[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 980 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 980
To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the provision of
services for homeless veterans, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 2, 2019
Mr. Burr (for himself, Mr. Manchin, Mr. Cornyn, and Ms. Hirono)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the provision of
services for homeless 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 ``Homeless Veterans Prevention Act of
2019''.
SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF PER DIEM PAYMENTS FOR FURNISHING CARE TO
DEPENDENTS OF CERTAIN HOMELESS VETERANS.
Subsection (a) of section 2012 of title 38, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(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).''.
SEC. 3. PARTNERSHIPS WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ENTITIES TO PROVIDE LEGAL
SERVICES TO HOMELESS VETERANS AND VETERANS AT RISK OF
HOMELESSNESS.
(a) In General.--Chapter 20 of title 38, United States Code, is
amended by inserting after section 2022 the following new section:
``Sec. 2022A. Partnerships with public and private entities to provide
legal services to homeless veterans and veterans at risk
of homelessness
``(a) Partnerships Authorized.--Subject to the availability of
funds for that purpose, the Secretary shall enter into partnerships
with public or private entities to fund a portion of the general legal
services specified in subsection (c) that are provided by such entities
to homeless veterans and veterans at risk of homelessness.
``(b) Locations.--(1) The Secretary shall ensure that, to the
extent practicable, partnerships under this section are made with
entities equitably distributed across the geographic regions of the
United States, including rural communities, tribal lands of the United
States, Native Americans, and tribal organizations.
``(2) In this subsection, the terms `Native American' and `tribal
organization' have the meanings given such terms in section 3765 of
this title.
``(c) Legal Services.--Legal services specified in this subsection
include legal services provided by public or private entities that
address the needs of homeless veterans and veterans at risk of
homelessness as follows:
``(1) Legal services related to housing, including eviction
defense and representation in landlord-tenant cases and
foreclosure proceedings.
``(2) Legal services related to family law, including
assistance in court proceedings for family reunification, child
support, divorce, and estate planning.
``(3) Legal services related to income support, including
assistance in obtaining public benefits.
``(4) Legal services related to criminal defense, including
defense in matters symptomatic of homelessness, such as
outstanding warrants, fines, and driver's license revocation,
to reduce recidivism and facilitate the overcoming of reentry
obstacles in employment or housing.
``(5) Such other legal services as the Secretary considers
appropriate and necessary.
``(d) Consultation.--In developing and carrying out partnerships
under this section, the Secretary shall, to the extent practicable,
consult with public and private entities--
``(1) for assistance in identifying and contacting
organizations described in subsection (c); and
``(2) to coordinate appropriate outreach relationships with
such organizations.
``(e) Reports.--The Secretary may require entities that have
entered into partnerships under this section to submit to the Secretary
periodic reports on legal services provided to homeless veterans and
veterans at risk of homelessness pursuant to such partnerships.''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
chapter 20 of such title is amended by adding after the item relating
to section 2022 the following new item:
``2022A. Partnerships with public and private entities to provide legal
services to homeless veterans and veterans
at risk of homelessness.''.
SEC. 4. 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:
``(b) Eligible Veterans.--(1) Subsection (a) applies to a veteran
who--
``(A) is enrolled for care under section 1705(a) of this
title; and
``(B) for a period of 60 consecutive days, is receiving--
``(i) assistance under section 8(o) of the United
States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)); or
``(ii) care (directly or by contract) in any of the
following settings:
``(I) A domiciliary under section 1710 of
this title.
``(II) A therapeutic residence under
section 2032 of this title.
``(III) Community residential care
coordinated by the Secretary under section 1730
of this title.
``(IV) A setting for which the Secretary
provides funds for a grant and per diem
provider.
``(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.''.
SEC. 5. REPEAL OF SUNSET ON AUTHORITY TO CARRY OUT PROGRAM OF REFERRAL
AND COUNSELING SERVICES FOR VETERANS AT RISK FOR
HOMELESSNESS WHO ARE TRANSITIONING FROM CERTAIN
INSTITUTIONS.
Section 2023 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by striking subsection (d); and
(2) by redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (d).
SEC. 6. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR SUPPORTIVE
SERVICES FOR VERY LOW-INCOME VETERAN FAMILIES IN
PERMANENT HOUSING.
(a) In General.--Paragraph (1) of section 2044(e) of title 38,
United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
subparagraph:
``(H) $500,000,000 for fiscal year 2020.''.
(b) Training Entities for Provision of Supportive Services.--
Paragraph (3) of such section is amended by inserting ``and 2020''
after ``through 2012''.
SEC. 7. REQUIREMENT FOR COMPTROLLER GENERAL TO STUDY DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS HOMELESS VETERANS PROGRAMS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 270 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States
shall complete a study of programs of the Department of Veterans
Affairs that provide assistance to homeless veterans.
(b) Elements.--The study required by subsection (a) shall include
the following:
(1) An assessment of whether programs described in
subsection (a) are meeting the needs of veterans who are
eligible for assistance provided by such programs.
(2) A review of recent efforts of the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to improve the privacy, safety, and security of female
veterans receiving assistance from such programs.
SEC. 8. REPEAL OF REQUIREMENT FOR ANNUAL REPORTS ON ASSISTANCE TO
HOMELESS VETERANS.
(a) In General.--Section 2065 of title 38, United States Code, is
hereby repealed.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
chapter 20 of such title is amended by striking the item relating to
section 2065.
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