[118th Congress Public Law 95]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



[[Page 138 STAT. 1567]]

Public Law 118-95
118th Congress

                                 An Act


 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to revise the rules for approval 
  by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of commercial driver education 
programs for purposes of veterans educational assistance, and for other 
              purposes. <<NOTE: Oct. 1, 2024 -  [S. 656]>> 

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: Veteran 
Improvement Commercial Driver License Act of 2023.>> 
SECTION 1. <<NOTE: 38 USC 101 note.>> SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Veteran Improvement Commercial Driver 
License Act of 2023''.
SEC. 2. MODIFICATION OF RULES FOR APPROVAL OF COMMERCIAL DRIVER 
                    EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR PURPOSES OF VETERANS 
                    EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE.

    (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) uses 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) <<NOTE: Reports.>> 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.

[[Page 138 STAT. 1568]]

    ``(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.''.
    (b) Implementation.--
            (1) <<NOTE: Deadline. 38 USC 3680A note.>> 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) <<NOTE: Effective date. 38 USC 3680A 
        note.>> Applicability.--The amendments made by subsection (a) 
        shall apply to commercial driver education programs on and after 
        the date that is 180 days after the date on which the Secretary 
        establishes the requirements under paragraph (1) of this 
        subsection.

    Approved October 1, 2024.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 656:
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CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:
                                                        Vol. 169 (2023):
                                    Nov. 2, considered and passed 
                                        Senate.
                                                        Vol. 170 (2024):
                                    Sept. 25, considered and passed 
                                        House.

                                  <all>