SEXUAL TRAUMA COUNSELING AND SERVICES.

SEC. 101. SEXUAL TRAUMA COUNSELING AND SERVICES. (a) Authority To Provide Treatment Services for Sexual Trauma; Repeal of Limitation on Time To Seek Services.— Subsection (a) of section 1720D is amended— (1) by striking out paragraph (2); and (2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new paragraph (2): “(2) During the period referred to in paragraph (1), the Secretary may provide appropriate care and services to a veteran108 STAT. 4784 for an injury, illness, or other psychological condition that the Secretary determines to be the result of a physical assault, battery, or harassment referred to in that paragraph.”. (b) Extension of Period of Authority To Provide Sexual Trauma Services.— Such subsection is further amended— (1) in paragraph (1), by striking out “December 31, 1995,” and inserting in lieu thereof “December 31, 1998,”; and (2) in paragraph (3), by striking out “December 31, 1994,” and inserting in lieu thereof “December 31, 1998,”. (c) Repeal of Limitation on Period of Receipt of Services.— Such section is further amended— (1) by striking out subsection (b); and (2) by redesignating subsections (c), (d), and (e) as subsections (b), (c), and (d), respectively. (d) Coordination of Care.— Paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of such section, as redesignated by subsection (c)(2), is amended to read as follows: “(1) The Secretary shall give priority to the establishment and operation of the program to provide counseling and care and services under subsection (a). In the case of a veteran eligible for counseling and care and services under subsection (a), the Secretary shall ensure that the veteran is furnished counseling and care and services under this section in a way that is coordinated with the furnishing of such care and services under this chapter.”. (e) Increased Priority of Care.— Section 1712(i) is amended— (1) in paragraph (1)— (A) by inserting “(A)” after “To a veteran”; and (B) by inserting “, or (B) who is eligible for counseling and care and services under section 1720D of this title, for the purposes of such counseling and care and services” before the period at the end; and (2) in paragraph (2)— (A) by striking out “, (B)” and inserting in lieu thereof “or (B)”; and (B) by striking out “, or (C)” and all that follows through “such counseling”. (f) Program Revision.— (1) Section 1720D is further amended— (A) by striking out “woman” in subsection (a)(1); (B) by striking out “women” in subsection (b)(2)(C) and in the first sentence of subsection (c), as redesignated by subsection (c); and (C) by striking out “women” in subsection (c)(2), as so redesignated, and inserting in lieu thereof “individuals”. (2) (A) The heading of such section is amended to read as follows: “§1720D. Counseling and treatment for sexual trauma”. (B) The item relating to such section in the table of sections at the beginning of chapter 17 is amended to read as follows: “1720D. Counseling and treatment for sexual trauma.”. (g) Information by Telephone.— (1) Paragraph (1) of section 1720D(c), as redesignated by subsection (c) of this section, is amended to read as follows: “(1) shall include availability of a toll-free telephone number (commonly referred to as an 800 number); and”. 108 STAT. 4785 (2) In providing information on counseling available to veterans as required under section 1720D(c)(1) of title 38, United States Code (as amended by paragraph (1)), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that the Department of Veterans Affairs personnel who provide assistance under such section are trained in the provision to persons who have experienced sexual trauma of information about the care and services relating to sexual trauma that are available to veterans in the communities in which such veterans reside, including care and services available under programs of the Department (including the care and services available under section 1720D of such title) and from non-Department agencies or organizations. (3) The telephone assistance service shall be operated in a manner that protects the confidentiality of persons who place calls to the system. (4) The Secretary shall ensure that information about the availability of the telephone assistance service is visibly posted in Department medical facilities and is advertised through public service announcements, pamphlets, and other means. (5) Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the operation of the telephone assistance service required under section 1720D(c)(l) of title 38, United States Code (as amended by paragraph (1)). The report shall set forth the following: (A) The number of persons who sought information during the period covered by the report through a toll-free telephone number regarding services available to veterans relating to sexual trauma, with a separate display of the number of such persons arrayed by State (as such term is defined in section 101(20) of title 38, United States Code). (B) A description of the training provided to the personnel who provide such assistance. (C) The recommendations and plans of the Secretary for the improvement of the service. (h) Conforming Repeal.— Section 102(b) of the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992 (Public Law 102–585; 106 Stat 4946; 38 U.S.C. 1720D note) is repealed.