text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Post-Deployment Health Assessment 
  Act of 2009''.
  
  SEC. 2. MENTAL HEALTH SCREENINGS FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES 
                DEPLOYED IN CONNECTION WITH A CONTINGENCY OPERATION.
  
      (a) Mental Health Screenings.--
              (1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
          the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall issue 
          guidance for the provision of an in-person mental health 
          screening for each member of the Armed Forces who is deployed 
          in connection with a contingency operation as follows:
                      (A) At a time during the period beginning 180 days 
                  before the date of deployment in connection with the 
                  contingency operation and ending 90 days before the 
                  date of deployment in connection with the contingency 
                  operation.
                      (B) At a time during the period beginning 90 days 
                  after the date of redeployment from the contingency 
                  operation and ending 180 days after the date of 
                  redeployment from the contingency operation.
                      (C) Subject to subsection (d), not later than each 
                  of 6 months, 12 months, and 18 months after the 
                  screening provided under subparagraph (B).
              (2) Exclusion of certain members.--A mental health 
          screening is not required for a members of the Armed Forces 
          under subparagraphs (B) and (C) of paragraph (1) if the 
          Secretary determines that the member was not subjected or 
          exposed to combat stress during deployment in the contingency 
          operation concerned.
      (b) Purpose.--The purpose of the mental health screenings provided 
  pursuant to this section shall be to identify post-traumatic stress 
  disorder, suicidal tendencies, and other behavioral health issues 
  identified among members of the Armed Forces described in subsection 
  (a) in order to determine which such members are in need of additional 
  care and treatment for such health issues.
      (c) Elements.--
              (1) In general.--The mental health screenings provided 
          pursuant to this section shall--
                      (A) be performed by personnel trained and certified 
                  to perform such screenings in accordance with such 
                  criteria as the Secretary of Defense shall establish; 
                  and
                      (B) include an in-person dialogue between members 
                  of the Armed Forces described in subsection (a) and 
                  personnel described by paragraph (1) on such matters as 
                  the Secretary shall specify in order that the 
                  screenings achieve the purpose specified in subsection 
                  (b) for such screenings.
              (2) Treatment of current assessments and screenings.--The 
          Secretary may treat periodic health assessments and other in-
          person screenings that are provided to members of the Armed 
          Forces as of the date of the enactment of this Act as meeting 
          the requirements for mental health screenings required under 
          this section if the Secretary determines that such assessments 
          and in-person screenings meet the requirements for mental 
          health screenings established by this section.
      (d) Cessation of Screenings.--No mental health screening is 
  required to be provided an individual under subsection (a)(1)(C) after 
  the individual's discharge or release from the Armed Forces.
      (e) Sharing of Information.--
              (1) In general.--The Secretary of Defense shall share with 
          the Secretary of Veterans Affairs such information on members 
          of the Armed Forces that is derived from confidential mental 
          health screenings, including mental health screenings provided 
          pursuant to this section and health assessments and other in-
          person screenings provided before the date of the enactment of 
          this Act, as the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of 
          Veterans Affairs jointly consider appropriate to ensure 
          continuity of mental health care and treatment of members of 
          the Armed Forces during their transition from health care and 
          treatment provided by the Department of Defense to health care 
          and treatment provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
              (2) Protocols.--Any sharing of information under paragraph 
          (1) shall occur pursuant to a protocol jointly established by 
          the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
          for purposes of this subsection. Any such protocol shall be 
          consistent with the following:
                      (A) Applicable provisions of the Wounded Warrior 
                  Act (title XVI of Public Law 110-181; 10 U.S.C. 1071 
                  note), including in particular, section 1614 of that 
                  Act (122 Stat. 443; 10 U.S.C. 1071 note).
                      (B) Section 1720F of title 38, United States Code.
      (f) Contingency Operation Defined.--In this section, the term 
  ``contingency operation'' has the meaning given that term in section 
  101(a)(13) of title 10, United States Code.
      (g) Reports.--
              (1) Report on guidance.--Upon the issuance of the guidance 
          required by subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall 
          submit to Congress a report describing the guidance.
              (2) Report on implementation of guidance.--Not later than 
          one year after the date of the issuance of the guidance 
          required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall submit to 
          Congress a report on the implementation of the guidance by the 
          military departments. The report shall include an evidence-
          based assessment of the effectiveness of the mental health 
          screenings provided pursuant to the guidance in achieving the 
          purpose specified in subsection (b) for such screenings.
target: Post-Deployment Health Assessment Act of 2009 - Directs the Secretary of Defense to issue guidance for the provision of an in-person mental health screening for each member of the Armed Forces deployed in connection with a contingency operation, in order to identify post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), suicidal tendencies, and other behavioral health issues for which additional care and treatment may be necessary. Excludes from such screenings members not subjected or exposed to combat stress during their deployment.
  
  Requires the Secretary to share screening results with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in order to ensure continuity of mental health care and treatment for such members during their transition from health care and treatment provided by the Department of Defense (DOD) to health care and treatment provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
feat_title: To require mental health screenings for members of the Armed Forces who are deployed in connection with a contingency operation, and for other purposes.