Public Law 114-247 | Public Law 114–247: To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve the Veterans Crisis Line.

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PUBLIC LAW 114–247—NOV. 28, 2016

130 STAT. 996

Public Law

114–247

114th Congress

An Act

To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to improve the Veterans Crisis Line.

Nov. 28, 2016

[H.R. 5392]

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

No Veterans Crisis Line Call Should Go Unanswered Act.

SECTION 1.

SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the “

No Veterans Crisis Line Call Should Go Unanswered Act

”.

SEC. 2.

IMPROVEMENTS TO VETERANS CRISIS LINE.

(a)

Quality Assurance Document.—

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall develop a quality assurance document to use in carrying out the Veterans Crisis Line. Such document shall—

(1)

outline clearly defined and measurable performance indicators and objectives to improve the responsiveness and performance of the Veterans Crisis Line, including at backup call centers;

(2)

include quantifiable timeframes to meet designated objectives to assist the Secretary in tracking the progress of the Veterans Crisis Line and such backup call centers in meeting the performance indicators and objectives specified in paragraph (1); and

(3)

with respect to such timeframes and objectives, be consistent with guidance issued by the Office of Management and Budget.

(b)

Plan.—

The Secretary shall develop a plan to ensure that each telephone call, text message, and other communications received by the Veterans Crisis Line, including at backup call centers, is answered in a timely manner by a person, consistent with the guidance established by the American Association of Suicidology.

Guidelines.

Such plan shall include guidelines to carry out periodic testing of the Veterans Crisis Line, including such backup centers, during each fiscal year to identify and correct any problems in a timely manner.

(c)

Submission.—

Deadline.

Reports.

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the House of Representatives and the Senate a report containing the document developed under subsection (a) and the plan developed under subsection (b).130 STAT. 997

(d)

Veterans Crisis Line Defined.—

In this section, the term “

Veterans Crisis Line

” means the toll-free hotline for veterans established under section 1720F(h) of title 38, United States Code.

Approved November 28, 2016.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 5392:

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 162 (2016):

Sept. 26, considered and passed House.

Nov. 16, considered and passed Senate.

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