USE OF NON-DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FACILITIES FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF REHABILITATION AND COMMUNITY REINTEGRATION PLANS FOR TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.

SEC. 1703. USE OF NON-DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS FACILITIES FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF REHABILITATION AND COMMUNITY REINTEGRATION PLANS FOR TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.(a) In General.—Subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 1710D, as added by section 1702, the following new section:“§ 1710E. Traumatic brain injury: use of non-Department facilities for rehabilitation“(a) Cooperative Agreements.—The Secretary, in implementing and carrying out a plan developed under section 1710C of this title, may provide hospital care and medical services through cooperative agreements with appropriate public or private entities that have established long-term neurobehavioral rehabilitation and recovery programs.“(b) Authorities of State Protection and Advocacy Systems.—Nothing in subtitle C of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 shall be construed as preventing a State protection and advocacy system (as defined 122 STAT. 490 in section 1710C(g) of this title) from exercising the authorities described in such subtitle with respect to individuals provided rehabilitative treatment or services under section 1710C of this title in a non-Department facility.” .(b) Clerical Amendment.—The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 1710D, as added by section 1702, the following new item: “1710E. Traumatic brain injury: use of non-Departmental facilities for rehabilitation.”.