S. 3388 — what changed
Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2021
From Reported in Senate to Engrossed in Senate. 2 sections amended and 1 removed between Reported in Senate and Engrossed in Senate.
Sec. 103 Report on improving access to Board of Veterans' Appeals telehearings
In general— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs of the House of Representatives a report on improving access to hearings before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals held by picture and voice transmission.
Contents— The report required by subsection (a) shall include the following:
changed
Recommendations on the feasibility and advisability of reimbursing veterans for expenses incurred for travel from the home of a veteran to the location at which a hearing before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals is held by picture and voice transmission, if the Secretary determines that travel to such location is reasonably necessary for such a hearing.hearing;
Recommendations on establishment of pilot programs to assess the feasibility and advisability of using other methods that could improve veteran access to hearings before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals held by picture and voice transmission from a veteran’s home.
Such other recommendations to improve access to hearings before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals held by picture and voice transmission as the Secretary may receive from stakeholders.
Sec. 302 Facilitating Department of Veterans Affairs contractor access to federal tax return information necessary for claims processing
changed
Notice defined—In general— Section 5100 6103(l)(7) of title 38, United States Code, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended—amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
added “(E) Redisclosures
added “(i) In general—Officers and employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs who are specifically designated by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may redisclose return information described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) to contractors of such Department administering (or assisting in administering) a program listed in subparagraph (D)(viii).
added “(ii) Restrictions on use of information—Information disclosed under this subparagraph shall be disclosed only for purposes of, and to the extent necessary in, determining eligibility for, or the correct amount of, benefits under a program listed in subparagraph (D)(viii).”
removed
in the section heading, by striking “Definition of “claimant”” and inserting “Definitions””;
removed
by striking “this chapter, the term” and inserting “this chapter:
removed
“(1) The term”
removed
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
removed
“(2) The term notice means a communication delivered through a method determined appropriate by the Secretary, which may include electronic notification in accordance with section 5104(c) of this title.”
changed
Notice of decisions of Secretary of Veterans Affairs regarding benefits—Conforming amendment— Section 5104 6103(a)(3) of such title Code is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:inserting “(7)(E),” after “(6),”.
removed
“(c)
removed
“(1) The Secretary may provide notice to a person under subsection (a) of this section and under section 7104(e) of this title electronically, but only after the person affirmatively consents to electronic notification for all decisions requiring notice under this section, including section 7104 of this title.
removed
“(2)
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“(A) A person may revoke consent to electronic notification under paragraph (1) at any time by informing the Secretary of such revocation.
removed
“(B) A revocation under this paragraph is effective upon a person's submission of such revocation, whether by electronic means or by mail.
removed
“(3) The Secretary shall, on an annual basis—
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“(A) solicit input from stakeholders for recommendations to improve how the Department issues notifications under this section, including section 7104 of this title; and
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“(B) publicly publish responses to such input on a website of the Department.”
changed
Notice of higher-Level review decision by agency of original jurisdiction—Safeguards— Section 5104B(c) 6103(p)(4) of such title Code is amended by striking “in writing” “subsection (l)(10)” each place it appears and inserting “to the claimant and the claimant’s representative”.“subsection (l)(7), (10)”.
removed
Notice of decisions by Board of Veterans' Appeals— Section 7104 of such title is amended by striking subsection (e) and inserting the following:
removed
“(e) Subject to section 5104(c) of this title, after reaching a decision on a case, the Board shall promptly provide notice (as that term is defined in section 5100 of this title) of such decision to the following:
removed
“(1) The claimant.
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“(2) Any other party with a right to notice of such decision.
removed
“(3) Any authorized representative of the appellant or party described in subparagraph (B).”
removed
Notice of disagreement— Section 7105(b)(1)(A) of such title is amended by striking “mailing” and inserting “provision”.
Sec. 303 Facilitating Department of Veterans Affairs contractor access to Federal tax return information necessary for claims processing
removed
removed
In general— Section 6103(l)(7) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
removed
“(E) Redisclosures
removed
“(i) In general—Officers and employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs who are specifically designated by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may redisclose return information described in subparagraphs (A) and (B) to contractors of such Department administering (or assisting in administering) a program listed in subparagraph (D)(viii).
removed
“(ii) Restrictions on use of information—Information disclosed under this subparagraph shall be disclosed only for purposes of, and to the extent necessary in, determining eligibility for, or the correct amount of, benefits under a program listed in subparagraph (D)(viii).”
removed
Conforming amendment— Section 6103(a)(3) of such Code is amended by inserting “(7)(E),” after “(6),”.
removed
Safeguards— Section 6103(p)(4) of such Code is amended by striking “subsection (l)(10)” each place it appears and inserting “subsection (l)(7), (10)”.