PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Labor must run a program that helps certain veterans find out about and get federal and state benefits. The program must be offered in at least 12 places, and one site must be a prison run by the Bureau of Prisons. Where possible, staff must give in-person referrals before a veteran leaves an institution and provide counseling after release. Counseling should cover job training and placement (including job readiness), housing, health care, and other benefits to help the veteran move from institutional living. The Secretaries may give outreach materials to prison officials for use up to 18 months before release, can make grants to qualified groups to carry out the work, and must consult with prison officials and others when planning the program. Eligible veteran — someone who lives in a prison or in a long-term mental health care facility, and who is at risk of homelessness without the referral and counseling services, as defined by rules set by the two Secretaries.

Title 38, §2023

Veterans' Benefits, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Program Authority.—

The Secretary and the Secretary of Labor (hereinafter in this section referred to as the “Secretaries”) shall carry out a program of referral and counseling services to eligible veterans with respect to benefits and services available to such veterans under this title and under State law.

(b)Location of Program.—

The program shall be carried out in at least 12 locations. One location shall be a penal institution under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Prisons.

(c)Scope of Program.—

(1)To the extent practicable, the program shall provide both referral and counseling services, and in the case of counseling services, shall include counseling with respect to job training and placement (including job readiness), housing, health care, and other benefits to assist the eligible veteran in the transition from institutional living.

(2)(A)To the extent that referral or counseling services are provided at a location under the program, referral services shall be provided in person during such period of time that the Secretaries may specify that precedes the date of release or discharge of the eligible veteran, and counseling services shall be furnished after such date.

(B)The Secretaries may, as part of the program, furnish to officials of penal institutions outreach information with respect to referral and counseling services for presentation to veterans in the custody of such officials during the 18-month period that precedes such date of release or discharge.

(3)The Secretaries may make grants to carry out the referral and counseling services required under the program with entities or organizations that meet such requirements as the Secretaries may establish.

(4)In developing the program, the Secretaries shall consult with officials of the Bureau of Prisons, officials of penal institutions of States and political subdivisions of States, and such other officials as the Secretaries determine appropriate.

(d)Definition.—

In this section, the term “eligible veteran” means a veteran who—

(1)is a resident of a penal institution or an institution that provides long-term care for mental illness; and

(2)is at risk for homelessness absent referral and counseling services provided under the demonstration program (as determined under guidelines established by the Secretaries).

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Prior Provisions

Prior sections 2023 to 2027 were renumbered sections 4303 to 4307 of this title, respectively, and subsequently omitted in the general amendment of chapter 43 of this title by Pub. L. 103–353, § 2(a), Oct. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 3150.

Amendments

2021—Subsecs. (d), (e). Pub. L. 116–315 redesignated subsec. (e) as (d) and struck out former subsec. (d). Prior to amendment, text of subsec. (d) read as follows: “The authority of the Secretaries to enter into a contract to provide referral and counseling services under the demonstration program shall cease on

September 30, 2022.” 2020—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 116–159 substituted “

September 30, 2022” for “

September 30, 2020”. 2018—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 115–251 substituted “

September 30, 2020” for “

September 30, 2018”. 2017—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 115–62 substituted “

September 30, 2018” for “

September 30, 2017”. 2016—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 114–228 substituted “

September 30, 2017” for “

September 30, 2016”. 2015—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 114–58 substituted “

September 30, 2016” for “

September 30, 2015”. 2014—Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 113–175, § 203(b), substituted “make grants” for “enter into contracts”. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 113–175, § 203(a), substituted “

September 30, 2015” for “

September 30, 2014”. 2013—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 113–37 inserted “to enter into a contract” before “to provide” and substituted “

September 30, 2014” for “

September 30, 2013”. Pub. L. 112–239 substituted “

September 30, 2013” for “

September 30, 2012”. 2008—Pub. L. 110–387, § 602(d)(2), amended section catchline generally. Prior to amendment, catchline read as follows: “Demonstration program of referral and counseling for veterans transitioning from certain institutions who are at risk for homelessness”. Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 110–387, § 602(a), substituted “a program of” for “a demonstration program for the purpose of determining the costs and benefits of providing”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 110–387, § 602(b), in heading, struck out “Demonstration” before “Program” and in text, struck out “demonstration” before “program” and substituted “12 locations” for “six locations”. Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 110–387, § 602(d)(1), struck out “demonstration” before “program”. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 110–387, § 602(c), substituted “

September 30, 2012.” for “

September 30, 2007.” 2007—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 110–28 substituted “shall cease on

September 30, 2007” for “shall cease on the date that is four years after the date of the commencement of the program”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2013 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 113–37 effective Oct. 1, 2013, see section 4(a) of Pub. L. 113–37, set out as a note under section 322 of this title.

§2023 Referral and Counseling Services: Veterans at Risk of Homelessness Who Are Transitioning From Certain Institutions