Federal

COMFORT Act

Source: Congress.gov · 418 words in original text

What This Bill Does

This bill allows certain mental health professionals to provide non-medical counseling services to military families. The services can be provided at various locations without restricting where the counselor or family member is physically located, as long as the work falls within the counselor's authorized federal duties.

Who It Affects

Military families who receive counseling services. Mental health professionals (including uniformed service members, Defense Department civilian employees and contractors) who provide counseling to military families. The Secretary of Defense.

Key Provisions

• Mental health professionals may provide non-medical counseling services to military families at any location in a state, the District of Columbia, or a territory or possession of the United States, regardless of where the provider or recipient is located, if the services are within the provider's authorized federal duties. (Sec. 2(a)) • Covered mental health professionals must hold a currently valid, unrestricted license or certification issued by a state, the District of Columbia, or a territory or possession that the Secretary of Defense recognizes. (Sec. 2(b)(1)) • Covered mental health professionals must be a uniformed service member, a civilian Defense Department employee, or a contractor designated by the Secretary of Defense. (Sec. 2(b)(2)) • Covered mental health professionals must be performing authorized duties for the Department of Defense under a program or activity referred to in the bill. (Sec. 2(b)(3))

What Changes

Current federal law is amended to explicitly authorize non-medical counseling services for military families provided by qualified mental health professionals, removing restrictions on where these services can be delivered.

Important Definitions

Non-medical counseling services: Not defined in the bill text.

II 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. 456 To amend title 10, United States Code, to authorize non-medical counseling services, provided by certain mental health professionals, to military families. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES FEBRUARY 15, 2023 Ms. SINEMA (for herself and Mr. SULLIVAN) 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 authorize non- medical counseling services, provided by certain mental health professionals, to military families. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Comforting Our Mili- 4 tary Families through On-base or Remote Treatment Act’’ 5 or the ‘‘COMFORT Act’’. 6 SEC. 2. NON-MEDICAL COUNSELING SERVICES FOR MILI- 7 TARY FAMILIES. 8 (a) NON-MEDICAL COUNSELING SERVICES.—Not- 9 withstanding any other provision of law, a mental health 10 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:31 Mar 03, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S456.IS S456 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •S 456 IS professional described in subsection (b) may provide non- 1 medical counseling services to military families at any lo- 2 cation in a State, the District of Columbia, or a territory 3 or possession of the United States, without regard to 4 where the provider or recipient of such services is located, 5 if the provision of such services is within the scope of the 6 authorized Federal duties of the provider. 7 (b) COVERED MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.— 8 A mental health professional described in this subsection 9 is a person who is— 10 (1) a currently licensed or certified mental 11 health care provider who holds an unrestricted li- 12 cense or certification that is— 13 (A) issued by a State, the District of Co- 14 lumbia, or a territory or possession of the 15 United States; and 16 (B) recognized by the Secretary of De- 17 fense; 18 (2) a member of the uniformed services, a civil- 19 ian employee of the Department of Defense, or a 20 contractor designated by the Secretary; and 21 (3) performing authorized duties for the De- 22 partment of Defense under a program or activity re- 23 ferred to in subsection (a). 24 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:31 Mar 03, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\S456.IS S456 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS

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