Dogs Offering Gentle Support Act or the DOGS Act
This bill establishes a pilot grant program in the Department of Health and Human Services for eligible nonprofits to conduct routine dog-assisted therapy in various community settings and populations. The Government Accountability Office must report on the impact of the program.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6170 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 6170
To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out a
pilot program to study the efficacy of dog-assisted therapy on
vulnerable populations, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 10, 2020
Mr. Lipinski introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to carry out a
pilot program to study the efficacy of dog-assisted therapy on
vulnerable populations, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Dogs Offering Gentle Support Act''or
the ``DOGS Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress makes the following findings:
(1) Medical research has demonstrated mental, emotional,
and cognitive benefits of dog-assisted therapy in various
populations.
(2) Vulnerable populations, such as children with low
reading comprehension, elderly nursing home residents and
veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, can see
particularly strong benefits from dog-assisted therapy.
(3) Congress should support this growing body of research
by deploying Federal agency resources to determine the ways in
which dog-assisted therapy can be most beneficial.
(4) Findings from the pilot program established under this
Act can be instructive to State and local governments, non-
profit organizations and other entities seeking to make use of
dog-assisted therapy.
SEC. 3. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES PILOT PROGRAM ON DOG-
ASSISTED THERAPY.
(a) In General.--Commencing not later than 120 days after the date
of the enactment of the Act, subject to the availability of
appropriations, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall carry
out a pilot program under which the Secretary shall make grants to
appropriate non-government entities for the purpose of conducting
routine dog-assisted therapy in various community settings and
populations. In addition to the eligibility criteria in subsection (e),
the Secretary may impose additional eligibility criteria necessary for
the effective functioning of the pilot program.
(b) Purpose.--The purpose of this program is to add to the growing
body of research on the effectiveness of dog-assisted therapy in
various settings and among various populations, and to encourage the
broader adoption of dog-assisted therapy in settings and among
populations where such therapy offers proven benefits.
(c) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that vulnerable
populations should be prioritized in grant awards from the Secretary to
eligible entities. Such populations may include, but are not limited
to, patients in nursing or assisted-living facilities, children with
intellectual and developmental disabilities in academic settings, and
veterans seeking care in State or Federal veterans' facilities.
(d) Duration of Pilot Program.--The pilot program required by
subsection (a) shall be carried out during the 3-year period beginning
on the date of the commencement of the pilot program.
(e) Eligibility and Conditions on Receipt of Grants.--As a
condition of receiving a grant under this section, a non-government
entity shall--
(1) submit to the Secretary certification that the entity
is an organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that visits community settings
with dogs for the purposes of providing dog-assisted therapy;
(2) ensure that dogs making therapy visits are certified by
a therapy dog certification with demonstrated experience,
national scope, and recognized leadership and expertise in the
training of therapy dogs and their handlers;
(3) agree to cover all costs in excess of the grant amount;
(4) agree to a minimum number of routine visits to a
community setting, as determined by the Secretary to ensure
meaningful impact on those present in the setting;
(5) ensure that any training of dogs does not involve
abusive methods such as shock collars, and instead uses
positive reinforcement training;
(6) provide a wellness certification from a licensed
veterinarian for any dog making a therapy visit under this
program; and
(7) submit to the Secretary an application containing such
information, certification, and assurances as the Secretary may
require.
(f) Collection of Data.--In carrying out this section, the
Secretary shall--
(1) develop metrics and other appropriate means to measure
the impact of routine dog-assisted therapy on the populations
visited by non-government organizations approved under
subsection (e); and
(2) establish processes to document and track the progress
of populations under the program in terms of the benefits and
improvements noted as a result of the program.
(g) GAO Briefing and Study.--
(1) Briefing.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the
commencement of the pilot program under subsection (a), the
Comptroller General of the United States shall provide to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of
Representatives and to the Committee on Health, Education,
Labor, and Pensions of the Senate a briefing on the methodology
established for the program.
(2) Report.--Not later than 270 days after the date on
which the program terminates, the Comptroller General shall
submit to the committees specified in paragraph (1) a report on
the program. Such report shall include an evaluation of the
approach and methodology used for the program with respect to--
(A) helping vulnerable populations overcome
emotional or cognitive challenges; and
(B) relevant metrics, including those developed by
the Secretary under paragraph (1) of subsection (f).
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
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