Sec. 582. IMPROVEMENTS TO EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY MEMBER PROGRAM
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## SEC. 582 IMPROVEMENTS TO EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY MEMBER PROGRAM ###
(a)In General Section 1781c of title 10, United States Codeis amended— ####
(1)in subsection (b), by striking “enhance” and inserting “standardize, enhance,”; ####
(2)in subsection (c)(1), by inserting “and standard” after “comprehensive”; ####
(3)in subsection (d)— #####
(A)in paragraph (1), by striking “update from time to time” and inserting “regularly update”; #####
(B)in paragraph (3), by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs: > > ##### “(C) > > Ability to request a second review of the approved assignment within or outside the continental United States if the member believes the location is inappropriate for the member’s family and would cause undue hardship. > > > ##### “(D) > > Protection from having a medical recommendation for an approved assignment overridden by the commanding officer. > > > ##### “(E) > > Ability to request continuation of location when there is a documented substantial risk of transferring medical care or educational services to a new provider or school at the specific time of permanent change of station.” > ; and #####
(C)in paragraph (4)— ######
(i)in subparagraph (F), by striking “of an individualized services plan (medical and educational)” and inserting “by an appropriate office of an individualized services plan (whether medical, educational, or both)”; and ######
(ii)by inserting after subparagraph
(F)the following new subparagraphs: > > ##### “(H) > > Procedures for the development of an individualized services plan for military family members with special needs who have requested family support services and have a completed family needs assessment. > > > ##### “(I) > > Requirements to prohibit disenrollment from the Exceptional Family Member Program unless there is new supporting medical or educational information that indicates the original condition is no longer present, and to track disenrollment data in each armed force.” > . ###
(b)Standardization **[**[10 U.S.C. 1781c note](/us/usc/t10/s1781c)**]** Not later than six months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretaries of the military departments, shall, to the extent practicable, standardize the Exceptional Family Member Program (in this section referred to as the “EFMP”) across the military departments. The EFMP, standardized under this subsection, shall include the following: ####
(1)Processes for the identification and enrollment of dependents of covered members with special needs. ####
(2)A process for the permanent change of orders for covered members, to ensure seamless continuity of services at the new permanent duty station. ####
(3)If an order for assignment is declined for a military family with special needs, the member will receive a reason for the decline of that order. ####
(4)A review process for installations to ensure that health care furnished through the TRICARE program, special needs education programs, and installation-based family support programs are available to military families enrolled in the EFMP. ####
(5)A standardized respite care benefit across the covered Armed Forces, including the number of hours available under such benefit to military families enrolled in the EFMP. ####
(6)Performance metrics for measuring, across the Department and with respect to each military department, the following: #####
(A)Assignment coordination and support for military families with special needs, including a systematic process for evaluating each military department’s program for the support of military families with special needs. #####
(B)The reassignment of military families with special needs, including how often members request reassignments, for what reasons, and from what military installations. #####
(C)The level of satisfaction of military families with special needs with the family and medical support they are provided. ####
(7)A requirement that the Secretary of each military department provide legal services by an attorney, trained in education law, at each military installation— #####
(A)the Secretary determines is a primary receiving installation for military families with special needs; and #####
(B)in a State that the Secretary determines has historically not supported families enrolled in the EFMP. ####
(8)The option for a family enrolled in the EFMP to continue to receive all services under that program and a family separation allowance, if otherwise authorized, if— #####
(A)the covered member receives a new permanent duty station; and #####
(B)the covered member and family elect for the family not to relocate with the covered member. ####
(9)The solicitation of feedback from military families with special needs, and discussions of challenges and best practices of the EFMP, using existing family advisory organizations. ###
(c)Case Management The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretaries of the military departments, shall develop an EFMP case management model, including the following: ####
(1)A single EFMP office, located at the headquarters of each covered Armed Force, to oversee implementation of the EFMP and coordinate health care services, permanent change of station order processing, and educational support services for that covered Armed Force. ####
(2)An EFMP office at each military installation with case managers to assist each family of a covered member in the development of a plan that addresses the areas specified in subsection (b)(1). ###
(d)Report Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of the Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and the House of Representatives a report on the implementation of this section, including any recommendations of the Secretary regarding additional legislation. ###
(e)Definitions In this section: ####
(1)The term “covered Armed Force” means an Armed Force under the jurisdiction of the Secretary of a military department. ####
(2)The term “covered member” means a member— #####
(A)of a covered Armed Force; and #####
(B)with a dependent with special needs.
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Sec. 582
IMPROVEMENTS TO EXCEPTIONAL FAMILY MEMBER PROGRAM
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