ON TIME Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 9247
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-06-10: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-30T22:04:17Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation aims to improve access to suicide prevention services for veterans by requiring the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to make suicide prevention coordinators available at all VA medical centers, including outside regular operating hours when needed.
Key Provisions
- Amends Section 1720F of title 38, United States Code, by adding a new subsection (m).
- Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure a suicide prevention coordinator is on-site or reachable at each VA medical center to handle requests for suicide prevention planning services at any time.
- Clarifies that the new requirement does not permit the hiring of additional full-time equivalent positions.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Builds on current VA suicide prevention rules by mandating extended availability of coordinators beyond standard business hours.
- Introduces a specific staffing availability standard without expanding the overall workforce size.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: Requires the VA to adjust scheduling or on-call systems at medical centers to meet the availability rule, potentially affecting resource allocation.
- On citizens: Enhances timely support for veterans experiencing mental health crises, aiming to reduce barriers to help.
- On international relations: No direct effects identified.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- The Department of Veterans Affairs and its medical centers.
- Veterans seeking suicide prevention planning services.
- VA staff responsible for mental health coordination.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Operates within existing VA authority under title 38 without raising apparent constitutional concerns.
- Focuses on internal agency operations and does not alter broader legal frameworks or international obligations.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2026-06-10: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 2026-06-10: Introduced in House
- 2026-06-10: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Outreach Now: Timely Intervention for Mental Health Emergencies Act — issued 2026-06-10 — PDF (2 pages)