“(a) Development of Enhanced Guidance and Procedures for Response to Calls Related to Substance Use and Overdose Risk.—Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 29, 2022], the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in consultation with national experts within the Department of Veterans Affairs on substance use disorder and overdose, shall—“(1) develop enhanced guidance and procedures to respond to calls to the Veterans Crisis Line related to substance use and overdose risk;
“(2) update training materials for staff of the Veterans Crisis Line in response to such enhanced guidance and procedures; and
“(3) update criteria for monitoring compliance with such enhanced guidance and procedures.
“(b) Review and Improvement of Standards for Emergency Dispatch.—“(1) In general.—Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall—“(A) review the current emergency dispatch standard operating procedure of the Veterans Crisis Line to identify any additions to such procedure to strengthen communication regarding—“(i) emergency dispatch for disconnected callers; and
“(ii) the role of social service assistants in requesting emergency dispatch and recording such dispatches; and
“(B) update such procedure to include the additions identified under subparagraph (A).
“(2) Training.—The Secretary shall ensure that all staff of the Veterans Crisis Line are trained on all updates made under paragraph (1)(B) to the emergency dispatch standard operating procedure of the Veterans Crisis Line.
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