PUBLIC LAW 106-117—NOV. 30, 1999 113 STAT. 1559 (e) STUDY OF EXPANDING ELIGIBILITY FOR COUNSELING AND TREATMENT.— (1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, shall conduct a study to determine— (A) the extent to which former merabers of the reserve components of the Armed Forces experienced physical assault of a sexual nature or battery of a sexual nature while serving on active duty for training; (B) the extent to which such former members have sought counseling from the Department of Veterans Affairs relating to those incidents; and (C) the additional resources that, in the judgment of the Secretary, would be required to meet the projected need of those former members for such counseling. (2) Not later than. 16 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the results of the study conducted under paragraph (1). (f) OVERSIGHT OF OUTREACH ACTIVITIES. —Not later than 14 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a joint report describing in detail the collaborative efforts of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense to ensure that members of the Armed Forces, upon separation from active military, naval, or air service, are provided appropriate and current information about progrgims of the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide counseling and treatment for sexual trauma that may have been experienced by those members while in the active military, naval, or air service, including information ab(3ut eligibility requirements for, and procedures for applying for, such counseling and treatment. The report shall include proposed recommendations from both the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense for the improvement of their collaborative efforts to provide such information. (g) REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION OF SEXUAL TRAUMA TREAT- MENT PROGRAM.— Not later than 14 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the use made of the authority provided under section 1720D of title 38, United States Code, as amended by this section. The report shall include the following with respect to activities under that section since the enactment of this Act: (1) The number of veterans who have received counseling under that section. (2) The number of veterans who have been referred to non-Department mental health facilities and providers in connection with sexual trauma counseling and treatment. SEC. 116. SPECIALIZED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. (a) IMPROVEMENT TO SPECIALIZED MENTAI. HEALTH SERVICES.— The Secretary, in furtherance of the responsibilities of the Secretary under section 1706(b) of title 38, United States Code, shall carry out a program to expand and improve the provision of specialized mental health services to veterans. The Secretary shall establish the program in consultation with the Committee on Care of Severely 38 USC 1720D note. Deadline. Reports. Deadlines. Reports. 38 USC 1720D note. Deadline. 38 USC 1712A note.
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