Warriors' Peer-Outreach Pilot Program Act

Summary: Warriors' Peer-Outreach Pilot Program Act - Directs the Secretary of Veteran Affairs (VA) to carry out a three-year pilot program to provide outreach and support services to veterans at institutions of higher learning that enable them to make more successful use of their entitlement to educational assistance. Requires the Secretary to select one four-year public university, one community college, and one private nonprofit college at which to conduct the pilot program. Requires the pilot program to provide peer-outreach and peer-support services to students at such institutions who are veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn by employing veterans who: (1) are using, or have successfully used, their entitlement to educational assistance; and (2) have served on active duty in a theater of combat operations. Directs the Secretary to provide training to the veterans employed by the pilot program and to develop requirements and measures for assessing the effectiveness of program services.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Warriors' Peer-Outreach Pilot 
Program Act''.

SEC. 2. PILOT PROGRAM ON THE PROVISION OF OUTREACH AND SUPPORT SERVICES 
              TO VETERANS PURSUING HIGHER EDUCATION UNDER THE POST 9/11 
              EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OF THE DEPARTMENT OF 
              VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) Pilot Program.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall carry 
out a three-year pilot program to provide outreach and support services 
at institutions of higher learning (as that term is defined in section 
3452(f) of title 38, United States Code) that are designed to promote 
improved higher-education outcomes and the successful use of needed 
services for veterans using their entitlement to educational assistance 
under chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, to pursue a program 
of education leading to a degree at the institution of higher learning.
    (b) Selection of Institutions.--
            (1) Types of institutions.--The Secretary shall select 
        three institutions of higher learning at which the Secretary 
        shall carry out the pilot program under this section, as 
        follows:
                    (A) One four-year public university.
                    (B) One community college.
                    (C) One private, not-for-profit college.
            (2) Other requirements.--To be eligible to participate in 
        the pilot program under this section, an institution shall--
                    (A) provide office space, the capability for 
                veterans described in subsection (c)(1) to use 
                information technology equipment, and appropriate 
                information-technology support services for the 
                individual who will provide peer-outreach and peer-
                support services at such institution; and
                    (B) cooperate with the Secretary in providing such 
                data as the Secretary may require to evaluate the 
                effectiveness of the pilot program, as described in 
                subsection (c)(3).
            (3) Priority for selection.--In selecting institutions of 
        higher learning for purposes of the pilot program under this 
        section, the Secretary shall give priority to--
                    (A) institutions of higher learning with existing 
                peer outreach programs for veteran students; and
                    (B) institutions of higher learning located in 
                States with large student veteran populations, as 
                determined by the Secretary.
    (c) Program Requirements.--In carrying out the pilot program under 
subsection (a), the Secretary shall--
            (1) Provide peer-outreach and peer-support services to 
        veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom 
        and Operation New Dawn who are students at an institution where 
        the Secretary carries out the pilot program, with particular 
        emphasis on assisting individuals who may have, or may be 
        having, difficulty in adjusting to such institution, or who may 
        need services or supports that such institution is not equipped 
        to provide, by employing veterans--
                    (A) who--
                            (i) are using their entitlement to 
                        educational assistance under chapter 33 of 
                        title 38, United States Code, to pursue a 
                        program of education leading to a degree at the 
                        institution of higher learning; or
                            (ii) have used their entitlement to 
                        educational assistance under such chapter to 
                        complete a program of education and graduate 
                        from such an institution during the 18-month 
                        period preceding the date on which the veteran 
                        is hired to perform services under the pilot 
                        program; and
                    (B) who have served on active duty in a theater of 
                combat operations (with special consideration given to 
                veterans who have recovered or are recovering from a 
                mental health condition).
            (2) Provide for training veterans employed as described in 
        paragraph (1).
            (3) Develop requirements and measures for assessing the 
        impact and effectiveness of the services provided under the 
        pilot program, including--
                    (A) developing and disseminating an online survey 
                instrument (designed to establish baseline data, 
                including data on need for services) to veterans 
                attending the institutions of higher education 
                described in paragraph (1) of this subsection;
                    (B) developing and disseminating (not earlier than 
                18 months after the start of the pilot program) a 
                follow-up online survey instrument (designed to gather 
                data, including data to assess engagement with peer-
                support, experience accessing services, and adjustment 
                to higher education) other on the possible impact of 
                the program); and
                    (C) tabulating--
                            (i) the number of veterans who meet on an 
                        individual basis with such peer;
                            (ii) the number of referrals such 
                        individual makes; and
                            (iii) the outcome of such referrals.
    (d) Duration.-- The authority of the Secretary to provide services 
under the pilot program under this section shall terminate on the later 
of the following dates:
            (1) The date that is three years after the date of the 
        commencement of the pilot program.
            (2) The date of the last day of the academic year that ends 
        not more than 180 days after the date that is three years after 
        the date of the commencement of the pilot program.
    (e) Report.--Not later than nine months after the completion of the 
pilot program under this section, the Secretary shall submit to the 
Committees on Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the House of 
Representatives a report on the pilot program. The report shall include 
the following:
            (1) A description of the implementation and operation of 
        the program.
            (2) An evaluation of effectiveness of then peer-outreach 
        services provided under the program in--
                    (A) reducing the prevalence of veterans failing to 
                continue higher education pursuits using their 
                entitlement to educational assistance under chapter 33 
                of title 38, United States Code;
                    (B) improving other outcomes related to higher 
                education for veterans using such entitlement; and
                    (C) the use by such veterans of needed behavioral 
                health and other services.
            (3) An analysis of the costs and benefits of the program.
            (4) The Secretary's recommendations, if any, regarding an 
        extension or expansion of the program.