II
112th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3309
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
June 18, 2012
Mrs. Murray 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 assistance provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs to homeless veterans, and for other purposes.
Short title; table of contents
Short title
This Act may be cited
as the Homeless Veterans Assistance
Improvement Act of 2012
.
Table of contents
The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Requirement that recipients of grants from Department of Veterans Affairs for comprehensive service programs for homeless veterans meet physical privacy, safety, and security needs of such veterans.
Sec. 3. Modification of authority of Department of Veterans Affairs to provide capital improvement grants for comprehensive service programs that assist homeless veterans.
Sec. 4. Funding for furnishing legal services to very low-income veteran families in permanent housing.
Sec. 5. Modifications to requirements relating to per diem payments for services furnished to homeless veterans.
Sec. 6. Authorization of grants by Department of Veterans Affairs to centers that provide services to homeless veterans for operational expenses.
Sec. 7. Expansion of Department of Veterans Affairs authority to provide dental care to homeless veterans.
Sec. 8. Extensions of authorities and programs affecting homeless veterans.
Requirement that recipients of grants from Department of Veterans Affairs for comprehensive service programs for homeless veterans meet physical privacy, safety, and security needs of such veterans
Section 2011(f) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
To meet the physical privacy, safety, and security needs of homeless veterans receiving services through the project.
.
Modification of authority of Department of Veterans Affairs to provide capital improvement grants for comprehensive service programs that assist homeless veterans
Section 2011(a) of
title 38, United States Code, is amended, in the matter before paragraph (1),
by inserting and maintaining
after in
establishing
.
Funding for furnishing legal services to very low-income veteran families in permanent housing
Section 2044(e) of title 38, United States Code, is amended—
by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively; and
by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new paragraph (2):
Of amounts made available under paragraph (1), not less than one percent shall be available for the furnishing of services described in subsection (b)(1)(D)(vii).
.
Modifications to requirements relating to per diem payments for services furnished to homeless veterans
Authorization of per diem payments for furnishing care to dependents of certain homeless veterans
Section 2012(a) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
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).
.
Provision of funds for per diem payments for nonconforming entities
In general
Section 2012(d)(1) of such title is amended, in the
matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking may make
and
inserting shall make
.
Regulations required
Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to implement the amendment made by paragraph (1).
Authorization of grants by Department of Veterans Affairs to centers that provide services to homeless veterans for operational expenses
In general
Subchapter II of chapter 20 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 2012 the following new section:
Service center operational grants
In general
Subject to the availability of appropriations provided for such purpose, the Secretary may award to a recipient of a grant under section 2011 of this title for the establishment of a service center described in subsection (g) of such section a grant for the operational expenses of such service center not otherwise covered by the receipt of per diem payments under section 2012 of this section.
Limitation
The aggregate amount of all grants awarded under subsection (a) in any fiscal year may not exceed $500,000.
.
Clerical amendment
The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 2012 the following new item:
2012A. Service center operational grants.
.
Regulations
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall promulgate regulations to carry out section 2012A of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.
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:
Eligible veterans
Subsection (a) applies to a veteran who—
is enrolled for care under section 1705(a) of this title; and
for a period of 60 consecutive days, is receiving—
assistance under section 8(o) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437f(o)); or
care (directly or by contract) in any of the following settings:
A domiciliary under section 1710 of this title.
A therapeutic residence under section 2032 of this title.
Community residential care coordinated by the Secretary under section 1730 of this title.
A setting for which the Secretary provides funds for a grant and per diem provider.
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.
.
Extensions of authorities and programs affecting homeless veterans
Comprehensive service programs
Section 2013 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking paragraph (5) and inserting the following new paragraphs:
$250,000,000 for fiscal year 2013.
$150,000,000 for fiscal year 2014 and each subsequent fiscal year.
.
Homeless veterans reintegration programs
Section 2021(e)(1)(F) of such
title is amended by striking 2012
and inserting
2013
.
Outreach, care, treatment, rehabilitation, and therapeutic transitional housing for veterans suffering from serious mental illness
Section 2031(b) of such
title is amended by striking December 31, 2012
and inserting
December 31, 2014
.
Program To expand and improve provision of benefits and services by Department of Veterans Affairs to homeless veterans
Section 2033(d) of such title is
amended by striking December 31, 2012
and inserting
December 31, 2014
.
Housing assistance for homeless veterans
Section 2041(c) of such title is
amended by striking December 31, 2012
and inserting
December 31, 2013
.
Financial assistance for supportive services for very low-Income veteran families in permanent housing
Section 2044(e)(1) of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
$300,000,000 for fiscal year 2013.
.
Grant program for homeless veterans with special needs
Section 2061(c)(1) of
such title is amended by striking through 2012
and inserting
through 2015
.
Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans
Section 2066(d) of such title is
amended by striking December 31, 2012
and inserting
December 31, 2014
.