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Public Law115th CongressArmed Forces and National Security
H.R. 2147Became Law

Veterans Treatment Court Improvement Act of 2018

This bill became law

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What it doesSummary public law (Sep 17, 2018)

Veterans Treatment Court Improvement Act of 2018

(Sec. 2) This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to hire at least 50 Veterans Justice Outreach Specialists under the Veterans Justice Outreach Program. Each of these specialists must serve as part of a justice team in a veterans treatment court or other veteran-focused court.

A specialist hired under this bill must be placed at a VA medical center that:

  • complies with VA guidelines for specialist placement,
  • works within a local criminal justice system with justice-involved veterans,
  • maintains an affiliation with one or more veterans treatment courts or other veteran-focused courts, and
  • provides specialists or establishes a VA-approved plan to provide specialists to serve as part of a justice team.

The VA shall prioritize the placement of these specialists at medical centers that have an affiliation with a court that was established after this bill's enactment or is not fully staffed with specialists.

The Government Accountability Office shall report to Congress on the effectiveness of the Veterans Justice Outreach Program.

What just happenedSep 17, 2018

Became Public Law No: 115-240.

Who’s behind it

Rep. Coffman, Mike [R-CO-6](R-CO)Sponsor
53 cosponsors33 D20 R
Read on Congress.gov
53cosponsors1committees30actions2related bills11subjects
  1. Sep 17, 2018President

    Became Public Law No: 115-240.

  2. Sep 17, 2018BecameLaw36000

    Became Public Law No: 115-240.

  3. Sep 17, 2018President

    Signed by President.

  4. Sep 17, 2018BecameLaw36000

    Signed by President.

  5. Sep 5, 2018Floor

    Presented to President.

  6. Sep 5, 2018President28000

    Presented to President.

  7. Aug 23, 2018Floor

    Message on Senate action sent to the House.

  8. Aug 22, 2018Floor

    Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S5869)

  9. Aug 22, 2018Floor17000

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.(consideration: CR S5869)

  10. Jun 18, 2018Calendars

    Read twice. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 466.

  11. Jun 14, 2018IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate.

  12. Jun 13, 2018FloorH38310

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  13. Jun 13, 2018FloorH37300

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5133-5134)

  14. Jun 13, 2018Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H5133-5134)

  15. Jun 13, 2018FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 2147.

  16. Jun 13, 2018FloorH30000

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5133-5135)

  17. Jun 13, 2018FloorH30300

    Mr. Roe (TN) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

  18. May 18, 2018CalendarsH12410

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 525.

  19. May 18, 2018CommitteeH12200

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 115-682.

    Veterans' Affairs Committee
  20. May 18, 2018Committee5000

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 115-682.

    Veterans' Affairs Committee
  21. May 8, 2018Committee

    Subcommittee on Health Discharged.

    Veterans' Affairs Committee
  22. May 8, 2018Committee

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

    Veterans' Affairs Committee
  23. May 8, 2018Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Veterans' Affairs Committee
  24. Sep 26, 2017Committee

    Subcommittee Hearings Held.

    Health Subcommittee
  25. Apr 26, 2017IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

    Veterans' Affairs Committee
  26. Apr 26, 2017Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

    Health Subcommittee
  27. Apr 26, 2017Committee

    Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Discharged.

    Veterans' Affairs Committee
  28. Apr 26, 2017Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

    Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee
  29. Apr 26, 2017IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  30. Apr 26, 2017IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Public LawSep 17, 201849

Veterans Treatment Court Improvement Act of 2018

(Sec. 2) This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to hire at least 50 Veterans Justice Outreach Specialists under the Veterans Justice Outreach Program. Each of these specialists must serve as part of a justice team in a veterans treatment court or other veteran-focused court.

A specialist hired under this bill must be placed at a VA medical center that:

  • complies with VA guidelines for specialist placement,
  • works within a local criminal justice system with justice-involved veterans,
  • maintains an affiliation with one or more veterans treatment courts or other veteran-focused courts, and
  • provides specialists or establishes a VA-approved plan to provide specialists to serve as part of a justice team.

The VA shall prioritize the placement of these specialists at medical centers that have an affiliation with a court that was established after this bill's enactment or is not fully staffed with specialists.

The Government Accountability Office shall report to Congress on the effectiveness of the Veterans Justice Outreach Program.

Passed Senate without amendmentAug 22, 201882

Veterans Treatment Court Improvement Act of 2018

(Sec. 2) This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to hire at least 50 Veterans Justice Outreach Specialists under the Veterans Justice Outreach Program. Each of these specialists must serve as part of a justice team in a veterans treatment court or other veteran-focused court.

A specialist hired under this bill must be placed at a VA medical center that:

  • complies with VA guidelines for specialist placement,
  • works within a local criminal justice system with justice-involved veterans,
  • maintains an affiliation with one or more veterans treatment courts or other veteran-focused courts, and
  • provides specialists or establishes a VA-approved plan to provide specialists to serve as part of a justice team.

The VA shall prioritize the placement of these specialists at medical centers that have an affiliation with a court that was established after this bill's enactment or is not fully staffed with specialists.

The Government Accountability Office shall report to Congress on the effectiveness of the Veterans Justice Outreach Program.

Passed House amendedJun 13, 201836

Veterans Treatment Court Improvement Act of 2018

(Sec. 2) This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to hire at least 50 Veterans Justice Outreach Specialists under the Veterans Justice Outreach Program. Each of these specialists must serve as part of a justice team in a veterans treatment court or other veteran-focused court.

A specialist hired under this bill must be placed at a VA medical center that:

  • complies with VA guidelines for specialist placement;
  • works within a local criminal justice system with justice-involved veterans;
  • maintains an affiliation with one or more veterans treatment courts or other veteran-focused courts; and
  • provides specialists or establishes a VA-approved plan to provide specialists to serve as part of a justice team.

The VA shall prioritize the placement of these specialists at medical centers that have an affiliation with a court that was established after this bill's enactment or is not fully staffed with specialists.

The Government Accountability Office shall report to Congress on the effectiveness of the Veterans Justice Outreach Program.

Reported to House with amendment(s)May 18, 201817

Veterans Treatment Court Improvement Act of 2018

This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to hire at least 50 Veterans Justice Outreach Specialists under the Veterans Justice Outreach Program. Each of these specialists must serve as part of a justice team in a veterans treatment court or other veteran-focused court.

A specialist hired under this bill must be placed at a VA medical center that:

  • complies with VA guidelines for specialist placement;
  • works within a local criminal justice system with justice-involved veterans;
  • maintains an affiliation with one or more veterans treatment courts or other veteran-focused courts; and
  • provides specialists or establishes a VA-approved plan to provide specialists to serve as part of a justice team.

The VA shall prioritize the placement of these specialists at medical centers that have an affiliation with a court that was established after this bill's enactment or is not fully staffed with specialists.

The Government Accountability Office shall report to Congress on the effectiveness of the Veterans Justice Outreach Program.

Introduced in HouseApr 26, 2017

Veterans Treatment Court Improvement Act of 2017

This bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to hire at least 50 Veterans Justice Outreach Specialists, place each one at an eligible VA medical center, and ensure that each one serves as part of a justice team in a veterans treatment court or other veteran-focused court.

An eligible VA medical center is one that:

  • complies with all VA guidelines and regulations for placement of a specialist;
  • works with a veteran with active, ongoing, or recent contact with some component of a local criminal justice system;
  • maintains an affiliation with one or more veterans treatment courts or other veteran-focused courts; and
  • either routinely provides specialists, or establishes a VA-approved plan to provide specialists, to serve as part of a justice team in such a court.

The VA shall prioritize the placement of specialists at eligible VA medical centers that have an affiliation with such a court that: (1) was established after the date of this bill's enactment, or (2) was established before such date and is not fully staffed with specialists.

Veterans Treatment Court Improvement Act of 2018 — Informed