38 USC 7309 - Readjustment Counseling Service

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2022—Subsec. (e)(2)(D). Puspan. L. 117–263 added subpar. (D).

2020—Subsec. (e)(2)(C). Puspan. L. 116–171, § 504(a), inserted before period at end “, including the resources required to meet such unmet need, such as additional staff, additional locations, additional infrastructure, infrastructure improvements, and additional mobile Vet Centers”.

Subsec. (e)(3). Puspan. L. 116–171, § 504(span), added par. (3).

2016—Subsec. (e)(1). Puspan. L. 114–315 substituted “fiscal year” for “calendar year”.

2015—Subsec. (c)(1). Puspan. L. 114–58 inserted “the” before “Veterans Health Administration”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Improvement of Vet Centers at Department of Veterans Affairs

Puspan. L. 117–263, div. E, title LI, § 5126, Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3213, provided that:

“(a)Productivity Expectations for Readjustment Counselors of Vet Centers.—

“(1)Evaluation of productivity expectations.—Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 23, 2022], the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall evaluate productivity expectations for readjustment counselors of Vet Centers, including by obtaining systematic feedback from counselors on such expectations, including with respect to following:

“(A) Any potential effects of productivity expectations, whether positive or negative, on client care and the welfare of readjustment counselors.

“(B) Distances readjustment counselors may travel to appointments, especially with respect to serving rural veterans.

“(C) The possibility that some veterans may not want to use nor benefit from telehealth or group counseling.

“(D) Availability and access of veteran populations to broadband and telehealth.

“(E) Any effect of productivity expectations on readjustment counselors, including with respect to recruitment, retention, and welfare.

“(F) Whether productivity expectations provide incentives or pressure to inaccurately report client visits.

“(G) Whether directors and readjustment counselors of Vet Centers need additional training or guidance on how productivity expectations are calculated.

“(H) Such other criteria as the Secretary considers appropriate.

“(2)Systematic feedback.—

“(A)In general.—The Secretary shall—

“(i) make every effort to ensure that all readjustment counselors of Vet Centers are given the opportunity to fully provide feedback, positive or negative, including through a survey containing open- and close-ended questions, on all items under paragraph (1);

“(ii) in obtaining feedback under paragraph (1), ensure that the items under paragraph (1) are adequately and completely addressed in a way that permits responses to be relevant to the evaluation of productivity expectations;

“(iii) collect and safely store the feedback obtained under paragraph (1)—

“(I) in an electronic database that cannot be altered by any party;

“(II) in an anonymized manner, in order to protect the privacy of each respondent; and

“(III)