FIGHT Veteran Suicides Act

II 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 2340 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES MAY 22, 2019 Received AN ACT To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide to Congress notice of any suicide or attempted suicide of a veteran in a Department of Veterans Affairs facility, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:09 Aug 02, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2340.RDS H2340 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 2 HR 2340 RDS SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 1 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Fostering Intergovern- 2 mental Health Transparency in Veteran Suicides Act’’ or 3 ‘‘FIGHT Veteran Suicides Act’’. 4 SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL NOTICE OF SUICIDES AND AT- 5 TEMPTED SUICIDES OF VETERANS IN DE- 6 PARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FACILI- 7 TIES. 8 Section 1720F of title 38, United States Code, is 9 amended by adding at the end the following new sub- 10 section: 11 ‘‘(l) CONGRESSIONAL NOTICE REQUIREMENTS.—(1) 12 In the case of the suicide or attempted suicide of any vet- 13 eran that occurs in, or on the grounds of, a Department 14 facility, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on 15 Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the House of Rep- 16 resentatives and the Senators and member of Congress 17 representing the district in which the facility is located 18 and the Senators and member of Congress representing 19 the district in which the veteran resides the following no- 20 tices: 21 ‘‘(A) Not later than 7 days after the date on 22 which the suicide or attempted suicide occurs, notice 23 of— 24 ‘‘(i) the suicide or attempted suicide; and 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:09 Aug 02, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2340.RDS H2340 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 3 HR 2340 RDS ‘‘(ii) the name of the facility and location 1 where the suicide or attempted suicide occurred. 2 ‘‘(B) Subject to subparagraph (C), not later 3 than 60 days after such date, notice of the following 4 information (if available) regarding the veteran who 5 committed or attempted to commit suicide: 6 ‘‘(i) The enrollment status of the veteran 7 with respect to the patient enrollment system of 8 the Department under section 1705 of this title. 9 ‘‘(ii) The most recent encounter between 10 the veteran and any employee or facility of the 11 Veterans Health Administration before the sui- 12 cide or attempted suicide occurred. 13 ‘‘(iii) Whether the veteran had other med- 14 ical insurance or coverage (including 15 TRICARE, Medicare, and Medicaid). 16 ‘‘(iv) The Armed Force in which the vet- 17 eran served. 18 ‘‘(v) The time period when the veteran 19 served in the Armed Forces. 20 ‘‘(vi) The age of the veteran. 21 ‘‘(vii) The marital status of the veteran. 22 ‘‘(viii) The employment status of the vet- 23 eran. 24 ‘‘(ix) The housing status of the veteran. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:09 Aug 02, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2340.RDS H2340 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 4 HR 2340 RDS ‘‘(x) The gender identity of the veteran. 1 ‘‘(xi) The sexual orientation of the veteran. 2 ‘‘(xii) The race of the veteran. 3 ‘‘(xiii) Confirmation that the Secretary has 4 provided notice to the immediate family mem- 5 bers of the veteran regarding any Department 6 support or assistance for which such family 7 members may be eligible. 8 ‘‘(C) In collecting and reporting information 9 under subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall take all 10 steps the Secretary determines necessary to respect 11 the privacy and dignity of the veteran and the family 12 of the veteran. 13 ‘‘(2) Each notice submitted under subparagraph (A) 14 or (B) of paragraph (1) shall include a copy of guidance 15 developed by the Secretary for purposes of dissemination 16 that is designed to— 17 ‘‘(A) deter the sensationalism of suicide; 18 ‘‘(B) provide information regarding warning 19 signs that are often exhibited by veterans at risk of 20 suicide; and 21 ‘‘(C) provide notice of the resources the Depart- 22 ment offers to veterans who may be at risk of sui- 23 VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:09 Aug 02, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2340.RDS H2340 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS 5 HR 2340 RDS cide, including the Veterans Crisis Line and read- 1 justment counseling provided through Vet Centers.’’. 2 Passed the House of Representatives May 21, 2019. Attest: CHERYL L. JOHNSON, Clerk. VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:09 Aug 02, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H2340.RDS H2340 pamtmann on DSKBFK8HB2PROD with BILLS