text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans Sexual Trauma Treatment 
  Act''.
  
  SEC. 2. COUNSELING AND TREATMENT FOR VETERANS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED 
                SEXUAL TRAUMA.
  
      (a) Duration of Program.--Section 1720D of title 38, United States 
  Code, is amended in subsection (a)--
              (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``During the period 
          through December 31, 2001, the'' and inserting ``The'';
              (2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``During the period 
          referred to in paragraph (1), the'' and inserting ``The''; and
              (3) in paragraph (3), by striking ``, during the period 
          through December 31, 2001,''.
      (b) Mandatory Nature of Program.--Subsection (a) of such section is 
  further amended in paragraphs (1) and (2) by striking ``may'' and 
  inserting ``shall''.
      (c) Provision of Treatment for Sexual Trauma.--Such subsection is 
  further amended in paragraphs (1) and (3) by inserting ``and 
  treatment'' after ``counseling'' each place it appears.
      (d) Determinations To Be Made by Mental Health Professionals.--Such 
  subsection is further amended in paragraph (1) by striking ``the 
  Secretary determines'' and inserting ``a mental health professional 
  employed by the Department determines''.
      (e) Outreach Efforts.--Subsection (c) of such section is amended--
              (1) by inserting ``and treatment'' in the first sentence 
          and in paragraph (2) after ``counseling'';
              (2) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (1);
              (3) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and
              (4) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new 
          paragraph (2):
              ``(2) shall ensure that information about the counseling 
          and treatment available to veterans under this section (which 
          information shall be revised and updated not less often than 
          every two years)--
                      ``(A) is made available and visibly posted at each 
                  facility of the Department; and
                      ``(B) is advertised through public service 
                  announcements, pamphlets, billboards, and other 
                  appropriate means of communication; and''.
      (f) Persons Eligible for Counseling and Treatment.--Such section is 
  further amended--
              (1) by redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and
              (2) by inserting after subsection (c) the following new 
          subsection (d):
      ``(d)(1) A veteran shall be eligible for counseling and treatment 
  under this section without regard to the provisions of section 5303A of 
  this title.
      ``(2) An individual who is a member of a reserve component shall be 
  eligible for counseling and treatment under this section in the same 
  manner as a veteran and without regard to the provisions of section 
  5303A of this title.
      ``(3) An individual who is a former member of a reserve component 
  (but who is not a veteran within the meaning of section 101 of this 
  title) and who was discharged or released from service as a member of a 
  reserve component under conditions other than dishonorable shall be 
  eligible for counseling and treatment under this section in the same 
  manner as a veteran and without regard to the provisions of section 
  5303A of this title.''.
      (g) Oversight of Outreach Activities.--Not later than four months 
  after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans 
  Affairs shall complete the design and updating of public service 
  announcements, pamphlets, billboards, and other appropriate means of 
  communication as required for implementation of paragraph (2) of 
  section 1720D(c) of title 38, United States Code, as added by 
  subsection (e)(3). Not later than six months after that date, the 
  Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the 
  Senate and House of Representatives examples of the documents and other 
  means of communication developed for compliance with that paragraph.
      (h) Report on Implementation of Sexual Trauma Treatment Program.--
  Not later than 14 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, 
  the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on 
  Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report 
  on the use made of the authority provided under section 1720D of title 
  38, United States Code, as amended by this section. The report shall 
  include the following with respect to activities under such section 
  1720D since the enactment of such section 1720D:
              (1) The number of persons who have sought counseling under 
          such section 1720D.
              (2) The number of veterans who have received counseling 
          under such section.
              (3) The number of veterans who have been referred to non-
          Department mental health facilities and providers in connection 
          with sexual trauma counseling and treatment.
              (4) The number of veterans who have been determined by the 
          Secretary to have a service-connected disease or disability 
          resulting from sexual trauma.
  
  SEC. 3. REPORT ON EFFORTS TO PROVIDE VETERANS WITH INFORMATION 
                CONCERNING SEXUAL TRAUMA COUNSELING AND TREATMENT 
                SERVICES.
  
      (a) Report Required.--Not later than 14 months after the date of 
  the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the 
  Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional committees 
  specified in subsection (b) a joint report describing in detail the 
  collaborative efforts of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the 
  Department of Defense to ensure that members of the Armed Forces, upon 
  separation from active military, naval, or air service, are provided 
  appropriate and current information about programs of the Department of 
  Veterans Affairs to provide counseling and treatment for sexual trauma 
  that may have been experienced by those members while in the active 
  military, naval, or air service, including information about 
  eligibility requirements for, and procedures for applying for, such 
  counseling and treatment. The report shall include proposed 
  recommendations from both the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the 
  Secretary of Defense for the improvement of their collaborative efforts 
  to provide such information.
      (b) Specified Committees.--The committees referred to in subsection 
  (a) are the following:
              (1) The Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on 
          Armed Services of the House of Representatives.
              (2) The Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Committee on 
          Armed Services of the Senate.
target: Veterans Sexual Trauma Treatment Act - Makes permanent a program to require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide counseling to veterans to overcome psychological trauma which resulted from a physical assault or battery of a sexual nature, or from sexual harassment, which occurred during active miliary service (under current law the program authorizing such counseling expires in 2001). Allows such program to include appropriate treatment.  Requires a Department of Veterans Affairs mental health professional (currently, the Secretary) to determine when such counseling and treatment is necessary.  Requires the dissemination of information concerning the availability of such services to affected veterans.  Includes as eligible for such care and services certain current and former reserve personnel. 
  Directs the Secretary to: (1) complete the design and updating of public service announcements and other appropriate means of communication concerning the availability of such services and to submit to the congressional veterans' committees examples of such communications; and (2) report to such committees on program implementation. 
  Requires the Secretary and the Secretary of Defense to report jointly to the congressional veterans' and defense committees describing their collaborative efforts to ensure that military personnel are informed upon their separation from service about sexual trauma counseling and treatment programs available through the Department.
feat_title: Veterans Sexual Trauma Treatment Act