II 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 1938 

To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the approval of certain 

programs of education for purposes of educational assistance provided 

by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

AUGUST 5, 2015 

Mr. BLUMENTHAL (for himself, Mr. TILLIS, Mr. BROWN, Mr. CARPER, Mr. 

CASSIDY, Mr. COONS, Mr. DURBIN, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mrs. GILLIBRAND, 

Mr. MERKLEY, Mr. MURPHY, Mr. REED, Mr. SCHUMER, and Mrs. SHAHEEN) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred 

to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

A BILL 

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

approval of certain programs of education for purposes 

of educational assistance provided by the Department 

of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. 

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 ‘‘Career-Ready Student 

5 Veterans Act of 2015’’. 


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•S 1938 IS

1 SEC. 2. MODIFICATION OF REQUIREMENTS FOR APPROVAL 

2 OF COURSES USING EDUCATIONAL ASSIST3 ANCE PROVIDED BY DEPARTMENT OF VET4 ERANS AFFAIRS. 

5 (a) APPROVAL OF NON-ACCREDITED COURSES.— 

6 Subsection (c) of section 3676 of title 38, United States 

7 Code, is amended— 

8 (1) by redesignating paragraph (14) as para9 graph (16); and 

10 (2) by inserting after paragraph (13) the fol11 lowing new paragraphs: 

12 ‘‘(14) In the case of a program designed to pre13 pare an individual for licensure or certification in a 

14 State, the program meets any instructional cur15 riculum licensure or certification requirements of 

16 such State. 

17 ‘‘(15) In the case of a program designed to pre18 pare an individual for employment pursuant to 

19 standards developed by a board or agency of a State 

20 in an occupation that requires approval or licensure, 

21 the program is approved or licensed by such board 

22 or agency of the State.’’. 

23 (b) EXCEPTIONS.—Such section is further amended 

24 by adding at the end the following new subsection: 

25 ‘‘(f) The Secretary may waive the requirements of 

26 paragraph (14) or (15) of subsection (c) in the case of 


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•S 1938 IS

1 a program of education offered by an educational institu2 tion if the Secretary determines the following: 

3 ‘‘(1) The educational institution is accredited by 

4 an agency or association recognized by the Secretary 

5 of Education. 

6 ‘‘(2) The program did not meet the require7 ments of such paragraph at any time during the 

8 two-year period preceding the date of the waiver. 

9 ‘‘(3) The waiver furthers the purposes of the 

10 educational assistance programs administered by the 

11 Secretary or would further the education interests of 

12 individuals eligible for assistance under such pro13 grams. 

14 ‘‘(4) The educational institution does not pro15 vide any commission, bonus, or other incentive pay16 ment based directly or indirectly on success in secur17 ing enrollments or financial aid to any persons or 

18 entities engaged in any student recruiting or admis19 sion activities or in making decisions regarding the 

20 award of student financial assistance, except for the 

21 recruitment of foreign students residing in foreign 

22 countries who are not eligible to receive Federal stu23 dent assistance.’’. 

24 (c) APPROVAL OF ACCREDITED COURSES.—Section 

25 3675(b)(3) of such title is amended— 


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•S 1938 IS

1 (1) by striking ‘‘and (3)’’ and inserting ‘‘(3), 

2 (14), and (15)’’; and 

3 (2) by inserting before the period at the end the 

4 following: ‘‘(or, with respect to such paragraphs (14) 

5 and (15), the requirements under such paragraphs 

6 are waived pursuant to subsection (f) of section 

7 3676 of this title)’’. 

8 (d) DISAPPROVAL OF COURSES.—Section 3679 of 

9 such title is amended by adding at the end the following 

10 new subsection: 

11 ‘‘(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this 

12 chapter, the Secretary shall disapprove a course of edu13 cation described in paragraph (14) or (15) of section 

14 3676(c) of this title unless the educational institution pro15 viding the course of education publicly discloses any condi16 tions or additional requirements, including training, expe17 rience, or exams, required to obtain the license, certifi18 cation, or approval for which the course of education is 

19 designed to provide preparation.’’. 

20 (e) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 

21 3672(b)(2)(A)(i) of such title is amended by striking ‘‘An 

22 accredited’’ and inserting ‘‘Except as provided in para23 graphs (14) and (15) of section 3676(c) of this title, an 

24 accredited’’. 


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•S 1938 IS

1 (f) APPLICABILITY.—If after enrollment in a course 

2 of education that is subject to disapproval by reason of 

3 an amendment made by this Act, an individual pursues 

4 one or more courses of education at the same educational 

5 institution while remaining continuously enrolled (other 

6 than during regularly scheduled breaks between courses, 

7 semesters, or terms) at that institution, any course so pur8 sued by the individual at that institution while so continu9 ously enrolled shall not be subject to disapproval by reason 

10 of such amendment. 

Æ 


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