[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 613 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
117th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 613
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot
program on dog training therapy and to amend title 38, United States
Code, to authorize the Secretary to provide service dogs to veterans
with mental illnesses who do not have mobility impairments.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 5, 2021
Mr. Tillis (for himself, Ms. Sinema, Mr. Cramer, and Mrs. Feinstein)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot
program on dog training therapy and to amend title 38, United States
Code, to authorize the Secretary to provide service dogs to veterans
with mental illnesses who do not have mobility impairments.
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 ``Puppies Assisting Wounded
Servicemembers for Veterans Therapy Act'' or the ``PAWS for Veterans
Therapy Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) According to the analyses of veteran suicide published
by the Department of Veterans Affairs in August 2016 and titled
``Suicide Among Veterans and Other Americans'' and in June 2018
and titled ``VA National Suicide Date Report''--
(A) an average of 20 veterans died by suicide each
day in 2014;
(B) mental health disorders, including major
depression and other mood disorders, have been
associated with increased risk for suicide;
(C) since 2001, the proportion of users of health
care from the Veterans Health Administration with
mental health conditions or substance use disorders has
increased from approximately 27 percent in 2001 to more
than 40 percent in 2014; and
(D) overall, suicide rates are highest among
patients with mental health and substance use disorder
diagnoses who are in treatment and lower among those
who received a mental health diagnosis but were not at
risk enough to require enhanced care from a mental
health provider.
(2) The Department of Veterans Affairs must be more
effective in its approach to reducing the burden of veteran
suicide connected to mental health disorders, including post-
traumatic stress disorder (in this section referred to as
``PTSD''), and new, rigorous scientific research provides
persuasive weight to the growing anecdotal evidence that
service dogs ameliorate the symptoms associated with PTSD, and
in particular, help prevent veteran suicide.
(3) Several organizations have proven track records of
training service dogs for veterans with severe PTSD and
dramatically improving the quality of life, ability to re-enter
society, and, most importantly, the chances of survival of
those veterans.
SEC. 3. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS PILOT PROGRAM ON DOG TRAINING
THERAPY.
(a) In General.--Commencing not later than 120 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
carry out a pilot program under which the Secretary shall make grants
to one or more appropriate non-government entities for the purpose of
assessing the effectiveness of addressing post-deployment mental health
and the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (in this section
referred to as ``PTSD'') through a therapeutic medium of training
service dogs for veterans with disabilities.
(b) Duration of Pilot Program.--The pilot program required by
subsection (a) shall be carried out during the five-year period
beginning on the date of the commencement of the pilot program.
(c) Conditions on Receipt of Grants.--As a condition of receiving a
grant under this section, a non-government entity shall--
(1) submit to the Secretary certification that the entity
is an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and is exempt from taxation under
section 501(a) of such code that--
(A) provides service dogs to veterans with PTSD;
and
(B) is accredited by, or adheres to standards
comparable to those of, an accrediting organization
with demonstrated experience, national scope, and
recognized leadership and expertise in the training of
service dogs and education in the use of service dogs;
(2) agree to cover all costs in excess of the grant amount;
(3) agree to reaccept or replace the service dog the entity
provided to a veteran, if necessary, as determined by the
entity and the veteran;
(4) provide a wellness certification from a licensed
veterinarian for any dog participating in the pilot program
under this section;
(5) employ at least one person with clinical experience
related to mental health;
(6) ensure that veterans participating in the pilot program
receive training from certified service dog training
instructors for a period of time determined appropriate by the
entity and the Secretary, including service skills to address
or alleviate symptoms unique to the needs of veterans;
(7) agree to provide--
(A) lectures on service dog training methodologies;
and
(B) practical hands-on training and grooming of
service dogs;
(8) agree that in hiring service dog training instructors
to carry out training under the pilot program, the entity will
give a preference to veterans who have successfully graduated
from PTSD or other residential treatment program and who have
received adequate certification in service dog training;
(9) agree not to use shock collars or prong collars as
training tools and to use positive reinforcement training;
(10) agree that upon the conclusion of training provided
using the grant funds--
(A) the veteran who received the training will keep
the dog unless the veteran and the health care provider
of the veteran decide it is not in the best interest of
the veteran;
(B) if the veteran does not opt to own the dog, the
entity will be responsible for caring for and
appropriately placing the dog;
(C) the Department of Veterans Affairs will have no
additional responsibility to provide for any benefits
under this section; and
(D) the Department of Veterans Affairs will have no
liability with respect to the dog;
(11) provide follow-up support service for the life of the
dog, including a contact plan between the veteran and the
entity to allow the veteran to reach out for and receive
adequate help with the service dog and the entity to
communicate with the veteran to ensure the service dog is being
properly cared for; and
(12) submit to the Secretary an application containing such
information, certification, and assurances as the Secretary may
require.
(d) Veteran Eligibility.--
(1) In general.--A veteran is eligible to participate in
the pilot program under this section if the veteran--
(A) is enrolled in the patient enrollment system of
the Department of Veterans Affairs under section 1705
of title 38, United States Code;
(B) has been recommended to participate in the
pilot program by a qualified health care provider or
clinical team based on the medical judgment that the
veteran may potentially benefit from participating; and
(C) agrees to successfully complete training
provided by a non-government entity in receipt of a
grant under this section.
(2) Relationship to participation in other program.--
Veterans may participate in the pilot program under this
section in conjunction with the compensated work therapy
program of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
(3) Continuing eligibility requirement.--To remain eligible
to participate in the pilot program under this section, a
veteran shall see the health care provider or clinical team of
the Department of Veterans Affairs treating the veteran for
PTSD not less frequently than once every six months to
determine, based on a clinical evaluation of efficacy, whether
the veteran continues to benefit from the pilot program.
(e) Collection of Data.--
(1) In general.--In carrying out the pilot program under
this section, the Secretary shall--
(A) develop metrics and other appropriate means to
measure, with respect to veterans participation in the
pilot program, the improvement in psychosocial function
and therapeutic compliance of such veterans and changes
with respect to the dependence of such veterans on
prescription narcotics and psychotropic medication; and
(B) establish processes to document and track the
progress of such veterans under the pilot program in
terms of the benefits and improvements noted as a
result of the pilot program.
(2) Continued collection.--The Secretary shall continue to
collect data under paragraph (1) for each veteran who has
continued with the dog he or she has personally trained under
the pilot program under this section for a five-year period
following the date on which the veteran decides to keep the
dog.
(f) GAO Briefing and Report.--
(1) Briefing.--Not later than one year after the date of
the commencement of the pilot program under this section, the
Comptroller General of the United States shall brief the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee
on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives on the
methodology established for the pilot program.
(2) Report.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 270 days after the
date on which the pilot program under this section
terminates, the Comptroller General shall submit to the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of
Representatives a report on the pilot program.
(B) Elements.--The report required by subparagraph
(A) shall include an evaluation of the approach and
methodology used for the pilot program under this
section with respect to--
(i) helping veterans with severe PTSD
return to civilian life;
(ii) relevant metrics, including reduction
in scores under the PTSD checklist (PCL-5),
improvement in psychosocial function, and
therapeutic compliance; and
(iii) reducing the dependence of
participants in the pilot program on
prescription narcotics and psychotropic
medication.
(g) Service Dog Training Instructor Defined.--In this section, the
term ``service dog training instructor'' means an instructor who
provides the direct training of veterans with PTSD and other post-
deployment issues in the art and science of service dog training and
handling.
SEC. 4. AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS TO PROVIDE SERVICE
DOGS TO VETERANS WITH MENTAL ILLNESSES WHO DO NOT HAVE
MOBILITY IMPAIRMENTS.
Section 1714 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding
at the end the following new subsection:
``(e) The Secretary may provide a service dog to a veteran under
subsection (c)(3) regardless of whether the veteran has a mobility
impairment.''.
<all>