[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5914 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5914
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 30, 2024
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the processes to
approve programs of education for purposes of the educational
assistance programs of 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 ``Veterans Education Transparency and
Training Act'' or the ``VETT Act''.
SEC. 2. PROCESSES TO APPROVE PROGRAMS OF EDUCATION FOR PURPOSES OF THE
EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) Limitation of Disapproval of Programs of Education for Failure
To Provide Certain Forms.--Section 3679(f)(5) of title 38, United
States Code, is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``this paragraph'' and
inserting ``this subparagraph'';
(2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``this paragraph'' and
inserting ``subparagraph (A)''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(C) If an educational institution cannot provide to an individual
a form under paragraph (1) that contains all of the information
required under subparagraph (A) of such paragraph, the educational
institution shall provide to such individual, with the form under such
paragraph, a notice--
``(i) that specifies what such information may be
inaccurate or incomplete; and
``(ii) that includes, in place of the information that may
be inaccurate or incomplete, the best estimate available on the
date of such notice.''.
(b) Publication of Information About Training for School Certifying
Officials.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish a website
to serve as a central location for the publication of information about
the training that the Department of Veterans Affairs provides for
school certifying officials and shall update such information on a
regular basis.
SEC. 3. MODIFICATION OF RULES FOR APPROVAL OF COMMERCIAL DRIVER
EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR PURPOSES OF EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE
PROGRAMS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
(a) In General.--Section 3680A(e) of title 38, United States Code,
is amended--
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (3) as
subparagraphs (A) though (C), respectively;
(2) in the matter before subparagraph (A), as redesignated
by paragraph (1), by inserting ``(1)'' before ``The
Secretary'';
(3) in paragraph (1)(B), as redesignated by paragraph (1),
by inserting ``except as provided in paragraph (2),'' before
``the course''; and
(4) by adding at the end the following new paragraph (2):
``(2)(A) Subject to this paragraph, a commercial driver education
program is exempt from paragraph (1)(B) for a branch of an educational
institution if the commercial driver education program offered at the
branch by the educational institution--
``(i) is appropriately licensed; and
``(ii)(I) the branch is located in a State in which the
same commercial driver education program is offered by the same
educational institution at another branch of that educational
institution in the same State that is approved for purposes of
this chapter by a State approving agency or the Secretary when
acting in the role of a State approving agency; or
``(II)(aa) the branch is located in a State in which the
same commercial driver education program is not offered at
another branch of the same educational institution in the same
State; and
``(bb) the branch has been operating for a period of at
least one year using the same curriculum as a commercial driver
education program offered by the educational institution at
another location that is approved for purposes of this chapter
by a State approving agency or the Secretary when acting in the
role of a State approving agency.
``(B)(i) In order for a commercial driver education program of an
educational institution offered at a branch described in paragraph
(1)(B) to be exempt under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, the
educational institution shall submit to the Secretary each year that
paragraph (1)(B) would otherwise apply a report that demonstrates that
the curriculum at the new branch is the same as the curriculum at the
primary location.
``(ii) Reporting under clause (i) shall be submitted in accordance
with such requirements as the Secretary shall establish in consultation
with the State approving agencies.
``(C)(i) The Secretary may withhold an exemption under subparagraph
(A) for any educational institution or branch of an educational
institution as the Secretary considers appropriate.
``(ii) In making any determination under clause (i), the Secretary
may consult with the Secretary of Transportation on the performance of
a provider of a commercial driver program, including the status of the
provider within the Training Provider Registry of the Federal Motor
Carrier Safety Administration when appropriate.
``(D) The Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans'
Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a notification not
later than 30 days after the Secretary grants an exemption under this
paragraph. Such notification shall identify the educational institution
and branch of such educational institution granted such exemption.''.
(b) Implementation.--
(1) Establishment of requirements.--Not later than 180 days
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall establish requirements under section
3680A(e)(2)(B)(ii) of such title, as added by subsection (a).
(2) Rulemaking.--In promulgating any rules to carry out
paragraph (2) of section 3680A(e) of title 38, United States
Code, as added by subsection (a), the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs shall consult with State approving agencies.
(3) Applicability.--The amendments made by subsection (a)
shall apply to commercial driver education programs on and
after the day that is 180 days after the date on which the
Secretary establishes the requirements under paragraph (1) of
this subsection.
Passed the House of Representatives April 29, 2024.
Attest:
KEVIN F. MCCUMBER,
Clerk.