I 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 716 To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into partnerships with public and private entities to provide legal services to homeless veterans and veterans at risk of home- lessness. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JANUARY 23, 2019 Mrs. BEATTY (for herself, Mr. STIVERS, Mr. TED LIEU of California, and Mr. TURNER) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com- mittee on Veterans’ Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to enter into partnerships with public and private entities to provide legal services to homeless veterans and veterans at risk of homeless- ness. 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 ‘‘Homeless Veterans 4 Legal Services Act’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:26 Feb 01, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H716.IH H716 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 2 •HR 716 IH SEC. 2. PARTNERSHIPS WITH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE ENTI- 1 TIES TO PROVIDE LEGAL SERVICES TO 2 HOMELESS VETERANS AND VETERANS AT 3 RISK OF HOMELESSNESS. 4 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 20 of title 38, United 5 States Code, is amended by inserting after section 2022 6 the following new section: 7 ‘‘§ 2022A. Partnerships with public and private enti- 8 ties to provide legal services to homeless 9 veterans and veterans at risk of home- 10 lessness 11 ‘‘(a) PARTNERSHIPS AUTHORIZED.—Subject to the 12 availability of funds for such purpose, the Secretary shall 13 enter into partnerships with public or private entities to 14 fund a portion of the general legal services specified in 15 subsection (c) that are provided by such entities to home- 16 less veterans and veterans at risk of homelessness. 17 ‘‘(b) LOCATIONS.—The Secretary shall ensure that, 18 to the extent practicable, partnerships under this section 19 are made with entities equitably distributed across the ge- 20 ographic regions of the United States, including rural 21 communities and tribal lands. 22 ‘‘(c) LEGAL SERVICES.—Legal services specified in 23 this subsection include legal services provided by public 24 or private entities that address the needs of homeless vet- 25 erans and veterans at risk of homelessness as follows: 26 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:26 Feb 01, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H716.IH H716 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 3 •HR 716 IH ‘‘(1) Legal services related to housing, including 1 eviction defense, representation in landlord-tenant 2 cases, and representation in foreclosure cases. 3 ‘‘(2) Legal services related to family law, in- 4 cluding assistance in court proceedings for child sup- 5 port, divorce, estate planning, and family reconcili- 6 ation. 7 ‘‘(3) Legal services related to income support, 8 including assistance in obtaining public benefits. 9 ‘‘(4) Legal services related to criminal defense, 10 including defense in matters symptomatic of home- 11 lessness, such as outstanding warrants, fines, and 12 driver’s license revocation, to reduce recidivism and 13 facilitate the overcoming of reentry obstacles in em- 14 ployment or housing. 15 ‘‘(5) Such other legal services as the Secretary 16 determines appropriate. 17 ‘‘(d) CONSULTATION.—In developing and carrying 18 out partnerships under this section, the Secretary shall, 19 to the extent practicable— 20 ‘‘(1) consult with veterans service organizations 21 and other appropriate organizations; and 22 ‘‘(2) coordinate appropriate outreach relation- 23 ships with such organizations. 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:26 Feb 01, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H716.IH H716 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 4 •HR 716 IH ‘‘(e) REPORTS.—The Secretary may require entities 1 that have entered into partnerships under this section to 2 submit to the Secretary periodic reports on legal services 3 provided to homeless veterans and veterans who are at risk 4 of homelessness pursuant to such partnerships.’’. 5 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 6 at the beginning of chapter 20 of such title is amended 7 by adding after the item relating to section 2022 the fol- 8 lowing new item: 9 ‘‘2022A. Partnerships with public and private entities to provide legal services to homeless veterans and veterans at risk of homelessness.’’. Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:26 Feb 01, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H716.IH H716 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS