US Codex
Pub. L.
Notes

Title IV — Educational Assistance and Vocational Rehabilitation

114th Congress · Approved Dec 16, 2016 · 130 Stat. 1536

TITLE IV Educational Assistance and Vocational Rehabilitation

SEC. 401. Clarification of Eligibility for Marine Gunnery Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship.

(a)
In General.— Section 701(d) of the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–146; 128 Stat. 1796; 38 U.S.C. 3311 note) is amended to read as follows:

“(d) Applicability.—

“(1) In general.—The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to a quarter, semester, or term, as applicable, commencing on or after January 1, 2015.

“(2) Deaths that occurred between september 11, 2001, and december 31, 2005.—For purposes of section 3311(f)(2) of title 38, United States Code, any member of the Armed Forces who died during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, and ending on December 31, 2005, is deemed to have died on January 1, 2006.”

(b)
Election on Receipt of Certain Benefits.— Section 3311(f) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (3), by striking “ A surviving spouse” and inserting “ Except as provided in paragraph (4), a surviving spouse”;
(2)
by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and
(3)
by inserting after paragraph (3) the following new paragraph (4):

“(4) Exception for certain elections.—

“(A) In general.—An election made under paragraph (3) by a spouse described in subparagraph (B) may not be treated as irrevocable if such election occurred before the date of the enactment of this paragraph.

“(B) Eligible surviving spouse.—A spouse described in this subparagraph is an individual—

“(i) who is entitled to assistance under subsection (a) pursuant to paragraph (9) of subsection (b); and

“(ii) who was the spouse of a member of the Armed Forces who died during the period beginning on September 11, 2001, and ending on December 31, 2005.”

(c)
Technical Amendment.— Paragraph (5) of subsection (f) of section 3311, as redesignated by subsection (b)(2), is amended by striking “ that paragraph” and inserting “ paragraph (9) of subsection (b)”.

SEC. 402. Approval of Courses of Education and Training for Purposes of the Vocational Rehabilitation Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

(a)
In General.— Section 3104(b) is amended by adding at the end the following new sentences: “ To the maximum extent practicable, a course of education or training may be pursued by a veteran as part of a rehabilitation program under this chapter only if the course is approved for purposes of chapter 30 or 33 of this title. The Secretary may waive the requirement under the preceding sentence to the extent the Secretary determines appropriate.”.
(b)
Effective Date.— The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to a course of education or training pursued by a veteran who first begins a program of rehabilitation under chapter 31 of title 38, United States Code, on or after the date that is 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 403. Authority to Prioritize Vocational Rehabilitation Services Based on Need.

Section 3104, as amended by section 402, is further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

“(c)

(1) The Secretary shall have the authority to administer this chapter by prioritizing the provision of services under this chapter based on need, as determined by the Secretary. In evaluating need for purposes of this subsection, the Secretary shall consider disability ratings, the severity of employment handicaps, qualification for a program of independent living, income, and any other factor the Secretary determines appropriate.

“(2) Not later than 90 days before making any changes to the prioritization of the provision of services under this chapter as authorized under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a plan describing such changes.”

SEC. 404. Reports on Progress of Students Receiving Post-9/11 Educational Assistance.

(a)
In General.— Subchapter III of chapter 33 is amended—
(1)
in section 3325(c)—
(A)
in paragraph (2), by striking “ and” after the semicolon;
(B)
by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and
(C)
by inserting after paragraph (2) the following new paragraph (3):

“(3) the information received by the Secretary under section 3326 of this title; and”

; and

(2)
by adding at the end the following new section:

Ҥ 3326. Report on student progress

“As a condition of approval under chapter 36 of this title of a course offered by an educational institution (as defined in section 3452 of this title), each year, each educational institution (as so defined) that received a payment in that year on behalf of an individual entitled to educational assistance under this chapter shall submit to the Secretary such information regarding the academic progress of the individual as the Secretary may require.”

(b)
Clerical Amendment.— The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

“3326. Report on student progress.”.

(c)
Effective Date.— The amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date that is 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 405. Recodification and Improvement of Election Process for Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program.

(a)
In General.— Subchapter III of chapter 33, as amended by section 404, is further amended by adding at the end the following new section:

Ҥ 3327. Election to receive educational assistance

“(a) Individuals Eligible To Elect Participation in Post-9/11 Educational Assistance.—An individual may elect to receive educational assistance under this chapter if such individual—

“(1) as of August 1, 2009—

“(A) is entitled to basic educational assistance under chapter 30 of this title and has used, but retains unused, entitlement under that chapter;

“(B) is entitled to educational assistance under chapter 107, 1606, or 1607 of title 10 and has used, but retains unused, entitlement under the applicable chapter;

“(C) is entitled to basic educational assistance under chapter 30 of this title but has not used any entitlement under that chapter;

“(D) is entitled to educational assistance under chapter 107, 1606, or 1607 of title 10 but has not used any entitlement under such chapter;

“(E) is a member of the Armed Forces who is eligible for receipt of basic educational assistance under chapter 30 of this title and is making contributions toward such assistance under section 3011(b) or 3012(c) of this title; or

“(F) is a member of the Armed Forces who is not entitled to basic educational assistance under chapter 30 of this title by reason of an election under section 3011(c)(1) or 3012(d)(1) of this title; and

“(2) as of the date of the individual’s election under this paragraph, meets the requirements for entitlement to educational assistance under this chapter.

“(b) Cessation of Contributions Toward GI Bill.—Effective as of the first month beginning on or after the date of an election under subsection (a) of an individual described by paragraph (1)(E) of that subsection, the obligation of the individual to make contributions under section 3011(b) or 3012(c) of this title, as applicable, shall cease, and the requirements of such section shall be deemed to be no longer applicable to the individual.

“(c) Revocation of Remaining Transferred Entitlement.—

“(1) Election to revoke.—If, on the date an individual described in paragraph (1)(A) or (1)(C) of subsection (a) makes an election under that subsection, a transfer of the entitlement of the individual to basic educational assistance under section 3020 of this title is in effect and a number of months of the entitlement so transferred remain unutilized, the individual may elect to revoke all or a portion of the entitlement so transferred that remains unutilized.

“(2) Availability of revoked entitlement.—Any entitlement revoked by an individual under this subsection shall no longer be available to the dependent to whom transferred, but shall be available to the individual instead for educational assistance under chapter 33 of this title in accordance with the provisions of this section.

“(3) Availability of unrevoked entitlement.—Any entitlement described in paragraph (1) that is not revoked by an individual in accordance with that paragraph shall remain available to the dependent or dependents concerned in accordance with the current transfer of such entitlement under section 3020 of this title.

“(d) Post-9/11 Educational Assistance.—

“(1) In general.—Subject to paragraph (2) and except as provided in subsection (e), an individual making an election under subsection (a) shall be entitled to educational assistance under this chapter in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, instead of basic educational assistance under chapter 30 of this title, or educational assistance under chapter 107, 1606, or 1607 of title 10, as applicable.

“(2) Limitation on entitlement for certain individuals.—In the case of an individual making an election under subsection (a) who is described by paragraph (1)(A) of that subsection, the number of months of entitlement of the individual to educational assistance under this chapter shall be the number of months equal to—

“(A) the number of months of unused entitlement of the individual under chapter 30 of this title, as of the date of the election, plus

“(B) the number of months, if any, of entitlement revoked by the individual under subsection (c)(1).

“(e) Continuing Entitlement to Educational Assistance Not Available Under Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program.—

“(1) In general.—In the event educational assistance to which an individual making an election under subsection (a) would be entitled under chapter 30 of this title, or chapter 107, 1606, or 1607 of title 10, as applicable, is not authorized to be available to the individual under the provisions of this chapter, the individual shall remain entitled to such educational assistance in accordance with the provisions of the applicable chapter.

“(2) Charge for use of entitlement.—The utilization by an individual of entitlement under paragraph (1) shall be chargeable against the entitlement of the individual to educational assistance under this chapter at the rate of 1 month of entitlement under this chapter for each month of entitlement utilized by the individual under paragraph (1) (as determined as if such entitlement were utilized under the provisions of chapter 30 of this title, or chapter 107, 1606, or 1607 of title 10, as applicable).

“(f) Additional Post-9/11 Assistance for Members Having Made Contributions Toward GI Bill.—

“(1) Additional assistance.—In the case of an individual making an election under subsection (a) who is described by subparagraph (A), (C), or (E) of paragraph (1) of that subsection, the amount of educational assistance payable to the individual under this chapter as a monthly stipend payable under paragraph (1)(B) of section 3313(c) of this title, or under paragraphs (2) through (7) of that section (as applicable), shall be the amount otherwise payable as a monthly stipend under the applicable paragraph increased by the amount equal to—

“(A) the total amount of contributions toward basic educational assistance made by the individual under section 3011(b) or 3012(c) of this title, as of the date of the election, multiplied by

“(B) the fraction—

“(i) the numerator of which is—

“(I) the number of months of entitlement to basic educational assistance under chapter 30 of this title remaining to the individual at the time of the election; plus

“(II) the number of months, if any, of entitlement under chapter 30 of this title revoked by the individual under subsection (c)(1); and

“(ii) the denominator of which is 36 months.

“(2) Months of remaining entitlement for certain individuals.—In the case of an individual covered by paragraph (1) who is described by subsection (a)(1)(E), the number of months of entitlement to basic educational assistance remaining to the individual for purposes of paragraph (1)(B)(i)(II) shall be 36 months.

“(3) Timing of payment.—The amount payable with respect to an individual under paragraph (1) shall be paid to the individual together with the last payment of the monthly stipend payable to the individual under paragraph (1)(B) of section 3313(c) of this title, or under paragraphs (2) through (7) of that section (as applicable), before the exhaustion of the individual’s entitlement to educational assistance under this chapter.

“(g) Continuing Entitlement to Additional Assistance for Critical Skills or Specialty and Additional Service.—An individual making an election under subsection (a)(1) who, at the time of the election, is entitled to increased educational assistance under section 3015(d) of this title, or section 16131(i) of title 10, or supplemental educational assistance under subchapter III of chapter 30 of this title, shall remain entitled to such increased educational assistance or supplemental educational assistance in the utilization of entitlement to educational assistance under this chapter, in an amount equal to the quarter, semester, or term, as applicable, equivalent of the monthly amount of such increased educational assistance or supplemental educational assistance payable with respect to the individual at the time of the election.

“(h) Alternative Election by Secretary.—

“(1) In general.—In the case of an individual who, on or after January 1, 2017, submits to the Secretary an election under this section that the Secretary determines is clearly against the interests of the individual, or who fails to make an election under this section, the Secretary may make an alternative election on behalf of the individual that the Secretary determines is in the best interests of the individual.

“(2) Notice.—If the Secretary makes an election on behalf of an individual under this subsection, the Secretary shall notify the individual by not later than seven days after making such election and shall provide the individual with a 30-day period, beginning on the date of the individual’s receipt of such notice, during which the individual may modify or revoke the election made by the Secretary on the individual’s behalf. The Secretary shall include, as part of such notice, a clear statement of why the alternative election made by the Secretary is in the best interests of the individual as compared to the election submitted by the individual. The Secretary shall provide the notice required under this paragraph by electronic means whenever possible.

“(i) Irrevocability of Elections.—An election under subsection (a) or (c)(1) is irrevocable.”

(b)
Clerical Amendment.— The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter, as amended by section 404, is further amended by adding at the end the following new item:

“3327. Election to receive educational assistance.”.

(c)
Conforming Repeal.— Subsection (c) of section 5003 of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 (Public Law 110–252; 38 U.S.C. 3301 note) is hereby repealed.

SEC. 406. Work-Study Allowance.

Section 3485(a)(4) is amended by striking “ June 30, 2013” each place it appears and inserting “ June 30, 2013, or the period beginning on June 30, 2017, and ending on June 30, 2022”.

SEC. 407. Centralized Reporting of Veteran Enrollment by Certain Groups, Districts, and Consortiums of Educational Institutions.

(a)
In General.— Section 3684(a) is amended—
(1)
in paragraph (1), by inserting “ 32, 33,” after “ 31,”; and
(2)
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:

“(4) For purposes of this subsection, the term ‘educational institution’ may include a group, district, or consortium of separately accredited educational institutions located in the same State that are organized in a manner that facilitates the centralized reporting of the enrollments in such group, district, or consortium of institutions.”

(b)
Effective Date.— The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to reports submitted on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 408. Role of State Approving Agencies.

(a)
Approval of Certain Courses.— Section 3672(b)(2)(A) is amended by striking “ the following” and all that follows through the colon and inserting the following: “ a program of education is deemed to be approved for purposes of this chapter if a State approving agency, or the Secretary when acting in the role of a State approving agency, determines that the program is one of the following programs:”.
(b)
Approval of Other Courses.— Section 3675 of such title is amended—
(1)
in subsection (a)(1)—
(A)
by striking “ The Secretary or a State approving agency” and inserting “ A State approving agency, or the Secretary when acting in the role of a State approving agency,”; and
(B)
by striking “ offered by proprietary for-profit educational institutions” and inserting “ not covered by section 3672 of this title”; and
(2)
in subsection (b)—
(A)
in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking “ the Secretary or the State approving agency” and inserting “ the State approving agency, or the Secretary when acting in the role of a State approving agency,”; and
(B)
in paragraph (1), by striking “ the Secretary or the State approving agency” and inserting “ the State approving agency, or the Secretary when acting in the role of a State approving agency”.

SEC. 409. Modification of Requirements for Approval for Purposes of Educational Assistance Provided by Department of Veterans Affairs of Programs Designed to Prepare Individuals for Licensure or Certification.

(a)
Approval of Nonaccredited Courses.— Subsection (c) of section 3676 is amended—
(1)
by redesignating paragraph (14) as paragraph (16); and
(2)
by inserting after paragraph (13) the following new paragraphs:

“(14) In the case of a course designed to prepare an individual for licensure or certification in a State, the course—

“(A) meets all instructional curriculum licensure or certification requirements of such State; and

“(B) in the case of a course designed to prepare an individual for licensure to practice law in a State, is accredited by an accrediting agency or association recognized by the Secretary of Education under subpart 2 of part H of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1099b).

“(15) In the case of a course designed to prepare an individual for employment pursuant to standards developed by a board or agency of a State in an occupation that requires approval, licensure, or certification, the course—

“(A) meets such standards; and

“(B) in the case of a course designed to prepare an individual for licensure to practice law in a State, is accredited by an accrediting agency or association recognized by the Secretary of Education under subpart 2 of part H of title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1099b).”

(b)
Exceptions.— Such section is further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

“(f)

(1) The Secretary may waive the requirements of paragraph (14) or (15) of subsection (c) in the case of a course of education offered by an educational institution (either accredited or not accredited) if the Secretary determines all of the following:

“(A) The educational institution is not accredited by an agency or association recognized by the Secretary of Education.

“(B) The course did not meet the requirements of such paragraph at any time during the 2-year period preceding the date of the waiver.

“(C) The waiver furthers the purposes of the educational assistance programs administered by the Secretary or would further the education interests of individuals eligible for assistance under such programs.

“(D) The educational institution does not provide any commission, bonus, or other incentive payment based directly or indirectly on success in securing enrollments or financial aid to any persons or entities engaged in any student recruiting or admission activities or in making decisions regarding the award of student financial assistance, except for the recruitment of foreign students residing in foreign countries who are not eligible to receive Federal student assistance.

“(2) Not later than 30 days after the date on which the Secretary issues a waiver under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to Congress notice of such waiver and a justification for issuing such waiver.”

(c)
Approval of Accredited Courses.— Section 3675(b)(3) is amended—
(1)
by striking “ and (3)” and inserting “ (3), (14), (15), and (16)”; and
(2)
by inserting before the period at the end the following: “ (or, with respect to such paragraphs (14) and (15), the requirements under such paragraphs are waived pursuant to subsection (f)(1) of section 3676 of this title)”.
(d)
Approval of Accredited Standard College Degree Programs Offered at Public or Not-For-Profit Educational Institutions.— Section 3672(b)(2) is amended—
(1)
in subparagraph (A)(i), by striking “ An accredited” and inserting “ Except as provided in subparagraph (C), an accredited”; and
(2)
by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

“(C) A course that is described in both subparagraph (A)(i) of this paragraph and in paragraph (14) or (15) of section 3676(c) of this title shall not be deemed to be approved for purposes of this chapter unless—

“(i) a State approving agency, or the Secretary when acting in the role of a State approving agency, determines that the course meets the applicable criteria in such paragraphs; or

“(ii) the Secretary issues a waiver for such course under section 3676(f)(1) of this title.”

(e)
Disapproval of Courses.— Section 3679 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

“(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the Secretary or the applicable State approving agency shall disapprove a course of education described in paragraph (14) or (15) of section 3676(c) of this title unless the educational institution providing the course of education—

“(1) publicly discloses any conditions or additional requirements, including training, experience, or examinations, required to obtain the license, certification, or approval for which the course of education is designed to provide preparation; and

“(2) makes each disclosure required by paragraph (1) in a manner that the Secretary considers prominent (as specified by the Secretary in regulations prescribed for purposes of this subsection).”

(f)
Applicability.— If after enrollment in a course of education that is subject to disapproval by reason of an amendment made by this section, an individual pursues one or more courses of education at the same educational institution while remaining continuously enrolled (other than during regularly scheduled breaks between courses, semesters, or terms) at that institution, any course so pursued by the individual at that institution while so continuously enrolled shall not be subject to disapproval by reason of such amendment.

SEC. 410. Criteria Used to Approve Courses.

(a)
Nonaccredited Courses.— Paragraph (16) of section 3676(c), as redesignated by section 409, is amended by inserting before the period the following: “ if the Secretary, in consultation with the State approving agency and pursuant to regulations prescribed to carry out this paragraph, determines such criteria are necessary and treat public, private, and proprietary for-profit educational institutions equitably”.
(b)
Accredited Courses.— Section 3675(b)(3) is amended by striking “ and (3)” and inserting “ (3), and (14)”.
(c)
Application.— The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to—
(1)
criteria developed pursuant to paragraph (16) of subsection (c) of section 3676 of title 38, United States Code, on or after January 1, 2013; and
(2)
an investigation conducted under such subsection that is covered by a reimbursement of expenses paid by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to a State pursuant to section 3674 of such title on or after October 1, 2015.

SEC. 411. Compliance Surveys.

(a)
In General.— Section 3693 is amended—
(1)
by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following new subsection (a):

“(a)

(1) Except as provided in subsection (b), the Secretary shall conduct an annual compliance survey of educational institutions and training establishments offering one or more courses approved for the enrollment of eligible veterans or persons if at least 20 such veterans or persons are enrolled in any such course. The Secretary shall—

“(A) design the compliance surveys to ensure that such institutions or establishments, as the case may be, and approved courses are in compliance with all applicable provisions of chapters 30 through 36 of this title;

“(B) survey each such educational institution and training establishment not less than once during every 2-year period; and

“(C) assign not fewer than 1 education compliance specialist to work on compliance surveys in any year for each 40 compliance surveys required to be made under this section for such year.

“(2) The Secretary, in consultation with the State approving agencies, shall—

“(A) annually determine the parameters of the surveys required under paragraph (1); and

“(B) not later than September 1 of each year, make available to the State approving agencies a list of the educational institutions and training establishments that will be surveyed during the fiscal year following the date of making such list available.”

; and

(2)
by adding at the end the following new subsection:

“(c) In this section, the terms ‘educational institution’ and ‘training establishment’ have the meanings given such terms in section 3452 of this title.”

(b)
Conforming Amendments.— Subsection (b) of such section is amended—
(1)
by striking “ subsection (a) of this section for an annual compliance survey” and inserting “ subsection (a)(1) for a compliance survey”;
(2)
by striking “ institution” and inserting “ educational institution or training establishment”; and
(3)
by striking “ institution’s demonstrated record of compliance” and inserting “ record of compliance of such institution or establishment”.

SEC. 412. Modification of Reductions in Reporting Fee Multipliers for Payments by Secretary of Veterans Affairs to Educational Institutions.

(a)
Through September 25, 2017.— During the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on September 25, 2017, the second sentence of section 3684(c) of title 38, United States Code, shall be applied—
(1)
by substituting “$6” for “$12”; and
(2)
by substituting “$12” for “$15”.
(b)
September 26, 2017, Through September 25, 2026.— During the period beginning on September 26, 2017, and ending on September 25, 2026, the second sentence of such section shall be applied—
(1)
by substituting “$7” for “$12”; and
(2)
by substituting “$12” for “$15”.
(c)
Conforming Amendment.— Section 406 of the Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2014 (Public Law 113–175; 38 U.S.C. 3684 note), as amended by the Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act of 2016, is amended by striking “ During the three-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act” and inserting “ During the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on the day before the date of the enactment of the Jeff Miller and Richard Blumenthal Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2016”.

SEC. 413. Composition of Veterans’ Advisory Committee on Education.

Section 3692(a) is amended in the second sentence by striking “ veterans representative of World War II” and all that follows through the period at the end of that sentence and inserting the following: “ a representative sample of veterans and other individuals who have used, or may in the future use, educational assistance benefits administered by the Secretary.”.

SEC. 414. Survey of Individuals Using Their Entitlement to Educational Assistance under the Educational Assistance Programs Administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

(a)
Survey Required.— By not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall enter into a contract with a non-government entity for the conduct of a survey of a statistically valid sample of individuals who have used or are using their entitlement to educational assistance under chapters 30, 32, 33, and 35 of title 38, United States Code, to pursue a program of education or training. The contract shall provide that—
(1)
not later than 1 month before the collection of data under the survey begins, the survey shall be submitted to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives;
(2)
the non-government entity shall complete the survey and submit to the Secretary the results of the survey by not later than 180 days after entering into the contract; and
(3)
the survey shall be conducted by electronic means and by any other means the non-government entity determines appropriate.
(b)
Information To Be Collected.— The contract under subsection (a) shall provide that the survey shall be designed to collect the following types of information about each individual surveyed, where applicable:
(1)
Demographic information, including the highest level of education completed by the individual, the military occupational specialty or specialties of the individual while serving on active duty as a member of the Armed Forces or as a member of the National Guard or of a Reserve Component of the Armed Forces, and whether the individual has a service-connected disability.
(2)
The opinion of the individual regarding participation in the transition assistance program under section 1144 of title 10, United States Code, and the effectiveness of the program, including instruction on the use of the benefits under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
(3)
The resources the individual used to help the individual—
(A)
decide to use the individual’s entitlement to educational assistance to enroll in a program of education or training; and
(B)
choose the program of education or training the individual pursued.
(4)
The individual’s goal when the individual enrolled in the program of education or training.
(5)
The nature of the individual’s experience with the education benefits processing system of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
(6)
The nature of the individual’s experience with the school certifying official of the educational institution where the individual pursued the program of education or training who processed the individual’s claim.
(7)
Any services or benefits the educational institution or program of education or training provided to veterans while the individual pursued the program of education or training.
(8)
The type of educational institution at which the individual pursued the program of education or training.
(9)
Whether the individual completed the program of education or training or the number of credit hours completed by the individual as of the time of the survey, and, if applicable, any degree or certificate obtained by the individual for completing the program.
(10)
The employment status of the individual and whether such employment status differs from the employment status of the individual prior to enrolling in the program of education or training.
(11)
Whether the individual is or was enrolled in a program of education on a full-time or part-time basis.
(12)
The opinion of the individual on the effectiveness of the educational assistance program of the Department of Veterans Affairs under which the individual was entitled to educational assistance.
(13)
Whether the individual was ever entitled to a rehabilitation under chapter 31 of title 38, United States Code, and whether the individual participated in such a program.
(14)
A description of any circumstances that prevented the individual from using the individual’s entitlement to educational assistance to pursue a desired career path or degree.
(15)
Whether the individual is using the individual’s entitlement to educational assistance to pursue a program of education or training or has transferred such an entitlement to a dependent.
(16)
Such other matters as the Secretary determines appropriate.
(c)
Report.— Not later than 90 days after receiving the results of the survey required under this section, the Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the results of the survey and any recommendations of the Secretary relating to such results. Such report shall also include an unedited version of the results of the survey submitted by the non-government entity that conducted the survey.

SEC. 415. Department of Veterans Affairs Provision of Information on Articulation Agreements Between Institutions of Higher Learning.

(a)
Information.— Department of Veterans Affairs counselors who provide educational or vocational counseling services pursuant to section 3697A of title 38, United States Code, shall provide to any eligible individual who requests such counseling services information about the articulation agreements of each institution of higher learning in which the individual is interested.
(b)
Certification of Eligibility.— When the Secretary of Veterans Affairs provides to an individual a certification of eligibility for educational assistance provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary shall also include detailed information on such educational assistance, including information on requesting education counseling services and on articulation agreements.
(c)
Definitions.— In this section:
(1)
The term “institution of higher learning” has the meaning given such term in section 3452(f) of title 38, United States Code.
(2)
The term “articulation agreement” has the meaning given such term in section 486A of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (Public Law 89–329; 20 U.S.C. 1093a).
(d)
Deadline for Implementation.— The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall implement this section not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 416. Retention of Entitlement to Educational Assistance During Certain Additional Periods of Active Duty.

(a)
Educational Assistance Allowance.— Section 16131(c)(3)(B)(i) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking “ or 12304” and inserting “ 12304, 12304a, or 12304b”.
(b)
Expiration Date.— Section 16133(b)(4) of such title is amended by striking “ or 12304” and inserting “ 12304, 12304a, or 12304b”.

SEC. 417. Technical Amendment Relating to In-State Tuition Rate for Individuals to Whom Entitlement Is Transferred under All-Volunteer Force Educational Assistance Program and Post-9/11 Educational Assistance.

(a)
Technical Amendment.— Subparagraph (B) of section 3679(c)(2) is amended to read as follows:

“(B) An individual who is entitled to assistance under—

“(i) section 3311(b)(9) of this title; or

“(ii) section 3319 of this title by virtue of the individual’s relationship to—

“(I) a veteran described in subparagraph (A); or

“(II) a member of the uniformed services described in section 3319(b) of this title who is serving on active duty.”

(b)
Applicability.— The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to a course, semester, or term that begins after July 1, 2017.

SEC. 418. Study on the Effectiveness of Veterans Transition Efforts.

(a)
Study.— The Secretary of Veterans Affairs, in coordination with the Secretary of Labor and the Secretary of Defense, shall carry out a study to evaluate programs to assist veterans of the Armed Forces in their transition to civilian life. Such study shall be designed to determine the effectiveness of current programs, especially in regards to the unique challenges faced by women veterans, veterans with disabilities, Native American veterans (including Alaska Native veterans and Native Hawaiian veterans), veterans who are residents of a territory of the United States, veterans who are part of the indigenous population of a territory of the United States, and other groups of minority veterans identified by the Secretaries, including whether such programs—
(1)
effectively address the challenges veterans face in pursuing higher education, especially the challenges faced by such groups of minority veterans;
(2)
effectively address the challenges such veterans face entering the civilian workforce and in translating experience and skills from military service to the job market; and
(3)
effectively address the challenges faced by the families of such veterans transitioning to civilian life.
(b)
Report.— Not later than 540 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report regarding the findings and recommendations of the study required under subsection (a).
(c)
Prohibition on Authorization of Appropriations.— No additional funds are authorized to carry out the requirements of this section. Such requirements shall be carried out using amounts otherwise authorized.