Extension and modification of transportation grant program of Department of Veterans Affairs

Section 307 of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 (Public Law 111–163; 38 U.S.C. 1710 note) is amended— (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (2), by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs: (C) Indian tribes. (D) Tribal organizations. (E) Native Hawaiian organizations. (F) County veterans service organizations.; (B) in paragraph (3), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by striking State veterans service agency or veterans service organization awarded and inserting recipient of; and (C) by amending paragraph (4) to read as follows: (4) Maximum amount (A) In general Except as provided in subparagraphs (B) and (C), the amount of a grant under this section may not exceed $50,000. (B) Off-road communities In the case of a county that has more than five communities that are off the road system, the amount of a grant awarded with respect to that county under this section may be increased by an amount not to exceed 50 percent of the amount specified in subparagraph (A). (C) Purchasing a vehicle (i) Amount The amount of a grant awarded under this section to a recipient may be increased by not more than $80,000 if the recipient is purchasing a vehicle to comply with requirements under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.) in carrying out this section. (ii) Limitations The Secretary may prescribe limitations on the number of vehicles purchased by each recipient under this section.; (2) by striking subsection (d); (3) by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as subsections (d) and (e), respectively; (4) by inserting after subsection (a) the following new subsections: (b) Additional services (1) Nearby rural areas In addition to providing innovative transportation options to veterans in highly rural areas, a recipient of a grant under this section may use amounts provided under the grant to provide innovative transportation options to veterans in nearby rural areas. (2) Priority A recipient of a grant under this section shall prioritize the provision of innovative transportation options to veterans in highly rural areas, and shall demonstrate to the Secretary such priority, and may only provide services under paragraph (1) to veterans in nearby rural areas if— (A) it does not impede the services provided to veterans in highly rural areas; and (B) the grantee has excess capacity and resources available to provide such services to veterans in nearby rural areas. (c) Eligibility of previous areas Areas eligible for assistance under the grant program under this section on the day before the date of the enactment of the Supporting Rural Veterans Access to Healthcare Services Act shall remain eligible for such assistance on and after such date of enactment.; and (5) in subsection (e), as redesignated by paragraph (2)— (A) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (5); and (B) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following: (1) Indian tribe; Tribal organization The terms Indian tribe and Tribal organization have the meanings given those terms in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). (2) Native Hawaiian organization The term Native Hawaiian organization has the meaning given that term in section 6207 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7517). (3) Nearby The term nearby, with respect to a rural area, includes rural areas adjacent to a highly rural area and rural areas geographically between the highly rural area and the nearest Department of Veterans Affairs medical center. (4) Rural; highly rural The terms rural and highly rural have the meanings given those terms under the Rural-Urban Commuting Areas (RUCA) coding system of the Department of Agriculture..