To improve mental health screening and services for members of the Armed Forces.

1. Adds SEC. 730. ENHANCED MENTAL HEALTH SCREENING AND SERVICES FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES at the end of subtitle B of title VII

   Adds a section

   In S. 2766 · Placed on Calendar Senate

   (e) Contingency Operation Defined.--In this section, the term "contingency operation" has the meaning given that term in section 101(a)(13) of title 10, United States Code.

   Inserted: SEC. 730. ENHANCED MENTAL HEALTH SCREENING AND SERVICES FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES.

   Inserted: (a) Required Elements of Assessments.--Each pre-deployment mental health assessment of a member of the Armed Forces, shall include the following:

   Inserted: (1) A mental health history of the member, with emphasis on mental health status during the 12-month period ending on the date of the assessment and a review of military service during that period.

   Inserted: (2) An assessment of the current treatment of the member, and any use of psychotropic medications by the member, for a mental health condition or disorder.

   Inserted: (3) An assessment of any behavior of the member identified by the member's commanding officer that could indicate the presence of a mental health condition.

   Inserted: (4) Information provided by the member (through a checklist or other means) on the presence of any serious mental illness or any symptoms indicating a mental health condition or disorder.

   Inserted: (b) Referral for Further Evaluation.--Each member of the Armed Forces who is determined during a pre-deployment or post-deployment mental health assessment to have, or have symptoms or indicators for, a mental health condition or disorder shall be referred to a qualified health care professional with experience in the evaluation and diagnosis of mental health conditions.

   Inserted: (c) Referral of Members Deployed in Contingency or Combat Operations.--any member of the Armed Forces called or ordered to active duty in support of contingency or combat operations who requests access to mental health care services any time before, during, or after deployment shall be provided access to such services--

   Inserted: (1) not later than 72 hours after the making of such request; or

   Inserted: (2) at the earliest practicable time thereafter.

   Inserted: (d) Minimum Mental Health Standards for Deployment.--

   Inserted: (1) Standards required.--The Secretary of Defense shall prescribe in regulations minimum standards for mental health for the eligibility of a member of the Armed Forces for deployment to a combat operation or contingency operation.

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   Inserted: (2) Elements.--The standards required by paragraph (1) shall include the following:

   Inserted: (A) A specification of the mental health conditions, treatment for such conditions, and receipt of psychotropic medications for such conditions that preclude deployment of a member of the Armed Forces to a combat operation or contingency operation, or to a specified type of such operation.

   Inserted: (B) Guidelines for the deployability and treatment of members of the Armed Forces diagnosed with a severe mental illness or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

   Inserted: (3) Utilization.--The Secretary shall take appropriate actions to ensure the utilization of the standards prescribed under paragraph (1) in the making of determinations regarding the deployability of members of the Armed Forces to a combat operation or contingency operation.

   Inserted: (e) Monitoring of Certain Individuals.--The Secretary of Defense shall develop a plan, to be implemented throughout the Department of Defense, for monitoring the mental health of each member of the Armed Forces who, after deployment to a combat operation or contingency operation, is known--

   Inserted: (1) to have a mental health condition or disorder; or

   Inserted: (2) to be receiving treatment, including psychotropic medications, for a mental health condition or disorder.

   Inserted: (f) Implementation.--Not later than six months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House or Representatives a report on the actions taken to implement the requirements of this section.

   Original wording

   At the end of subtitle B of title VII, add the following:

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As printed