Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Expanding the Families of Veterans Access to Mental Health Services Act”.
Expanding the Families of Veterans Access to Mental Health Services Act
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to furnish readjustment counseling and related mental health services to family members of members of the Armed Forces or veterans who died by suicide, and other purposes.
Sec. 2 Eligibility for mental health services for family members of members of the Armed Forces and veterans who died by suicide
Section 1712A(a)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is amended—
in subparagraph (A)(ii)—
in subclause (I), by striking “and”;
in subclause (II), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and
by adding at the end the following new subclause:
“(III) in the case of a veteran or member who died by suicide, to the degree that counseling furnished to such individual is found to aid in coping with the effects of such suicide.”
in subparagraph (B)(i)(II)—
in item (aa), by striking “or”;
in item (bb), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; or”; and
by adding at the end the following new item:
“(cc) coping with the effects of a suicide described in subclause (III) of such clause.”
in subparagraph (C)(vii)—
in subclause (I), by striking “or” at the end;
in subclause (II), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; or”; and
by adding at the end the following new subclause:
“(III) veteran or member of the Armed Forces who died by suicide.”
Sec. 3 Effective date
The amendments made by section 2 shall apply with respect to family members of a member of the Armed Forces or veteran who died by suicide before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this Act.