DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS USE OF SERVICE DOGS FOR THE TREATMENT OR REHABILITATION OF VETERANS WITH PHYSICAL OR MENTAL INJURIES OR DISABILITIES.

SEC. 1077. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS USE OF SERVICE DOGS FOR THE TREATMENT OR REHABILITATION OF VETERANS WITH PHYSICAL OR MENTAL INJURIES OR DISABILITIES.(a) Program Required.—Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall commence a three-year study to assess the benefits, feasibility, and advisability of using service dogs for the treatment or rehabilitation of veterans with physical or mental injuries or disabilities, including post-traumatic stress disorder.(b) Partnerships.—(1) In general.—The Secretary shall carry out the study by partnering with nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations that—(A) would not charge veterans who participate in the study fees for the dogs, services, or lodging that they provide; and(B) are accredited by, or adhere to standards comparable to those of, an accrediting organization with demonstrated experience, national scope, and recognized leadership and expertise in the training of service dogs and education in the use of service dogs.(2) Reimbursement of costs.—The Secretary shall reimburse partners $10,000 for each dog provided to a veteran who enrolls in the study and successfully completes a training program offered by one of the partners.(c) Participation.—(1) In general.—As part of the study, the Secretary shall, subject to paragraph (2), arrange for the provision of a service dog to the greater of the following:(A) 200 veterans.(B) A sufficient number of such veterans to produce scientifically valid results with respect to assessing the benefits and costs of the use of such dogs for the treatment or rehabilitation of such veterans.(2) Number of veterans.—The Department of Veterans Affairs may provide dogs to fewer than 200 veterans if, despite its sustained and repeated efforts, it is unable to recruit 200 veterans to participate in the study referred to in subsection (d).(3) Eligible veterans.—A veteran is eligible to enroll and participate in the study on an ongoing basis if:(A) The veteran has physical disabilities (other than blindness or hearing impairment) or mental injuries or disabilities.(B) A Department of Veterans Affairs provider determines, based on clinical evaluation of efficacy, that the veteran is an appropriate candidate for the study and may potentially benefit from a service dog.(C) The veteran agrees to successfully complete a training program arranged by the Department of Veterans Affairs and offered by a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that is accredited by, or adheres to standards comparable to those of, an accrediting organization with demonstrated experience, national scope, and recognized leadership and expertise in the training of service dogs and education in the use of service dogs.123 STAT. 2478(4) Composition.—The Secretary shall ensure that at least half of the participants in the study are veterans who suffer primarily from a mental health injury or disability.(5) Authorized benefits.—The Department of Veterans Affairs will provide to a veteran participating in this study:(A) Veterinary treatment to maintain the health of the dog and keep it functioning in its prescribed role.(B) Hardware required by the dog to perform its tasks, and repairs to such hardware.(C) Payments and allowances for travel incurred in becoming adjusted to the service dogs, to be paid in the same manner that payments and allowances are authorized under section 111 of title 38, United States Code, and its implementing regulations.(6) Additional benefit for associated expenses.—As an incentive for participation in the study, veterans participating in the study will receive from the Department of Veterans Affairs a monthly payment of $75 to offset costs associated with the dog in addition to those identified in paragraph (5), such as services not prescribed or performed by a veterinarian, including but not limited to, license tags (if required), food, grooming, nail trimming, boarding, and over-the-counter medications.(7) Option for ownership of, and responsibility for, the dog after the completion of the study.—At the end of the study the veteran will have the option of ownership of the dog. If the veteran does not wish to retain the dog, the 501(c)(3) organization that provided the dog will be responsible for caring for or appropriately placing the dog. In any case after completion of the study, or if and when the veteran chooses to not participate in the study until completion, further responsibility by the Department of Veterans Affairs for any benefits in this provision will cease. Further, the Department of Veterans Affairs’ liability related to the dog will cease.(d) Study.—The Secretary shall conduct a scientifically valid research study of the costs and benefits associated with the use of service dogs for the treatment or rehabilitation of veterans with physical or mental injuries or disabilities. The matters studied shall include the following:(1) The therapeutic benefits to such veterans, including the quality of life benefits reported by the veterans partaking in the study.(2) The economic benefits of using service dogs for the treatment or rehabilitation of such veterans, including—(A) savings on health care costs, including savings related to reductions in hospitalization and reductions in the use of prescription drugs; and(B) productivity and employment gains for the veterans.(e) Reports.—(1) Annual report of the secretary.—After each year of the study, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the findings of the Secretary with respect to the study.(2) Final report by the national academy of sciences.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the completion of the study, the National Academy of Sciences shall submit to Congress a report on the results of the study.123 STAT. 2479(f) Funding.—The study under this section is subject to the availability of appropriations provided to the Department of Veterans Affairs for such purpose.