I

106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 1071

To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve benefits under the Montgomery GI Bill by establishing an enhanced educational assistance program, by increasing the amount of basic educational assistance, by repealing the requirement for reduction in pay for participation in the

program, by authorizing the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to make accelerated payments of basic educational assistance, and by reopening the

period for certain VEAP participants to elect to participate in the program of basic educational assistance, and for other purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MARCH 11, 1999

Mr. EVANS (for himself, Mr. DINGELL, Mr. FILNER, Mr. SHOWS, and Ms.

BROWN of Florida) introduced the following bill; which was referred to

the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs

A BILL

To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve benefits

under the Montgomery GI Bill by establishing an enhanced educational assistance program, by increasing the

amount of basic educational assistance, by repealing the

requirement for reduction in pay for participation in

the program, by authorizing the Secretary of Veterans

Affairs to make accelerated payments of basic educational assistance, and by reopening the period for certain VEAP participants to elect to participate in the

program of basic educational assistance, and for other

purposes.
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1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Montgomery GI Bill

5 Improvements Act of 1999’’.

6 SEC. 2. ENHANCED BENEFITS UNDER MONTGOMERY GI

7 BILL FOR FOUR YEARS OF ACTIVE-DUTY

8 SERVICE.

9 (a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 30 of title 38, United

10 States Code, is amended by adding at the end the follow11 ing new subchapter:

12 ‘‘SUBCHAPTER V–ENHANCED EDU13 CATIONAL ASSISTANCE

14 ‘‘§ 3041. Enhanced educational assistance entitlement

15 ‘‘(a) ENTITLEMENT.—An eligible individual is enti16 tled to enhanced educational assistance under this sub17 chapter.

18 ‘‘(b) ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUAL DEFINED.—For pur19 poses of this subchapter, the term ‘eligible individual’

20 means an individual who meets the service requirement

21 described in subsection (c) and whose status after comple22 tion of such service is described in section 3011(a)(3) of

23 this title. Such term does not include an individual de24 scribed in paragraph (1) or (2) of section 3011(c) of this

25 title.
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1 ‘‘(c) SERVICE REQUIREMENT.—(1) The service re2 quirement referred to in subsection (b) is as follows:

3 ‘‘(A) After September 30, 1999, the

4 individual—

5 ‘‘(i) first enters on active duty;

6 ‘‘(ii) reenlists or extends an enlistment on

7 active duty as a member of the Armed Forces;

8 or

9 ‘‘(iii) in the case of an officer, continues to

10 serve on active duty after that date.

11 ‘‘(B) From the date of such entry, reenlistment,

12 extension, or continuation, as the case may be, the

13 individual—

14 ‘‘(i) serves a continuous period of active

15 duty of at least four years in the Armed Forces;

16 or

17 ‘‘(ii) serves on active duty in the Armed

18 Forces and is discharged or released from ac19 tive duty—

20 ‘‘(I) as provided in subclause (I) of

21 section 3011(a)(1)(A)(ii) of this title;

22 ‘‘(II) for the convenience of the Gov23 ernment, after having completed not less

24 than 42 months of continuous active duty;

25 or
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1 ‘‘(III) as provided in subclause (III)

2 of section 3011(a)(1)(A)(ii) of this title.

3 ‘‘(2) In determining service under paragraph (1), the

4 following rules apply:

5 ‘‘(A) Any period of service described in para6 graph (2) or (3) of section 3011(d) of this title that

7 applies to an eligible individual under this section

8 shall not be considered a part of the individual’s pe9 riod of active duty.

10 ‘‘(B) A member described in paragraph (2) of

11 section 3011(f) of this title who serves the periods

12 of active duty referred to in such paragraph shall be

13 deemed to have served a continuous period of active

14 duty the length of which is the aggregate length of

15 the periods of active duty referred to in such para16 graph.

17 ‘‘(C) Subsections (g) and (h) of section 3011 of

18 this title apply with respect to an eligible individual

19 under this section in the same manner as they apply

20 to an individual under section 3011 of this title.

21 ‘‘(d) ELECTION OF BASIC EDUCATIONAL ASSIST22 ANCE.—(1) An eligible individual entitled to enhanced

23 educational assistance under this subchapter may elect (in

24 a form and manner prescribed by the Secretary) to receive

25 basic educational assistance under subchapter II in lieu
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1 of such enhanced educational assistance for an enrollment

2 period. Such an election shall be made by not later than

3 30 days before the beginning of the enrollment period.

4 ‘‘(2) An eligible individual may revoke an election

5 made pursuant to paragraph (1), but in no case may such

6 revocation be made later than 30 days before the begin7 ning of the enrollment period.

8 ‘‘§ 3042. Duration of enhanced educational assistance

9 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to section 3695 of this

10 title and except as provided in subsection (b), each individ11 ual entitled to enhanced educational assistance under sec12 tion 3041 of this title is entitled to a monthly enhanced

13 educational assistance allowance under this subchapter for

14 a period or periods not to exceed a total of 36 months

15 (or the equivalent thereof in part-time enhanced edu16 cational assistance).

17 ‘‘(b) SPECIAL RULE FOR CERTAIN EARLY SEPARA18 TIONS.—Subject to section 3695 of this title, in the case

19 of an individual described in subclause (I) or (III) of sec20 tion 3041(c)(1)(B)(ii) who does not serve a continuous pe21 riod of active duty of at least four years in the Armed

22 Forces (as described in section 3041(c)(1)(B)(i) of this

23 title), the individual is entitled to one month of enhanced

24 educational assistance benefits under this subchapter (not

25 to exceed a total of 36 months (or the equivalent thereof
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1 in part-time enhanced educational assistance)) for each

2 month of continuous active duty served by the individual

3 beginning with the date on which the entry on active duty,

4 reenlistment, enlistment extension, or continuation appli5 cable to that individual under section 3041(c)(1)(A) of

6 this title begins.

7 ‘‘§ 3043. Payment of educational expenses

8 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the

9 Secretary shall pay to the educational institution providing

10 a course under an approved program of education to an

11 eligible individual under this subchapter who is enrolled

12 in the course the actual cost of tuition and fees otherwise

13 payable by the individual.

14 ‘‘(2) Such cost may not exceed the amount charged

15 to similarly circumstanced nonveterans.

16 ‘‘(b) STIPEND; COSTS OF BOOKS AND SUPPLIES.—

17 The Secretary shall pay to each eligible individual under

18 this subchapter who is pursuing an approved program of

19 education—

20 ‘‘(1) a stipend as provided in section 3044 of

21 this title; and

22 ‘‘(2) in accordance with regulations prescribed

23 by the Secretary, an amount equal to the average

24 cost of books and supplies payable by individuals
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1 pursuing courses of education at educational institu2 tions.

3 ‘‘(c) EXCLUSION FROM INCOME FOR ELIGIBILITY

4 DETERMINATIONS FOR FEDERAL EDUCATIONAL

5 LOANS.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law,

6 amounts payable by the Secretary under this subchapter

7 with respect to an eligible individual shall not be consid8 ered as income for purposes of determining eligibility of

9 such individual for education grants or loans under any

10 other provision of Federal law.

11 ‘‘§ 3044. Amount of stipend

12 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in section

13 3042 of this title, the stipend under this subchapter shall

14 be paid at a monthly rate (as that rate may be increased

15 pursuant to subsection (b)) as follows:

16 ‘‘(1) At the monthly rate of $800 for an ap17 proved program of education pursued on a full-time

18 basis.

19 ‘‘(2) At the monthly rate of $600 for an ap20 proved program of education pursued on a three21 quarter-time basis.

22 ‘‘(3) At the monthly rate of $400 for an ap23 proved program of education pursued on a half-time

24 basis.
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1 ‘‘(4) At the monthly rate of $200 for an ap2 proved program of education pursued on less than a

3 half-time basis.

4 ‘‘(b) ADJUSTMENT FOR INFLATION.—With respect to

5 any fiscal year beginning after fiscal year 2000, the Sec6 retary shall increase the rate paid under subsection (a)

7 for the previous fiscal year by the percentage applicable

8 under section 3015(g) of this title.

9 ‘‘§ 3045. Tutorial assistance

10 ‘‘An individual entitled to an enhanced educational

11 assistance allowance under this subchapter shall be enti12 tled to benefits provided an individual under section 3019

13 of this title, subject to the conditions provided in such sec14 tion.’’.

15 (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—(1) Section 3002

16 of such title is amended by inserting at the end the follow17 ing new paragraph:

18 ‘‘(9) The term ‘enhanced educational assistance’

19 means educational assistance provided under subchapter

20 V.’’.

21 (2) Section 3011 of such title is amended in sub22 section (f)(1) and (g) by striking ‘‘chapter’’ each place it

23 appears and inserting ‘‘subchapter’’.

24 (3) Section 3018 of such title is amended by striking

25 ‘‘educational assistance under this chapter’’ each place it
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1 appears and inserting ‘‘educational assistance under this

2 subchapter’’.

3 (4) Section 3018A(a) of such title is amended by

4 striking ‘‘education assistance under this chapter’’ and in5 serting ‘‘educational assistance under this subchapter’’.

6 (5) Section 3018B of such title is amended by strik7 ing ‘‘education assistance under this chapter’’ each place

8 it appears and inserting ‘‘educational assistance under

9 this subchapter’’.

10 (6) Section 3018C of such title is amended—

11 (A) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘educational

12 assistance under this chapter’’ and inserting ‘‘edu13 cational assistance under this subchapter’’; and

14 (B) in subsection (b), by striking ‘‘education as15 sistance under this chapter’’ and inserting ‘‘edu16 cational assistance under this subchapter’’.

17 (7) Section 3019 of such title is amended by striking

18 ‘‘chapter’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘sub19 chapter’’.

20 (8) Section 3031 of such title is amended—

21 (A) in subsection (f), by inserting ‘‘or 3042 of

22 this title’’ after ‘‘section 3013’’ each place it ap23 pears; and
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1 (B) in subsection (g), by inserting ‘‘or

2 3031(c)(1)(B)(ii)(III)’’ after ‘‘section

3 3011(a)(1)(A)(ii)(III)’’.

4 (9) Section 3032(e)(3) of such title is amended by

5 inserting ‘‘, or section 3044(a)(1)’’ after ‘‘section 3015’’.

6 (c) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections

7 at the beginning of chapter 30 of title 38, United States

8 Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new

9 items:

‘‘SUBCHAPTER V—ENHANCED EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE

‘‘3041. Enhanced educational assistance entitlement.

‘‘3042. Duration of enhanced educational assistance.

‘‘3043. Payment of educational expenses.

‘‘3044. Amount of stipend.

‘‘3045. Tutorial assistance.’’.

10 SEC. 3. INCREASE IN RATES OF BASIC EDUCATIONAL AS11 SISTANCE UNDER MONTGOMERY GI BILL.

12 (a) ACTIVE DUTY EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE.—Sec13 tion 3015 of title 38, United States Code, is amended—

14 (1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking ‘‘$528’’ and

15 inserting ‘‘$900’’; and

16 (2) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ‘‘$429’’

17 and inserting ‘‘$730’’.

18 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by

19 subsection (a) shall take effect on October 1, 1999, and

20 shall apply with respect to educational assistance allow21 ances paid for months after September 1999.
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1 SEC. 4. REPEAL OF PAY REDUCTION, ELECTION OF BENE2 FITS, AND HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RE3 QUIREMENT FOR PARTICIPATION IN BASIC

4 EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE UNDER MONT5 GOMERY GI BILL.

6 (a) REPEAL OF PAY REDUCTION AND ELECTION OF

7 BENEFITS.—

8 (1) ACTIVE DUTY PROGRAM.—(A) Section 3011

9 of title 38, United States Code, is amended—

10 (i) by striking subsection (b); and

11 (ii) in subsection (c), by striking paragraph

12 (1) and redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3)

13 as paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively.

14 (B) Section 3012 of such title is amended—

15 (i) by striking subsection (c); and

16 (ii) in subsection (d), by striking para17 graph (1) and redesignating paragraphs (2) and

18 (3) as paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively.

19 (2) OPPORTUNITIES TO WITHDRAW ELECTION

20 NOT TO ENROLL.—(A) Section 3016(a)(1) of such

21 title is amended by striking ‘‘, and does not make

22 an election under section 3011(c)(1) or section

23 3012(d)(1)’’.

24 (B) Sections 3018A and 3018B of such title

25 are each amended by adding at the end the following

26 new subsection:
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1 ‘‘(e) Notwithstanding subsection (b), no reduction in

2 the pay of an individual under this section shall be made

3 for months beginning after September 30, 1999. Any obli4 gation of such individual under subsection (b), as of Sep5 tember 30, 1999, shall be deemed to be fully satisfied as

6 of such date.’’.

7 (3) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made

8 by this subsection shall take effect on October 1,

9 1999, and apply to individuals whose initial obli10 gated period of active duty under section 3011 or

11 3012 of title 38, United States Code, as the case

12 may be, begins on or after such date.

13 (4) TERMINATION OF PAY REDUCTIONS IN

14 PROGRESS.—Any reduction in the basic pay of an

15 individual referred to in subsection (b) of section

16 3011 of title 38, United States Code, by reason of

17 such subsection, or of any individual referred to in

18 subsection (c) of section 3012 of such title by reason

19 of such subsection, shall cease commencing with

20 months beginning after September 30, 1999, and

21 any obligation of such individual under such sub22 sections, as the case may be, as of September 30,

23 1999, shall be deemed to be fully satisfied as of such

24 date.
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1 (b) REPEAL OF HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RE2 QUIREMENT.—

3 (1) ACTIVE DUTY.—(A) Section 3011(a) of title

4 38, United States Code, is amended—

5 (i) by striking paragraph (2); and

6 (ii) by redesignating paragraph (3) as

7 paragraph (2).

8 (B) Section 3011 of such title is amended—

9 (i) by striking subsection (e); and

10 (ii) by redesignating subsections (f), (g),

11 and (h) as subsections (e), (f), and (g), respec12 tively.

13 (C) Section 3012(a) of such title is amended—

14 (i) by striking paragraph (2); and

15 (ii) by redesignating paragraph (3) as

16 paragraph (2).

17 (D) Section 3012 of such title is amended—

18 (i) by striking subsection (f); and

19 (ii) by redesignating subsection (g) as sub20 section (f).

21 (2) OPPORTUNITIES TO WITHDRAW ELECTION

22 NOT TO ENROLL.—(A) Section 3018 of such title is

23 amended—

24 (i) by striking paragraph (4) of subsection

25 (b);
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1 (ii) by inserting ‘‘and’’ at the end of para2 graph (3)(C); and

3 (iii) by redesignating paragraph (5) as

4 paragraph (4).

5 (B)(i) Section 3018A(a) of such title is

6 amended—

7 (I) by striking paragraph (2);

8 (II) by redesignating paragraphs (3), (4),

9 and (5) as paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), respec10 tively; and

11 (III) by striking ‘‘paragraph (3)’’ in para12 graphs (3) and (4), as so redesignated, and in13 serting ‘‘paragraph (2)’’.

14 (ii) Section 3018A(c) of such title is amended

15 by striking ‘‘subsection (a)(3) of this section’’ and

16 inserting ‘‘subsection (a)(2)’’.

17 (iii) Section 3018A(d)(1) of such title is amend18 ed by striking ‘‘subsection (a)(4) of this subsection’’

19 and inserting ‘‘subsection (a)(3)’’.

20 (C)(i) Section 3018B(a)(1) of such title is

21 amended—

22 (I) by striking subparagraph (B);

23 (II) by redesignating subparagraphs (C),

24 (D), and (E) as subparagraphs (B), (C), and

25 (D), respectively; and
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1 (III) by striking ‘‘subparagraph (C)’’ in

2 subparagraphs (C) and (D), as so redesignated,

3 and inserting ‘‘subparagraph (B)’’.

4 (D)(i) Section 3018B(a)(2) of such title is

5 amended—

6 (I) by striking subparagraph (B);

7 (II) by redesignating subparagraphs (C),

8 (D), and (E) as subparagraphs (B), (C), and

9 (D), respectively;

10 (III) by striking ‘‘paragraph (1)(C) of this

11 subsection’’ in subparagraph (B), as so redesig12 nated, and inserting ‘‘paragraph (1)(B)’’; and

13 (IV) by striking ‘‘subparagraph (C)’’ in

14 subparagraphs (C) and (D), as so redesignated,

15 and inserting ‘‘subparagraph (B)’’.

16 (ii) Section 3018B(c) of such title is amended

17 by striking ‘‘subsection (a)(1)(C) or (a)(2)(C) of this

18 section’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (a)(1)(B) or

19 (a)(2)(B)’’.

20 (iii) Section 3018B(d)(1) of such title is amend21 ed by striking ‘‘subsection (a)(1)(D) or (a)(2)(D) of

22 this section’’ and inserting ‘‘subsection (a)(1)(C) or

23 (a)(2)(C)’’.

24 (E)(i) Section 3018C(a) of such title is

25 amended—
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1 (I) by striking paragraph (3);

2 (II) by redesignating paragraphs (4) and

3 (5) as paragraphs (3) and (4), respectively; and

4 (III) by striking ‘‘paragraph (5)’’ in para5 graph (3), as so redesignated, and inserting

6 ‘‘paragraph (4)’’.

7 (ii) Section 3018C(b) of such title is amended

8 by striking ‘‘as specified in subsection (a)(4)’’ and

9 inserting ‘‘as specified in subsection (a)(3)’’.

10 (iii) Section 3018C(c)(1) of such title is amend11 ed by striking ‘‘election described in subsection

12 (a)(5)’’ and inserting ‘‘election described in sub13 section (a)(4)’’.

14 (3) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made

15 by this subsection shall take effect on the date of the

16 enactment of this Act and apply with respect to indi17 viduals applying for basic educational assistance

18 under chapter 30 of title 38, United States Code, on

19 or after such date.

20 (c) EDUCATION OUTREACH SERVICES TO MEMBERS

21 OF THE ARMED FORCES.—

22 (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 3034(e)(1) of title

23 38, United States Code, is amended to read as fol24 lows:
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1 ‘‘(e)(1) Not later than one year after an individual

2 initially enters on active duty as a member of the Armed

3 Forces, and at such additional times as the Secretary de4 termines appropriate, the Secretary shall furnish the indi5 vidual the information described in paragraph (2).’’.

6 (2) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made

7 by paragraph (1) shall take effect on October 1,

8 1999, and apply to individuals whose initial obli9 gated period of active duty under section 3011 or

10 3012 of title 38, United States Code, as the case

11 may be, begins on or after such date.

12 SEC. 5. AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY TO MAKE ACCELER13 ATED PAYMENTS OF BASIC EDUCATIONAL AS14 SISTANCE UNDER MONTGOMERY GI BILL.

15 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3014 of title 38 is

16 amended—

17 (1) by inserting ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—’’ before

18 ‘‘The Secretary’’; and

19 (2) by adding at the end the following new sub20 section:

21 ‘‘(b) ACCELERATED PAYMENT.—(1)(A) Notwith22 standing any other provision of this chapter and subject

23 to subparagraph (B), an individual entitled to basic edu24 cational assistance under this subchapter may elect to re-
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1 ceive an accelerated payment of the basic educational as2 sistance allowance.

3 ‘‘(B) The Secretary may not make an accelerated

4 payment for a course to an individual who has received

5 an advance payment under section 3680(d) of this title

6 for the same enrollment period.

7 ‘‘(2)(A) Pursuant to an election under paragraph (1),

8 the Secretary shall make an accelerated payment to an

9 individual for a course in a lump-sum amount equal to

10 the lesser of—

11 ‘‘(i) the amount of the educational assistance

12 allowance for the month, or fraction thereof, in

13 which the course begins plus the educational assist14 ance allowance for each of the succeeding four

15 months; or

16 ‘‘(ii)(I) in the case of a course offered on a

17 quarter, semester, or term basis, the amount of ag18 gregate monthly educational assistance allowance

19 otherwise payable under this subchapter for the

20 course for the entire quarter, semester, or term; or

21 ‘‘(II) in the case of a course that is not offered

22 on a quarter, semester, or term basis, the amount of

23 aggregate monthly educational assistance allowance

24 otherwise payable under this subchapter for the en25 tire course.
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1 ‘‘(B) In the case of an adjustment under section

2 3015(g) of this title in the monthly rate of basic edu3 cational assistance that occurs during a period for which

4 an accelerated payment is made under this subsection, the

5 Secretary shall pay—

6 ‘‘(i) on an accelerated basis the amount of the

7 allowance otherwise payable under this subchapter

8 for the period without regard to the adjustment

9 under that section; and

10 ‘‘(ii) on the date of the adjustment any addi11 tional amount of the allowance that is payable for

12 the period as a result of the adjustment.

13 ‘‘(3) Pursuant to an election under paragraph (1),

14 the Secretary shall pay the accelerated payment to the in15 dividual for a course by not later than the date on which

16 the course begins.

17 ‘‘(4) For each accelerated payment made to an indi18 vidual, the individual’s entitlement under this subchapter

19 shall be charged at the same rate at which the entitlement

20 would be charged if the individual had received a monthly

21 educational assistance allowance for the period of edu22 cational pursuit covered by the accelerated payment.

23 ‘‘(5) The Secretary shall prescribe regulations to

24 carry out this subsection, and include in such regulations

25 the requirements, conditions, and methods for the request,
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1 issuance, delivery, certification of receipt and use, and re2 covery of overpayment of an accelerated payment.’’.

3 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by

4 subsection (a) shall take effect on March 1, 2000, and

5 apply with respect to courses of education beginning on

6 or after such date.

7 SEC. 6. AVAILABILITY OF MONTGOMERY GI BILL BENEFITS

8 FOR PAYMENT FOR LICENSING OR CERTIFI9 CATION TESTS.

10 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3452(b) of title 38,

11 United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the

12 following new sentence: ‘‘Such term also includes licensing

13 or certification tests required under Federal, State, or

14 local law, or regulation, for vocations or professions.’’.

15 (b) AMOUNT OF PAYMENT.—Section 3032 of such

16 title is amended by adding at the end the following new

17 subsection:

18 ‘‘(g) The amount of educational assistance payable

19 under this chapter for a licensing or certification test de20 scribed in section 3452(b) of this title is the fee charged

21 for the test.’’.

22 (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by

23 this section shall take effect on October 1, 1999, and apply

24 with respect to licensing and certification tests approved

25 by the Secretary offered on or after such date.
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1 SEC. 7. AVAILABILITY OF MONTGOMERY GI BILL BENEFITS

2 FOR PREPARATORY COURSES FOR COLLEGE

3 AND GRADUATE SCHOOL ENTRANCE EXAMS.

4 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3452(b) of title 38,

5 United States Code, as amended by section 6, is further

6 amended by adding at the end the following new sentence:

7 ‘‘Such term also includes a preparatory course for a test

8 that is required or utilized for admission to an institution

9 of higher education or to a graduate school.’’.

10 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by

11 subsection (a) shall take effect on October 1, 1999, and

12 applies with respect to preparatory courses approved by

13 the Secretary beginning on or after such date.

14 SEC. 8. AVAILABILITY OF MONTGOMERY GI BILL BENEFITS

15 FOR TRAINING FOR TECHNOLOGICAL OCCU16 PATIONS OFFERED BY ENTITIES OTHER

17 THAN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.

18 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3452(c) of title 38,

19 United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

20 ‘‘(c) The term ‘educational institution’ means—

21 ‘‘(1) any public or private elementary school,

22 secondary school, vocational school, correspondence

23 school, business school, junior college, teachers’ col24 lege, college, normal school, professional school, uni25 versity, or scientific or technical institution, or other

26 institution furnishing education for adults;
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1 ‘‘(2) any entity that provides training required

2 for completion of any State-approved alternative

3 teacher certification program (as determined by the

4 Secretary); or

5 ‘‘(3) any entity that provides, either directly or

6 under an agreement with another entity, training re7 quired for certification in a vocation or profession in

8 a technological occupation (as defined by the Sec9 retary).’’.

10 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by

11 subsection (a) shall take effect on October 1, 1999, and

12 applies with respect to training courses, approved by the

13 Secretary, for certification for technological occupations

14 beginning on or after such date.

15 SEC. 9. ENROLLMENT OF CERTAIN VEAP PARTICIPANTS IN

16 BASIC EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE UNDER

17 MONTGOMERY GI BILL.

18 (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3018C(a) of title 38 is

19 amended—

20 (1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘an individual

21 who—’’ and inserting ‘‘an individual who is de22 scribed in subsection (e) or who—’’; and

23 (2) by adding at the end the following new sub24 section:
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1 ‘‘(e) An individual referred to in the matter preceding

2 paragraph 1 of subsection (a) is an individual who meets

3 the following requirements:

4 ‘‘(1) Before October 10, 1996, the individual

5 was enrolled in the educational benefits program

6 provided in chapter 32 of this title.

7 ‘‘(2) The individual has continuously served on

8 active duty since October 9, 1996.

9 ‘‘(3) The individual, if discharged or released

10 from active duty after the date on which the individ11 ual makes the election described in paragraph (4), is

12 discharged or released therefrom with an honorable

13 discharge.

14 ‘‘(4) During the 18-month period beginning on

15 the date of the enactment of the Montgomery GI

16 Bill Improvements Act of 1999, the individual makes

17 an election pursuant to procedures established under

18 subsection (a)(4).’’.

19 (b) ELIMINATION OF PAY REDUCTION.—(1) Section

20 3018C(b) of such title is amended by striking ‘‘With re21 spect’’ and inserting ‘‘Except as provided in subsection (f),

22 with respect’’.

23 (2) Section 3018C of such title, as amended by sub24 section (a), is further amended, by adding at the end the

25 following new subsection:
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1 ‘‘(f) No reduction in the pay of an individual under

2 this section shall be made for months beginning after the

3 date of the enactment of the Montgomery GI Bill Improve4 ments Act of 1999. Any obligation of such individual

5 under subsection (b), as of such date, shall be deemed to

6 be fully satisfied as of such date.’’.

Æ