Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 93.djvu/82

 93 STAT. 50

Eligibility assistance, notification.

PUBLIC LAW 9 6 - 2 2 - J U N E 13, 1979 operated by such facility for the purpose for which the counseling or services are to be furnished. "(3) The authority of the Administrator to enter into contracts under this subsection shall be effective for any fiscal year only to such extent or in such amounts as are provided in appropriation Acts. "(f) The Administrator, in cooperation with the Secretary of Defense, shall take such action as the Administrator considers appropriate to notify veterans who may be eligible for assistance under this section of such potential eligibility.". (2) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 17 is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 612 the following new item: "612A. Eligibility for readjustment counseling and related mental health services.".

Eligibility assistance in case of declaration of war. 38 USC 612A note. Ante, p. 48.

(b) In the event of a declaration of war by the Congress after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs, not later than six months after the date of such declaration, shall determine and recommend to the Congress whether eligibility for the readjustment counseling and related mental health services provided for in section 612A of title 38, United States Code (as added by subsection (a) of this section) should be extended to the veterans of such war. PILOT PROGRAM FOR TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION OF VETERANS WITH ALCOHOL OR DRUG DEPENDENCE OR ABUSE DISABILITIES

38 USC 620A.

Program quality and effectiveness, approval.

Employment and training opportunities.

SEC. 104. (a) Subchapter II of chapter 17 is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new section: "§ 620A. Treatment and rehabilitation for alcohoi or drug dependence or abuse disabilities; pilot program "(a)(1) The Administrator, in furnishing hospital, nursing home, and domiciliary care and medical and rehabilitative services under this chapter, may conduct a pilot program under which the Administrator may contract for care and treatment and rehabilitative services in halfway houses, therapeutic communities, psychiatric residential treatment centers, and other community-based treatment facilities of eligible veterans suffering from alcohol or drug dependence or abuse disabilities. Such pilot program shall be planned, designed, and conducted by the Chief Medical Director, with the approval of the Administrator, so as to demonstrate any medical advantages and cost effectiveness that may result from furnishing such care and services to veterans with such disabilities in contract facilities as authorized by this section, rather than in facilities over which the Administrator has direct jurisdiction. "(2) Before furnishing such care and services to any veteran through a contract facility as authorized by paragraph (1) of this subsection, the Administrator shall approve (in accordance with criteria which the Administrator shall prescribe by regulation) the quality and effectiveness of the program operated by such facility for the purpose for which such veteran is to be furnished such care and services. "(b) The Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, may take appropriate steps to (1) urge all Federal agencies and appropriate private and public firms, organizations, agencies, and persons to provide appropriate employment and training opportunities for veterans who have been provided treatment and rehabilitative services

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