38 U.S.C. § 1707 — Limitations

Page 340 TITLE 38—VETERANS’ BENEFITS § 1707 mitted an assessment and plan under sub- section (a) in the preceding year, including an update on the progress of each such medical service line in complying with the standards for quality and timeliness established by the Secretary and any other actions the Secretary is undertaking to assist the medical service line in complying with standards for quality as established by the Secretary; and (2) publish such analysis on the internet website of the Department. (Added Pub. L. 115–182, title I, § 109(a), June 6, 2018, 132 Stat. 1417; amended Pub. L. 115–251, title II, § 211(a)(6), Sept. 29, 2018, 132 Stat. 3175.) Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2018—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 115–251, § 211(a)(6)(A), in- serted ‘‘of this title’’ after ‘‘section 1703(e)(1)’’ in intro- ductory provisions. Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 115–251, § 211(a)(6)(B), sub- stituted ‘‘subsection (a)’’ for ‘‘paragraph (1)’’. § 1707. Limitations (a) Funds appropriated to carry out this chap- ter may not be used for purposes that are incon- sistent with the Assisted Suicide Funding Re- striction Act of 1997 (42 U.S.C. 14401 et seq.). (b) The Secretary may furnish sensori-neural aids only in accordance with guidelines pre- scribed by the Secretary. (Added Pub. L. 105–12, § 9(i)(1), Apr. 30, 1997, 111 Stat. 27; amended Pub. L. 107–135, title II, § 208(a)(2), (f)(2), Jan. 23, 2002, 115 Stat. 2462, 2464; Pub. L. 107–330, title III, § 308(g)(5), Dec. 6, 2002, 116 Stat. 2829.) Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT The Assisted Suicide Funding Restriction Act of 1997, referred to in subsec. (a), is Pub. L. 105–12, Apr. 30, 1997, 111 Stat. 23, which is classified principally to chapter 138 (§ 14401 et seq.) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 14401 of Title 42. AMENDMENTS 2002—Pub. L. 107–135, § 208(f)(2), substituted ‘‘Limita- tions’’ for ‘‘Restriction on use of funds for assisted sui- cide, euthanasia, or mercy killing’’ as section catch- line. Pub. L. 107–135, § 208(a)(2), designated existing provi- sions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b). Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 107–330 inserted ‘‘(42 U.S.C. 14401 et seq.)’’ before period at end. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries EFFECTIVE DATE Section effective Apr. 30, 1997, and applicable to Fed- eral payments made pursuant to obligations incurred after Apr. 30, 1997, for items and services provided on or after such date, subject to also being applicable with respect to contracts entered into, renewed, or extended after Apr. 30, 1997, as well as contracts entered into be- fore Apr. 30, 1997, to the extent permitted under such contracts, see section 11 of Pub. L. 105–12, set out as a note under section 14401 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. § 1708. Temporary lodging (a) The Secretary may furnish persons de- scribed in subsection (b) with temporary lodging in a Fisher house or other appropriate facility in connection with the examination, treatment, or care of a veteran under this chapter or, as pro- vided for under subsection (e)(5), in connection with benefits administered under this title. (b) Persons to whom the Secretary may pro- vide lodging under subsection (a) are the fol- lowing: (1) A veteran who must travel a significant distance to receive care or services under this title. (2) A member of the family of a veteran and others who accompany a veteran and provide the equivalent of familial support for such vet- eran. (c) In this section, the term ‘‘Fisher house’’ means a housing facility that— (1) is located at, or in proximity to, a De- partment medical facility; (2) is available for residential use on a tem- porary basis by patients of that facility and others described in subsection (b)(2); and (3) is constructed by, and donated to the Sec- retary by, the Zachary and Elizabeth M. Fish- er Armed Services Foundation. (d) The Secretary may establish charges for providing lodging under this section. The pro- ceeds from such charges shall be credited to the medical services account and shall be available until expended for the purposes of providing such lodging. (e) The Secretary shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section. Such regulations shall include provisions— (1) limiting the duration of lodging provided under this section; (2) establishing standards and criteria under which charges are established for such lodging under subsection (d); (3) establishing criteria for persons consid- ered to be accompanying a veteran under sub- section (b)(2); (4) establishing criteria for the use of the premises of temporary lodging facilities under this section; and (5) establishing any other limitations, condi- tions, and priorities that the Secretary con- siders appropriate with respect to lodging under this section. (Added Pub. L. 106–419, title II, § 221(a), Nov. 1, 2000, 114 Stat. 1844; amended Pub. L. 110–387, title IX, § 901(a)(8), Oct. 10, 2008, 122 Stat. 4142.) Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2008—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 110–387 substituted ‘‘medical services account’’ for ‘‘medical care account’’. § 1709. Comprehensive policy on reporting and tracking sexual assault incidents and other safety incidents (a) POLICY REQUIRED.—(1) Not later than Sep- tember 30, 2012, the Secretary shall develop and implement a centralized and comprehensive pol- icy on the reporting and tracking of sexual as- sault incidents and other safety incidents that occur at each medical facility of the Depart- ment, including— (A) suspected, alleged, attempted, or con- firmed cases of sexual assault, regardless of