Disabled Veterans and Assistive Animals Partnership Act of 1989 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, during FY 1990 through 1993, to conduct a pilot program for providing assistive animals (dogs and monkeys) to aid quadriplegic veterans. Requires a veteran, in order to be eligible, to have a service-connected disability rated not less than 50 percent disabling. Limits the number of veterans to be so assisted. Requires the Secretary to determine if the veteran is suited for the provision of an assistive dog or monkey. Requires the Secretary to give a preference to veterans whose quadriplegia is service-connected. Outlines administrative provisions concerning such program, including determinations of suitability by the Secretary, the selection of veteran participants, funding for the program, and ownership of the assistive animals involved.
Directs the Secretary, during FY 1990 through 1993, to conduct a pilot program for providing signal dogs (dogs trained to provide hearing assistance to the hearing-impaired) to veterans. Requires a veteran, in order to be eligible for such assistance, to have a service-connected hearing impairment and be in need of the assistance of a signal dog. Limits the number of veterans to participate in such program. Requires the Secretary to determine if the veteran is suited for the provision of a signal dog. Outlines administrative provisions concerning such program, including determinations of suitability by the Secretary, the selection of veteran participants, funding for the program, and ownership of the signal dog involved.
Directs the Secretary to evaluate on an ongoing basis the pilot programs established under this Act. Directs the Secretary, no later than February 1, 1993, to report to the Senate and House Veterans' Affairs Committees on the experience under the programs.
HR 2044 IH 101st CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2044 To direct the Secretary of Veterans' Affairs to conduct pilot programs for the provision of assistive animals to quadriplegic and hearing-impaired veterans. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 18, 1989 Mr. KENNEDY (for himself and Mr. RIDGE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To direct the Secretary of Veterans' Affairs to conduct pilot programs for the provision of assistive animals to quadriplegic and hearing-impaired veterans. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION. 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the `Disabled Veterans and Assistive Animals Partnership Act of 1989'. SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF PILOT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE ASSISTIVE DOGS AND MONKEYS TO QUADRIPLEGIC VETERANS. (a) ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM- The Secretary of Veterans' Affairs shall conduct a pilot program under which the Secretary provides assistance to quadriplegic veterans-- (1) through payment for the provision of assistive dogs to such veterans; (2) through payment for the provision of assistive monkeys to such veterans; and (3) by otherwise facilitating the provision of assistive monkeys to such veterans. (b) DURATION OF PROGRAM- The pilot program established under this section shall be carried out during fiscal years 1990, 1991, 1992, and 1993. (c) ELIGIBLE VETERANS- A veteran is eligible to receive assistance under the pilot program established under this section if the veteran is quadriplegic. Payment for the provision of an assistive dog or monkey under the pilot program may only be made in the case of veterans who have service-connected disabilities rated not less than 50 percent disabling. (d) NUMBER OF VETERANS TO BE ASSISTED- In carrying out the pilot program established under this section, the Secretary-- (1) may not pay for the provision of assistive dogs to more than 10 veterans; and (2) may not pay for the provision of assistive monkeys to more than 20 veterans. In facilitating the provision of assistive monkeys to other veterans, the Secretary may provide information, referral services, and other appropriate facilitating services for the provision of assistive monkeys to not more than 20 veterans other than those for whom assistance has been provided under paragraph (2). (e) CRITERIA- In determining whether a veteran should be selected to receive assistance under the pilot program established under this section, the Secretary shall determine if the veteran is suited for the provision of an assistive dog or monkey, taking into account the extent to which the veteran needs the assistance that the animal would provide and the extent to which the veteran would benefit from that assistance. The Secretary shall give a preference to veterans whose quadriplegia is service-connected. (f) DETERMINATION BY SECRETARY- The Secretary may not approve a veteran to be a participant in the pilot program established under this section unless the Secretary determines that the veteran is well suited to carry out the responsibilities involved in the ownership, care, and effective use of an assistive dog or monkey. (g) SELECTION OF PARTICIPANTS- The veterans to receive assistance under the pilot program established under this section shall be selected by the Secretary, taking into account the advice and recommendations of persons responsible for the development and training of assistive dogs and monkeys. (h) FUNDING- During each year of the pilot program established under this section, the Secretary shall furnish to approved providers and approved trainers of assistive dogs and monkeys reimbursement for the costs of developing and training dogs and monkeys which will be provided to veterans under the pilot program. The Secretary may make advance payments for such purpose. Such payments shall be made under such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Secretary to be necessary to carry out the purposes of this section and to protect the interests of the United States. (i) OWNERSHIP- Ownership of an assistive dog or monkey provided under the pilot program established under this section shall be determined in accordance with a contract between the provider and the veteran. SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF PILOT PROGRAM TO PROVIDE SIGNAL DOGS TO HEARING-IMPAIRED VETERANS. (a) ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM- Subject to subsection (b), the Secretary shall conduct a pilot program under which the Secretary provides assistance to hearing-impaired veterans through payment for the provision of signal dogs to such veterans. (b) DURATION OF PROGRAM- The pilot program established under this section shall be carried out during fiscal years 1990, 1991, 1992, and 1993. (c) ELIGIBLE VETERANS- A veteran is eligible for the provision of a signal dog under the pilot program established under this section if the veteran has a service-connected hearing impairment and is in need of the assistance of a signal dog. (d) NUMBER OF VETERANS TO BE ASSISTED- In carrying out the pilot program established under this section, the Secretary may not pay for the provision of signal dogs to more than 10 veterans. (e) CRITERIA- In determining whether a veteran should be selected to receive assistance under the pilot program established under this section, the Secretary shall determine if the veteran is suited for the provision of a signal dog, taking into account the extent to which the veteran needs the assistance that a signal dog would provide and the extent to which the veteran would benefit from that assistance. (f) DETERMINATION BY SECRETARY- The Secretary may not approve a veteran to be a participant in the pilot program established under this section unless the Secretary determines that the veteran is well suited to carry out the responsibilities involved in the ownership, care, and effective use of a signal dog. (g) SELECTION OF PARTICIPANTS- The veterans to receive assistance under the pilot program established under this section shall be selected by the Secretary, taking into account the advice and recommendations of persons responsible for the development and training of signal dogs. (h) FUNDING- During each year of the pilot program established under this section, the Secretary shall furnish to approved providers and approved trainers of signal dogs reimbursement for the costs of developing and training dogs which will be provided to veterans under the pilot program. The Secretary may make advance payments for such purpose. Such payments shall be made under such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Secretary to be necessary to carry out the purposes of this section and to protect the interests of the United States. (i) OWNERSHIP- Ownership of a signal dog provided under the pilot program established under this section shall be determined in accordance with a contract between the provider and the veteran. SEC. 4. EVALUATION AND REPORT. (a) EVALUATION- The Secretary shall evaluate the pilot programs established under sections 2 and 3 on an ongoing basis. Such evaluation shall include evaluation of the conduct of the pilot programs, the benefits to veterans being provided with assistive animals (including any benefits related to employment of the veterans) under the programs, and the costs and cost effectiveness of the provision of such animals. (b) REPORT- Not later than February 1, 1993, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the experience to that date under the pilot programs. The report shall include any recommendation that the Secretary considers appropriate with respect to the continuation of the pilot programs, whether the authority to provide assistive animals to disabled veterans should be made permanent, or any other change in law or regulation with respect to the provision of assistance in daily living to disabled veterans. SEC. 5. DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Act: (1) The terms `veteran' and `service-connected' have the meanings given those terms in section 101 of title 38, United States Code. (2) The term `Department' means the Department of Veterans' Affairs. (3) The term `Secretary' means the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. (4) The term `assistive dog' means a dog that is specially trained to assist in the performance of the tasks of daily living for an individual who is quadriplegic. (5) The term `assistive monkey' means a monkey that is specially trained to assist in the performance of the tasks of daily living for an individual who is quadriplegic. (6) The term `signal dog' means a dog that is specially trained to provide hearing assistance to individuals who are hearing impaired. (7) The term `assistive animal' means an assistive dog, assistive monkey, or signal dog.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
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