1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Veterans Education Counseling Act”.
Veterans Education Counseling Act
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain clarifications and improvements in the academic and vocational counseling programs administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
2. Clarification and improvement of the provision of academic and vocational counseling to eligible veterans by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Academic Counseling and Educational Information Service— Section 3697A of title 38, United States Code, is amended—
in subsection (a), by striking “counseling services, including” and inserting “a program of counseling services, to be known as the “Academic Counseling and Educational Information Service”. Such counseling services shall include”;
in subsection (e), by adding at the end the following: “In making such information available under this subsection, the Secretary shall make available information about the definitions, eligibility requirements, and services provided under this section and information about how the counseling services provided under this section differ from the services provided under section 3104(a)(2) of this title. At a minimum, the Secretary shall make such information available to an individual described in subsection (b) before the individual applies for educational assistance described in subsection (b)(1).”; and
by adding at the end the following new subsections:
“(f) The Secretary shall maintain an Internet website on which—
“(1) a person is able to request counseling services under this section in such a manner that clearly distinguishes such services from counseling services available under section 3104(a)(2) of this title; and
“(2) an individual receiving counseling services under this section is able to receive such services using a web-based counseling tool and to confidentially access aptitude tests.
“(g) The primary goal of the counseling services provided under this section is to provide to individuals with assistance in—
“(1) pursuing postsecondary education and training opportunities;
“(2) obtaining information regarding available postsecondary educational and training opportunities;
“(3) obtaining career-related information and data on available postsecondary educational and training opportunities;
“(4) selecting a program of education or training; and
“(5) addressing other needs relating to education.
“(h) Services provided under this section are different from the services provided under section 3104(a)(2) of this title and do not involve rehabilitation services.”
Vocational rehabilitation counseling—
Electronic application— Section 3102 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(c) Electronic application for benefits—The Secretary shall maintain an Internet website on which a person is able to submit an application for benefits under this chapter.”
Clarification regarding eligibility— Veterans are only eligible for counseling services provided under section 3104(a)(2) of title 38, United States Code, if they are entitled to a rehabilitation program under chapter 31 of such title. Not all veterans who are transitioning from service on active duty in the Armed Forces are eligible for such services.
Goal of program— The primary goal of the counseling services provided under section 3104(a)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is to help veterans eligible for such services to prepare for, obtain, and retain employment.