REPORT ON ESTABLISHMENT OF A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR CIVILIAN MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.

SEC. 1117. REPORT ON ESTABLISHMENT OF A SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR CIVILIAN MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.(a) Report Required.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall, in consultation with the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs and each of the Surgeons General of the Armed Forces, submit to Congress a report on the feasibility and advisability of establishing a scholarship program for civilian mental health professionals.(b) Elements.—The report shall include the following:(1) An assessment of a potential scholarship program that provides certain educational funding to students seeking a career in mental health services in exchange for service in the Department of Defense.(2) An assessment of current scholarship programs which may be expanded to include mental health professionals.(3) Recommendations regarding the establishment or expansion of scholarship programs for mental health professionals.(4) A plan to implement, or reasons for not implementing, recommendations that will increase mental health staffing across the Department of Defense.