II
113th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2217
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 7, 2014
Mr. Tester (for himself, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Blumenthal, and Mr. Walsh) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services
A BILL
To amend title 10, United States Code, to enhance the participation of mental health professionals in boards for the correction of military records and boards for the review of the discharge or dismissal of members of the Armed Forces.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the Military Mental Health Review Board Improvement Act
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Enhancement of participation of mental health professionals in boards for correction of military records and boards for review of discharge or dismissal of members of the Armed Forces
Boards for correction of military records
Section 1552 of title 10, United States Code, is amended—
by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (h); and
by inserting after subsection (f) the following new subsection (g):
Any medical advisory opinion issued to a board established under subsection (a)(1) with respect to a member or former member of the armed forces who was diagnosed while serving in the armed forces as experiencing a mental health disorder shall include the opinion of a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist if the request for correction of records concerned relates to a mental health disorder.
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Boards for review of discharge or dismissal
Review for certain former members with PTSD or TBI
Subsection (d)(1) of section 1553 of such title is amended by striking physician, clinical psychologist, or psychiatrist
the second place it appears and inserting clinical psychologist or psychiatrist, or a physician with training on mental health issues
connected with post traumatic stress disorder or traumatic brain injury
(as applicable)
.
Review for certain former members with mental health diagnoses
Such section is further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
In the case of a former member of the armed forces (other than a former member covered by subsection (d)) who was diagnosed while serving in the armed forces as experiencing a mental health disorder, a board established under this section to review the former member's discharge or dismissal shall include a member who is a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist, or a physician with special training on mental health disorders.
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