S.Amdt. 4419

1. Adds SEC. 587. ENHANCEMENT OF PRESEPARATION COUNSELING AND TRANSITION SERVICES at the end of subtitle F of title V

   Adds a section

   Inserted: SEC. 587. ENHANCEMENT OF PRESEPARATION COUNSELING AND TRANSITION SERVICES.

   Inserted: (a) Preseparation Counseling and Transition Services.--Subsection (a) of section 1142 of title 10, United States Code, is amended--

   Inserted: (1) in the first sentence of paragraph (1), by striking "shall (except as provided in paragraph (4)) provide for individual preseparation counseling of" and inserting "shall (except as provided in paragraph (5)) provide individual preseparation counseling and additional individualized transition services to";

   Inserted: (2) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and

   Inserted: (3) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following new paragraph:

   Inserted: "(4) For a member of a reserve component being separated from service on active duty for a period of more than 180 days, the Secretary concerned shall require that preseparation counseling and transition services under this section be provided to such member as soon as possible within the member's remaining period fo service with completion of the provision of such counseling and services to occur not later than 120 days after the member is so separated.".

   Inserted: (b) Individualized Transitional Services.--Subsection (b) of such section is amended--

   Inserted: (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking "Counseling.--Counseling under" and inserting "Counseling and Additional Individualized Transitional Services.--Counseling and additional individualized transitional assistance under"; and

   Inserted: (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:

   Inserted: "(18) In the case of a member who, as determined pursuant to a post deployment health care assessment (PDHA), may be eligible for compensation benefits under the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, a referral (to be provided with the assistance of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs) for a medical examination by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs referred to as a compensation and pension examination.

   Inserted: "(19) Information concerning services of the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and community-based organizations pertaining to reemployment rights, transition employment assistance, education benefits, readjustment counseling services, and other benefits for veterans.".

   Inserted: (c) Additional Requirements.--Such section is further amended by adding at the end the following new subsections:

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   Inserted: "(d) Content Relevant to Regular and Reserve Component Members.--The Secretary concerned shall ensure that preseparation counseling and transition services under this section include material that is specifically relevant to the needs of members being separated from active duty from a regular component, the needs of members of the reserve components being separated from active duty, and the needs of members of the National Guard being separated from full-time National Guard duty.

   Inserted: "(e) Consistency of Materials.--The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that the scope and content of the materials presented as part of preseparation counseling and transition services at each location under this section are consistent with minimum Department of Defense standards for the delivery of preseparation counseling for all members of the armed forces eligible to receive such counseling at separation from the armed forces.

   Inserted: "(f) Post-Separation Follow-up for Reserve Component Members.--The Secretary concerned shall ensure that follow-up counseling is provided for each member of a reserve component separated from active duty not later than 180 days after such separation.

   Inserted: "(g) Updated Content of Materials.--The Secretary concerned shall, on a continuing basis, update the minimum Department of Defense standards for the delivery of preseparation counseling used by activities of the Secretary that provide direct training support to personnel who provide preseparation counseling and other services under this section.

   Inserted: "(h) Internet-Based Access to Materials.--(1) The Secretary of Defense shall develop and maintain an Internet website for the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) by not later than October 1, 2008.

   Inserted: "(2) The information available through the website under paragraph (1) shall include comprehensive information on the Transition Assistance Program programs under subsection (b).

   Inserted: "(3) The website under paragraph (1) shall be accessible to all member of the armed forces who are eligible for preseparation counseling and transition services.

   Inserted: "(i) National Guard Members.--Members of the National Guard being separated from duty to which ordered under section 502(f) of title 32 shall be provided preseparation counseling and services under this section to the same extent that members of a reserve component being discharged or released from active duty are provided preseparation counseling and services under this section.".

   Inserted: (d) Clerical Amendments.--

   Inserted: (1) Section heading.--The heading for section 1142 of such title is amended to read as follows:

   Inserted: "Sec. 1142. Members separating from active duty:

   Inserted: preseparation counseling and transition services".

   Inserted: (2) Table of sections.--The item relating to section 1142 in the table of sections at the beginning of chapter 58 of such title is amended to read as follows:

   Inserted: "1142. Members separating from active duty: preseparation counseling and transition services".

   Inserted: (e) Cross-Reference Amendment.--Section 1144(a)(1) of such title is amended by striking "paragraph (4)(A)" in the second sentence and inserting "paragraph (5)(A)".

   Original wording

   At the end of subtitle F of title V, add the following new section:

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As printed