[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1938 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
114th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1938
To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the approval of
certain programs of education for purposes of educational assistance
provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
August 5, 2015
Mr. Blumenthal (for himself, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Brown, Mr. Carper, Mr.
Cassidy, Mr. Coons, Mr. Durbin, Mrs. Feinstein, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr.
Merkley, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Reed, Mr. Schumer, and Mrs. Shaheen)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the approval of
certain programs of education for purposes of educational assistance
provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs, 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 ``Career-Ready Student Veterans Act of
2015''.
SEC. 2. MODIFICATION OF REQUIREMENTS FOR APPROVAL OF COURSES USING
EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROVIDED BY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS.
(a) Approval of Non-Accredited Courses.--Subsection (c) of section
3676 of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraph (14) as paragraph (16); and
(2) by inserting after paragraph (13) the following new
paragraphs:
``(14) In the case of a program designed to prepare an
individual for licensure or certification in a State, the
program meets any instructional curriculum licensure or
certification requirements of such State.
``(15) In the case of a program designed to prepare an
individual for employment pursuant to standards developed by a
board or agency of a State in an occupation that requires
approval or licensure, the program is approved or licensed by
such board or agency of the State.''.
(b) Exceptions.--Such section is further amended by adding at the
end the following new subsection:
``(f) The Secretary may waive the requirements of paragraph (14) or
(15) of subsection (c) in the case of a program of education offered by
an educational institution if the Secretary determines the following:
``(1) The educational institution is accredited by an
agency or association recognized by the Secretary of Education.
``(2) The program did not meet the requirements of such
paragraph at any time during the two-year period preceding the
date of the waiver.
``(3) The waiver furthers the purposes of the educational
assistance programs administered by the Secretary or would
further the education interests of individuals eligible for
assistance under such programs.
``(4) The educational institution does not provide any
commission, bonus, or other incentive payment based directly or
indirectly on success in securing enrollments or financial aid
to any persons or entities engaged in any student recruiting or
admission activities or in making decisions regarding the award
of student financial assistance, except for the recruitment of
foreign students residing in foreign countries who are not
eligible to receive Federal student assistance.''.
(c) Approval of Accredited Courses.--Section 3675(b)(3) of such
title is amended--
(1) by striking ``and (3)'' and inserting ``(3), (14), and
(15)''; and
(2) by inserting before the period at the end the
following: ``(or, with respect to such paragraphs (14) and
(15), the requirements under such paragraphs are waived
pursuant to subsection (f) of section 3676 of this title)''.
(d) Disapproval of Courses.--Section 3679 of such title is amended
by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the
Secretary shall disapprove a course of education described in paragraph
(14) or (15) of section 3676(c) of this title unless the educational
institution providing the course of education publicly discloses any
conditions or additional requirements, including training, experience,
or exams, required to obtain the license, certification, or approval
for which the course of education is designed to provide
preparation.''.
(e) Conforming Amendment.--Section 3672(b)(2)(A)(i) of such title
is amended by striking ``An accredited'' and inserting ``Except as
provided in paragraphs (14) and (15) of section 3676(c) of this title,
an accredited''.
(f) Applicability.--If after enrollment in a course of education
that is subject to disapproval by reason of an amendment made by this
Act, an individual pursues one or more courses of education at the same
educational institution while remaining continuously enrolled (other
than during regularly scheduled breaks between courses, semesters, or
terms) at that institution, any course so pursued by the individual at
that institution while so continuously enrolled shall not be subject to
disapproval by reason of such amendment.
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