38 U.S.C. § 2064 — Technical assistance grants for nonprofit

Page 589 TITLE 38—VETERANS’ BENEFITS § 2064 ‘‘(A) coordinate with the Secretary with respect to the provision of clinical services to eligible indi- viduals or any other provisions of the law regarding the delivery of health care by the Secretary; ‘‘(B) inform each veteran who receives assistance under this section from the entity of the ability of the veteran to apply for enrollment in the patient enrollment system of the Department under section 1705(a) of title 38, United States Code; and ‘‘(C) if such a veteran wishes to so enroll, inform the veteran of a point of contact at the Department who can assist the veteran in such enrollment. ‘‘(f) REPORT ON SERVICES PROVIDED.—The Secretary shall require each eligible entity awarded a grant under this section to submit to the Secretary a report that describes the services provided or coordinated with amounts under such grant. ‘‘(g) DURATION.—The Secretary shall carry out the pilot program during the five-year period beginning on the date on which the pilot program commences. ‘‘(h) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than one year after the date on which the first grants are awarded under this section, and annually thereafter until the program terminates, the Secretary shall submit to the Com- mittee on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Rep- resentatives a report on the effectiveness of the pro- gram. ‘‘(2) ELEMENTS.—The report required by paragraph (1) shall include the number of veterans served by the pilot program under the care of a staff member the funding for whom is provided by a grant under the program, disaggregated by— ‘‘(A) geographic location; ‘‘(B) sex; ‘‘(C) age; ‘‘(D) race and ethnicity; ‘‘(E) whether or not a veteran received health care from the Department during the two-year pe- riod preceding the date on which the veteran began participating in the program; ‘‘(F) the number of veterans who transitioned into permanent housing as a result of participation in the program; ‘‘(G) with respect to veterans who did not transi- tion into permanent housing as a result of partici- pation in the program, the main reasons for not so transitioning; ‘‘(H) discharge status; and ‘‘(I) eligibility for health care provided by the De- partment of Veterans Affairs.’’ STUDY OF OUTCOME EFFECTIVENESS OF GRANT PRO- GRAM FOR HOMELESS VETERANS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS Pub. L. 107–95, § 7, Dec. 21, 2001, 115 Stat. 919, required the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a study of the effectiveness during fiscal year 2002 through fiscal year 2004 of the grant program under this section in meeting the needs of homeless veterans with special needs and to submit to Congress a report on the study not later than Mar. 31, 2005. § 2062. Dental care (a) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of section 1712(a)(1)(H) of this title, outpatient dental serv- ices and treatment of a dental condition or dis- ability of a veteran described in subsection (b) shall be considered to be medically necessary, subject to subsection (c), if— (1) the dental services and treatment are necessary for the veteran to successfully gain or regain employment; (2) the dental services and treatment are necessary to alleviate pain; or (3) the dental services and treatment are necessary for treatment of moderate, severe, or severe and complicated gingival and peri- odontal pathology. (b) ELIGIBLE VETERANS.—Subsection (a) ap- plies to a veteran— (1) who is enrolled for care under section 1705(a) of this title; and (2) who, for a period of 60 consecutive days, is receiving care (directly or by contract) in any of the following settings: (A) A domiciliary under section 1710 of this title. (B) A therapeutic residence under section 2032 of this title. (C) Community residential care coordi- nated by the Secretary under section 1730 of this title. (D) A setting for which the Secretary pro- vides funds for a grant and per diem pro- vider. (3) For purposes of paragraph (2), in deter- mining whether a veteran has received treat- ment for a period of 60 consecutive days, the Secretary may disregard breaks in the con- tinuity of treatment for which the veteran is not responsible. (c) LIMITATION.—Dental benefits provided by reason of this section shall be a one-time course of dental care provided in the same manner as the dental benefits provided to a newly dis- charged veteran. (Added Pub. L. 107–95, § 5(a)(1), Dec. 21, 2001, 115 Stat. 913.) § 2063. Employment assistance The Secretary may authorize homeless vet- erans receiving care through vocational reha- bilitation programs to participate in the com- pensated work therapy program under section 1718 of this title. (Added Pub. L. 107–95, § 5(a)(1), Dec. 21, 2001, 115 Stat. 914.) § 2064. Technical assistance grants for nonprofit community-based groups (a) GRANT PROGRAM.—The Secretary shall carry out a program to make grants to entities or organizations with expertise in preparing grant applications. Under the program, the enti- ties or organizations receiving grants shall pro- vide technical assistance to nonprofit commu- nity-based groups with experience in providing assistance to homeless veterans in order to as- sist such groups in applying for grants under this chapter and other grants relating to ad- dressing problems of homeless veterans. (b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There are authorized to be appropriated $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2007 through 2012 to carry out the program under this section. (Added Pub. L. 107–95, § 5(a)(1), Dec. 21, 2001, 115 Stat. 914; amended Pub. L. 109–461, title VII, § 707, Dec. 22, 2006, 120 Stat. 3440.) Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2006—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 109–461 amended heading and text of subsec. (b) generally. Prior to amendment, Page 590 TITLE 38—VETERANS’ BENEFITS § 2065 text read as follows: ‘‘There is authorized to be appro- priated $750,000 for each of fiscal years 2002 through 2005 to carry out the program under this section.’’ § 2065. Annual report on assistance to homeless veterans (a) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than June 15 of each year, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the ac- tivities of the Department during the calendar year preceding the report under programs of the Department under this chapter and other pro- grams of the Department for the provision of as- sistance to homeless veterans. (b) GENERAL CONTENTS OF REPORT.—Each re- port under subsection (a) shall include the fol- lowing: (1) The number of homeless veterans pro- vided assistance under the programs referred to in subsection (a). (2) The cost to the Department of providing such assistance under those programs. (3) The Secretary’s evaluation of the effec- tiveness of the programs of the Department in providing assistance to homeless veterans, in- cluding— (A) residential work-therapy programs; (B) programs combining outreach, commu- nity-based residential treatment, and case- management; and (C) contract care programs for alcohol and drug-dependence or use disabilities. (4) The Secretary’s evaluation of the effec- tiveness of programs established by recipients of grants under section 2011 of this title and a description of the experience of those recipi- ents in applying for and receiving grants from the Secretary of Housing and Urban Develop- ment to serve primarily homeless persons who are veterans. (5) Information on the efforts of the Sec- retary to coordinate the delivery of housing and services to homeless veterans with other Federal departments and agencies, including— (A) the Department of Defense; (B) the Department of Health and Human Services; (C) the Department of Housing and Urban Development; (D) the Department of Justice; (E) the Department of Labor; (F) the Interagency Council on Homeless- ness; (G) the Social Security Administration; and (H) any other Federal department or agen- cy with which the Secretary coordinates the delivery of housing and services to homeless veterans. (6) Any other information on those programs and on the provision of such assistance that the Secretary considers appropriate. (c) HEALTH CARE CONTENTS OF REPORT.—Each report under subsection (a) shall include, with respect to programs of the Department address- ing health care needs of homeless veterans, the following: (1) Information about expenditures, costs, and workload under the program of the De- partment known as the Health Care for Home- less Veterans program (HCHV). (2) Information about the veterans contacted through that program. (3) Information about program treatment outcomes under that program. (4) Information about supported housing pro- grams. (5) Information about the Department’s grant and per diem provider program under subchapter II of this chapter. (6) The findings and conclusions of the as- sessments of the medical needs of homeless veterans conducted under section 2034(b) of this title. (7) Other information the Secretary con- siders relevant in assessing those programs. (d) BENEFITS CONTENT OF REPORT.—Each re- port under subsection (a) shall include, with re- spect to programs and activities of the Veterans Benefits Administration in processing of claims for benefits of homeless veterans during the pre- ceding year, the following: (1) Information on costs, expenditures, and workload of Veterans Benefits Administration claims evaluators in processing claims for ben- efits of homeless veterans. (2) Information on the filing of claims for benefits by homeless veterans. (3) Information on efforts undertaken to ex- pedite the processing of claims for benefits of homeless veterans. (4) Other information that the Secretary considers relevant in assessing the programs and activities. (Added Pub. L. 107–95, § 5(a)(1), Dec. 21, 2001, 115 Stat. 914; amended Pub. L. 108–170, title IV, § 405(b), Dec. 6, 2003, 117 Stat. 2063; Pub. L. 109–461, title VII, § 708, Dec. 22, 2006, 120 Stat. 3440; Pub. L. 110–387, title IX, § 901(a)(2), Oct. 10, 2008, 122 Stat. 4142.) Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2008—Subsec. (b)(3)(C). Pub. L. 110–387 struck out clos- ing parenthesis after ‘‘disabilities’’. 2006—Subsec. (b)(5), (6). Pub. L. 109–461 added par. (5) and redesignated former par. (5) as (6). 2003—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 108–170 substituted ‘‘June 15 of each year’’ for ‘‘April 15 of each year’’. § 2066. Advisory Committee on Homeless Vet- erans (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—(1) There is established in the Department the Advisory Committee on Homeless Veterans (hereinafter in this section referred to as the ‘‘Committee’’). (2) The Committee shall consist of not more than 15 members appointed by the Secretary from among the following: (A) Veterans service organizations. (B) Advocates of homeless veterans and other homeless individuals. (C) Community-based providers of services to homeless individuals. (D) Previously homeless veterans. (E) State veterans affairs officials. (F) Experts in the treatment of individuals with mental illness.