Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Pandemic Assistance for Student Veterans Act of 2020”.
Pandemic Assistance for Student Veterans Act of 2020
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain modifications to the educational assistance programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs in light of the COVID-19 emergency, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Definitions
In this Act:
The term “covered program of education” means a program of education (as defined in section 3002 of title 38, United States Code) approved by a State approving agency, or the Secretary of Veterans Affairs when acting in the role of a State approving agency.
The term “COVID–19 emergency” means the public health emergency declared pursuant to section 319 of the Public Health Service Act on January 31, 2020, entitled “Determination that a Public Health Emergency Exists Nationwide as the Result of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus”.
The term “educational institution” has the meaning given that term in section 3452(c) of title 38, United States Code, and includes an institution of higher learning (as defined in such section).
The term “State approving agency” has the meaning given that term in section 3671 of title 38, United States Code.
The term “training establishment” has the meaning given that term in section 3452(e) of title 38, United States Code.
The term “training” includes on-job training and apprenticeship programs and vocational rehabilitation programs.
Sec. 3 Continuation of Department of Veterans Affairs educational assistance benefits during COVID–19 emergency
Authority— If the Secretary of Veterans Affairs determines under subsection (c) that an individual is negatively affected by the COVID–19 emergency, the Secretary may provide educational assistance to that individual under the laws administered by the Secretary as if such negative effects did not occur. The authority under this section is in addition to the authority provided under section 1 of Public Law 116–128 (38 U.S.C. 3001 note prec.), but in no case may the Secretary provide more than a total of four weeks of additional educational assistance by reason of section 4 of the Student Veteran Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 (Public Law 116–140; 38 U.S.C. 3680 note) and this section.
Housing and allowances— In providing educational assistance to an individual pursuant to subsection (a), the Secretary may—
continue to pay a monthly housing stipend under chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, during a month the individual would have been enrolled in a program of education or training but for the COVID–19 emergency at the same rate such stipend would have been payable if the individual had not been negatively affected by the COVID–19 emergency, except that the total number of weeks for which stipends may continue to be so payable may not exceed four weeks; and
continue to pay payments or subsistence allowances under chapters 30, 31, 32, 33, and 35 of such title and chapter 1606 of title 10, United States Code, during a month for a period of time that the individual would have been enrolled in a program of education or training but for the COVID–19 emergency, except that the total number of weeks for which payments or allowances may continue to be so payable may not exceed four weeks.
Determination of negative effects— The Secretary shall determine that an individual was negatively affected by the COVID–19 emergency if—
the individual is enrolled in a covered program of education of an educational institution or enrolled in training at a training establishment and is pursuing such program or training using educational assistance under the laws administered by the Secretary;
the educational institution or training establishment certifies to the Secretary that such program or training is truncated, delayed, relocated, canceled, partially canceled, converted from being on-site to being offered by distance learning, or otherwise modified or made unavailable by reason of the COVID–19 emergency; and
the Secretary determines that the modification to such program or training specified under paragraph (2) would reduce the amount of educational assistance (including with respect to monthly housing stipends, payments, or subsistence allowances) that would be payable to the individual but for the COVID–19 emergency.
Effect on entitlement period— If the Secretary determines that an individual who received assistance under this section did not make progress toward the completion of the program of education in which the individual is enrolled during the period for which the individual received such assistance, any assistance provided pursuant to this section shall not be counted for purposes of determining the total amount of an individual’s entitlement to educational assistance, housing stipends, or payments or subsistence allowances under chapters 30, 31, 32, and 35 of such title and chapter 1606 of title 10, United States Code.
Applicability period— This section shall apply during the period beginning on March 1, 2020, and ending on December 21, 2021.
Sec. 4 Effects of closure of educational institution and modification of courses by reason of COVID-19 emergency
Closure or disapproval— Any payment of educational assistance described in subsection (b) shall not—
be charged against any entitlement to educational assistance of the individual concerned; or
be counted against the aggregate period for which section 3695 of title 38, United States Code, limits the receipt of educational assistance by such individual.
Educational assistance described— Subject to subsection (d), the payment of educational assistance described in this subsection is the payment of such assistance to an individual for pursuit of a course or program of education at an educational institution under chapter 30, 31, 32, 33, or 35 of title 38, United States Code, or chapter 1606 of title 10, United States Code, if the Secretary determines that the individual—
was unable to complete such course or program as a result of—
the closure of the educational institution, or the full or partial cancellation of a course or program of education, by reason of the COVID-19 emergency; or
the disapproval of the course or a course that is a necessary part of that program under chapter 36 of title 38, United States Code, because the course was modified by reason of such emergency; and
did not receive credit or lost training time, toward completion of the program of education being so pursued.
Housing assistance— In this section, educational assistance includes, as applicable—
monthly housing stipends payable under chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, for any month the individual would have been enrolled in a course or program of education; and
payments or subsistence allowances under chapters 30, 31, 32, and 35 of such title and chapter 1606 of title 10, United States Code, during a month the individual would have been enrolled in a course or program of education.
Period not charged— The period for which, by reason of this subsection, educational assistance is not charged against entitlement or counted toward the applicable aggregate period under section 3695 of title 38, United States Code, shall not exceed the aggregate of—
the portion of the period of enrollment in the course from which the individual did not receive credit or with respect to which the individual lost training time, as determined under subsection (b)(2); and
the period by which a monthly stipend is extended under section 3680(a)(2)(B) of title 38, United States Code.
Continuing pursuit of disapproved courses—
In general— The Secretary may treat a course of education that is disapproved under chapter 36 of title 38, United States Code, as being approved under such chapter with respect to an individual described in paragraph (2) if the Secretary determines, on a programmatic basis, that—
such disapproval is the result of an action described in subsection (b)(1)(B); and
continuing pursuing such course is in the best interest of the individual.
Individual described— An individual described in this paragraph is an individual who is pursuing a course of education at an educational institution under chapter 30, 31, 32, 33, or 35 of title 38, United States Code, or chapter 1606 of title 10, United States Code, as of the date on which the course is disapproved as described in subsection (b)(1)(B).
Status as full-Time student for purposes of housing stipend calculation— In the case of an individual who, as of the first day of the COVID-19 emergency was enrolled on a full-time basis in a program of education and was receiving educational assistance under chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, or subsistence allowance under chapter 31 of such title, and for whom the Secretary makes a determination under subsection (b), the individual shall be treated as an individual enrolled in a program of education on a full-time basis for the purpose of calculating monthly housing stipends payable under chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, or subsistence allowance payable under chapter 31 of such title, for any month the individual is enrolled in the program of education on a part-time basis to complete any course of education that was partially or fully canceled by reason of the COVID-19 emergency.
Notice of closures— Not later than 5 business days after the date on which the Secretary receives notice that an educational institution will close or is closed by reason of the COVID-19 emergency, the Secretary shall provide to each individual who is enrolled in a course or program of education at such educational institution using entitlement to educational assistance under chapter 30, 31, 32, 33, or 35 of title 38, United States Code, or chapter 1606 of title 10, United States Code, notice of—
such closure and the date of such closure; and
the effect of such closure on the individual’s entitlement to educational assistance pursuant to this section.
Applicability— This section shall apply with respect to the closure of an educational institution, or the cancellation or modification of a course or program of education, that occurs during the period beginning on March 1, 2020, and ending on December 21, 2021.
Sec. 5 Payment of educational assistance in cases of withdrawal
In general— In the case of any individual who withdraws from a program of education or training, other than a program by correspondence, in an educational institution under chapter 31, 34, or 35 of title 38, United States Code, for a covered reason during the period beginning on March 1, 2020, and ending on December 21, 2021, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall find mitigating circumstances for purposes of section 3680(a)(1)(C)(ii) of title 38, United States Code.
Covered reason— In this section, the term “covered reason” means any reason related to the COVID-19 emergency, including—
illness, quarantine, or social distancing requirements;
issues associated with COVID-19 testing accessibility;
access or availability of childcare;
providing care for a family member or cohabitants;
change of location or residence due to COVID-19 or associated school closures;
employment changes or financial hardship; and
issues associated with changes in format or medium of instruction.
Sec. 6 Modification of time limitations on use of entitlement
Montgomery GI bill— The subsection (i) temporarily added to section 3031 of title 38, United States Code, by subsection (a) of section 6 of the Student Veteran Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 (Public Law 116–140) is amended—
in paragraph (1), by striking “the period the individual is so prevented from pursuing such program” and inserting “the period beginning on March 1, 2020, and ending on December 21, 2021”; and
in paragraph (2), by striking “the first day after the individual is able to resume pursuit of a program of education with educational assistance under this chapter” and inserting “December 22, 2021”.
Vocational rehabilitation and training— The subsection (g) temporarily added to section 3103 of title 38, United States Code, by subsection (c) of such section 6 is amended—
in paragraph (1), by striking “the period the individual is so prevented from participating such program” and inserting “the period beginning on March 1, 2020, and ending on December 21, 2021”; and
in paragraph (2), by striking “the first day after the individual is able to resume participation in such program” and inserting “December 22, 2021”.
Sec. 7 Apprenticeship or on-job training requirements
In general— During the period described in subsection (b), subsection (e) of section 3687 of title 38, United States Code, shall be applied by substituting the following for paragraph (2):
“(2)
“(A) Subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C), for any month in which an individual fails to complete 120 hours of training, the entitlement otherwise chargeable under paragraph (1) shall be reduced in the same proportion as the monthly training assistance allowance payable is reduced under subsection (b)(3).
“(B) In the case of an individual who is unemployed during any month, the 120-hour requirement under subparagraph (A) for that month shall be reduced proportionately to reflect the individual’s period of unemployment, except that the amount of monthly training assistance otherwise payable to the individual under subsection (b)(3) shall not be reduced.
“(C) Any period during which an individual is unemployed shall not—
“(i) be charged against any entitlement to educational assistance of the individual; or
“(ii) be counted against the aggregate period for which section 3695 of this title limits the receipt of educational assistance by such individual.
“(D) Any amount by which the entitlement of an individual is reduced under subparagraph (A) shall not—
“(i) be charged against any entitlement to educational assistance of the individual; or
“(ii) be counted against the aggregate period for which section 3695 of this title limits the receipt of educational assistance by such individual.
“(E) In the case of an individual who fails to complete 120 hours of training during a month, but who completed more than 120 hours of training during the preceding month, the individual may apply the number of hours in excess of 120 that the individual completed for that month to the month for which the individual failed to complete 120 hours. If the addition of such excess hours results in a total of 120 hours or more, the individual shall be treated as an individual who has completed 120 hours of training for that month. Any excess hours applied to a different month under this subparagraph may only be applied to one such month.
“(F) This paragraph applies to amounts described in section 3313(g)(3)(B)(iv) and section 3032(c)(2) of this title and section 16131(d)(2) of title 10.
“(G) In this paragraph:
“(i) The term “unemployed” includes being furloughed or being scheduled to work zero hours.
“(ii) The term “fails to complete 120 hours of training” means, with respect to an individual, that during any month, the individual completes at least one hour, but fewer than 120 hours, of training, including in a case in which the individual is unemployed for part of, but not the whole, month.”
Applicability period— The period described in this section is the period beginning on March 1, 2020, and ending on December 21, 2021.
Sec. 8 Inclusion of training establishments in certain provisions related to COVID-19 emergency
Continuation of benefits— Section 1 of Public Law 116–128 is amended—
in subsection (a), by inserting “or a training establishment” after “an educational institution”; and
in subsection (c), by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(4) Training establishment—The term “training establishment” has the meaning given such term in section 3452(e) of title 38, United States Code.”
Payment of allowances— Section 4(a)(1) of the Student Veteran Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 (Public Law 116–140; 38 U.S.C. 3680 note) is amended by inserting “or a training establishment” after “educational institution”.
Prohibition of charge to entitlement— The subparagraph (C) temporarily added to section 3699(b)(1) of title 38, United States Code, by section 5 of the Student Veteran Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 (Public Law 116–140; 38 U.S.C. 3699 note) is amended by inserting “or training establishment” after “educational institution”.
Extension of time limitations—
MGIB— The subsection (i) temporarily added to section 3031 of title 38, United States Code, by subsection (a) of section 6 of the Student Veteran Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 (Public Law 116–140), as amended by section 6 of this Act, is further amended by inserting “or training establishment” after “educational institution”.
Transfer period— The subparagraph (C) temporarily added to section 3319(h)(5) of such title by section 6 of the Student Veteran Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 (Public Law 116–140) is amended by inserting “or training establishment” after “educational institution”.
Sec. 9 Treatment of payment of allowances under Student Veteran Coronavirus Response Act
Section 4 of the Student Veteran Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 (Public Law 116–140) is amended—
in subsection (b)—
by striking “may not exceed four weeks.” and inserting “may not exceed the shorter of the following:”; and
by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:
“(1) The period of time that the eligible veteran or eligible person would have been enrolled in a program of education or training but for the emergency situation.
“(2) Four weeks.”
by adding at the end the following new subsection:
“(e) Entitlement not charged—Any payment of allowances under this section shall not—
“(1) be charged against any entitlement to educational assistance of the eligible veteran or eligible person concerned; or
“(2) be counted against the aggregate period for which section 3695 of this title 38, United States Code, limits the receipt of educational assistance by such eligible veteran or eligible person.”
Sec. 10 Emergency designations
In general— This Act is designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 4(g) of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 (2 U.S.C. 933(g)).
Designation in Senate— In the Senate, this Act is designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 4112(a) of H. Con. Res. 71 (115th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018.