(a) Establishment

Subchapter II of chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section (and amending the table of sections at the beginning of such chapter accordingly):

1720M. Counseling program for next of kin and caregivers of veterans who die by suicide

(a) Counseling program

(1)

Subject to paragraph (2), the Secretary shall furnish, at no cost to the recipient, counseling services to—

(A)

the next of kin of a veteran who dies by suicide; and

(B)

a former volunteer caregiver of a veteran who dies by suicide.

(2)

The Secretary may provide counseling services under this section only if the Secretary determines such counseling services are—

(A)

reasonably accessible to an individual described in paragraph (1); and

(B)

substantially equivalent or superior to similar services furnished by the Secretary to an individual described in paragraph (1).

(3)

To carry out subsection (a), the Secretary may enter into an agreement with a Federal, State, or private entity. The Secretary may provide fair compensation to such entity pursuant to such agreement.

(b) Public awareness

In carrying out the program under subsection (a), the Secretary shall—

(1)

publish information relating to the program on a website of the Department; and

(2)

provide information relating to the program to any individual described in paragraph (1).

(c) Definitions

In this section:

(1)

The term covered veterans service organization includes—

(A)

an organization recognized by the Secretary for the representation of veterans under section 5902 of this title; and

(B)

an organization—

(i)

that is described in section 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and is exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such Code; and

(ii)

that carries out activities relating to veterans and their assistance.

(2)

The term former volunteer caregiver means, with respect to a veteran who dies by suicide, an individual—

(A)

who is at least 18 years of age; and

(B)

who, prior to the death of the veteran, and in connection with a covered veterans service organization, furnished the veteran with counseling, social work, or other personal care services—

(i)

without compensation to such individual; and

(ii)

for a period of at least three months.

(3)

The term next of kin means the closest living relative of a veteran who dies by suicide, in the following order of priority:

(A)

Spouse.

(B)

A child.

(C)

A parent.

(D)

A sibling.

(E)

Another individual determined by the Secretary.

(4)

The term personal care services has the meaning given such term in section 1720G of this title.

(b) Implementation deadline

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry out section 1720M of such title, as added by subsection (a), not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.