1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “GI Bill Planning Act of 2019”.
GI Bill Planning Act of 2019
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend the period under which an election must be made for entitlement to educational assistance under the All-Volunteer Educational Assistance Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to phase out the use of such program, and for other purposes.
2. Period for election to receive benefits under All-Volunteer Educational Assistance Program of Department of Veterans Affairs
In general— Section 3011 of title 38, United States Code, is amended—
in subsection (c)(1), by striking “Any such election shall be made at the time the individual initially enters on active duty as a member of the Armed Forces” and inserting “Any such election shall be made during the 90-day period beginning on the day that is 180 days after the date on which the individual initially enters initial training”; and
in subsection (b)(1), by striking “that such individual is entitled to such pay” and inserting “that begin after the date that is 270 days after the date on which the individual initially enters initial training”.
Effective date— The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act.
3. Phase out of All-Volunteer Educational Assistance Program of Department of Veterans Affairs
Subsection (a)(1)(A) of section 3011 of title 38, United States Code, as amended by section 2, is further amended by striking “after June 30, 1985” and inserting “during the period beginning July 1, 1985, and ending September 30, 2029”.
4. Modification of Department of Veterans Affairs requirements for in-State tuition
In general— Section 3679(c) of title 38, United States Code, is amended—
in paragraph (2)(A), by striking “less than three years before the date of enrollment in the course concerned”; and
in paragraph (4)—
by striking “It shall” and inserting “(A) It shall”; and
by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
“(B) To the extent feasible, the Secretary shall make publicly available on the Internet website of the Department a database explaining any requirements described in subparagraph (A) that are established by a public institution of higher learning for an individual to be charged tuition and fees at a rate that is equal to or less than the rate the institution charges for tuition and fees for residents of the State in which the institution is located. The Secretary shall disapprove a course of education provided by such an institution that does not provide the Secretary—
“(i) an initial explanation of such requirements; and
“(ii) not later than 90 days after the date on which any such requirements change, the updated requirements.”
Application— The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to a quarter, semester, or term, as applicable, commencing on or after August 1, 2020.