Public Law 112.154 Sec.109 Forces the Department of Veterans Affairs to Allow Service and Guide Dogs into All VA Facilities
PUBLIC LAW 112-154 SECTION 109
SEC. 109. <<NOTE: 38 USC 901.>> USE OF SERVICE DOGS ON PROPERTY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
Section 109 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
[[Page 126 STAT. 1175]]
``(f)(1) The Secretary may not prohibit the use of a covered service dog in any facility or on any property of the Department or in any facility or on any property that receives funding from the Secretary.
``(2) For purposes of this subsection, a covered service dog is a service dog that has been trained by an entity that is accredited by an appropriate accrediting body that evaluates and accredits organizations
which train guide or service dogs.''.
SEC. 110. RECOGNITION OF RURAL HEALTH RESOURCE CENTERS IN OFFICE OF RURAL HEALTH.
Section 7308 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(d) Rural Health Resource Centers.--(1) There are, in the Office, veterans rural health resource centers that serve as satellite offices for the Office.
``(2) The veterans rural health resource centers have purposes as
follows:
``(A) To improve the understanding of the Office of the challenges faced by veterans living in rural areas.
``(B) To identify disparities in the availability of health care to veterans living in rural areas.
``(C) To formulate practices or programs to enhance the delivery of health care to veterans living in rural areas.
``(D) To develop special practices and products for the benefit of veterans living in rural areas and for implementation of such practices and products in the Department systemwide.''.
SEC. 109. <<NOTE: 38 USC 901.>> USE OF SERVICE DOGS ON PROPERTY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
Section 109 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
[[Page 126 STAT. 1175]]
``(f)(1) The Secretary may not prohibit the use of a covered service dog in any facility or on any property of the Department or in any facility or on any property that receives funding from the Secretary.
``(2) For purposes of this subsection, a covered service dog is a service dog that has been trained by an entity that is accredited by an appropriate accrediting body that evaluates and accredits organizations
which train guide or service dogs.''.
SEC. 110. RECOGNITION OF RURAL HEALTH RESOURCE CENTERS IN OFFICE OF RURAL HEALTH.
Section 7308 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(d) Rural Health Resource Centers.--(1) There are, in the Office, veterans rural health resource centers that serve as satellite offices for the Office.
``(2) The veterans rural health resource centers have purposes as
follows:
``(A) To improve the understanding of the Office of the challenges faced by veterans living in rural areas.
``(B) To identify disparities in the availability of health care to veterans living in rural areas.
``(C) To formulate practices or programs to enhance the delivery of health care to veterans living in rural areas.
``(D) To develop special practices and products for the benefit of veterans living in rural areas and for implementation of such practices and products in the Department systemwide.''.
