation with members of the Armed Forces and such
persons who elect to receive information under the
pilot program, determines to be appropriate.
(5) Privacy of information.--In carrying out the pilot
program, the Secretary may not disseminate information under
paragraph (4) in violation of laws and regulations pertaining
to the privacy of members of the Armed Forces, including
requirements pursuant to--
(A) section 552a of title 5, United States Code;
and
(B) the Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-191).
(6) Notice and modifications.--In carrying out the pilot
program, the Secretary shall, with respect to a veteran--
(A) ensure that such veteran is notified of the
ability to modify designations made by such veteran
under paragraph (1)(A); and
(B) upon the request of a veteran, authorize such
veteran to modify such designations at any time.
(7) Contact information.--In making a designation under the
pilot program, a veteran shall provide necessary contact
information, specifically including an email address, to
facilitate the dissemination of information regarding the
assistance and benefits available to the veteran under laws
administered by the Secretary.
(8) Opt-in and opt-out of pilot program.--
(A) Opt-in by members.--A veteran may participate
in the pilot program only if the veteran voluntarily
elects to participate in the program. A veteran seeking
to make such an election shall make such election in a
manner, and by including such information, as the
Secretary shall specify for purposes of the pilot
program.
(B) Opt-in by designated recipients.--A person
designated pursuant to paragraph (1)(A) may receive
information under the pilot program only if the person
makes the election described in paragraph (1)(B).
(C) Opt-out.--In carrying out the pilot program,
the Secretary shall, with respect to a person who has
elected to receive information under such pilot
program, cease disseminating such information to that
person upon request of such person.
(b) Survey and Report on Pilot Program.--
(1) Survey.--
(A) In general.--Not later than one year after the
date of the commencement of the pilot program and not
less frequently than once each year thereafter for the
duration of the pilot program, the Secretary shall
administer a survey to persons who elected to receive
information under the pilot program for the purpose of
receiving feedback regarding the quality of information
disseminated under this section.
(B) Elements.--Each survey conducted under
subparagraph (A) shall include solicitation of the
following:
(i) Feedback on the following:
(I) The nature of information
disseminated under the pilot program.
(II) Satisfaction with the pilot
program.
(III) The utility of the pilot
program.
(IV) Overall pilot program
successes and challenges.
(ii) Recommendations for improving the
pilot program.
(iii) Reasons for opting in or out of the
pilot program.
(iv) Such other feedback or matters as the
Secretary considers appropriate.
(2) Report.--
(A) In general.--Not later than three years after
the date on which the pilot program commences, 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 final report
on the pilot program.
(B) Contents.--The report submitted under
subparagraph (A) shall include the following:
(i) The results of the survey administered
under paragraph (1).
(ii) The number of participants enrolled in
the pilot program who are veterans.
(iii) The number of persons designated
under subsection (a)(1)(A).
(iv) The number of such persons who opted
in or out of the pilot program under subsection
(a)(8).
(v) The average period such persons
remained in the pilot program.
(vi) An assessment of the feasibility and
advisability of making the pilot program
permanent.
(vii) Identification of legislative or
administrative action that may be necessary if
the pilot program is made permanent.
(viii) A plan to expand the pilot program
if the pilot program is made permanent.
(ix) If the Secretary finds under clause
(vi) that making the pilot program permanent is
not feasible or advisable, a justification for
such finding.
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