Veterans Education Enhancement Act of 2016

To make certain improvements in the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs relating to educational assistance, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans Education Enhancement Act of 2016 2. Charge to entitlement for certain licensure and certification tests and national tests under Department of Veterans Affairs Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program (a) Licensure and certification tests Section 3315(c) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking shall be determined shall be pro-rated based on the actual amount of the fee charged for the test (b) National tests Section 3315A of such title is amended— (1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (3) A national test that evaluates prior learning and knowledge and provides an opportunity for course credit at an institution of higher learning as so described. ; and (2) in subsection (c), by striking shall be determined shall be pro-rated based on the actual amount of the fee charged for the test (c) Effective date The amendments made by this Act shall apply to a test taken after the date that is 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. 3. Modification of percentage increase in rates payable under Department of Veterans Affairs educational assistance programs (a) All-Volunteer force Section 3015(h)(2) of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1) by striking fiscal year 2014 fiscal year 2025 (2) by striking fiscal year 2013 fiscal year 2024 (b) Survivors and dependents Section 3564(b) of such title is amended— (1) by striking fiscal year 2014 fiscal year 2025 (2) by striking fiscal year 2013 fiscal year 2024 4. Extension of authority for Veterans’ Advisory Committee on Education Section 3692(c) of such title is amended by striking December 31, 2016 December 31, 2021 5. Training for school certifying officials (a) Training requirement The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, in consultation with the State approving agencies, set forth requirements relating to training for school certifying officials employed by covered educational institutions offering courses of education approved under chapter 36 (b) Definitions In this section: (1) The term covered educational institution (2) The term school certifying official (3) The term State approving agency 6. Reduction of amount of housing stipend payments for reduction of course hours (a) In general Subsection (i) of section 3313 of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: (i) Determination of housing stipend payments (1) In general Any monthly housing stipend payable under this section during the academic year beginning on August 1 of a calendar year shall be determined utilizing rates for basic allowances for housing payable under section 403 of title 37 in effect as of January 1 of such calendar year. (2) Reduction in cases of dropped classes In the case of any individual who receives a monthly housing stipend payable under this section who reduces the number of course hours borne by the individual after the beginning of an academic period, the Secretary shall reduce the amount of the monthly housing stipend payable to the individual accordingly on a pro rata basis. If the Secretary determines that an individual received a monthly housing stipend at the beginning of a month and that the individual reduced the number of course hours borne by the individual such that the individual was not entitled to the full amount of the payment received for that month, the Secretary may reduce the amount payable to the individual for the subsequent month by an amount equal to the amount of the overpayment. . (b) Effective date The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to a month that begins on or after August 1, 2017. 7. Limitation on use of reporting fees payable to educational institutions and joint apprenticeship training committees Section 3684(c) of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: (c) (1) The Secretary may pay to any educational institution, or to the sponsor of a program of apprenticeship, furnishing education or training under either this chapter or chapter 31, 34, or 35 of this title, a reporting fee which will be in lieu of any other compensation or reimbursement for reports or certifications which such educational institution or joint apprenticeship training committee is required to submit to the Secretary by law or regulation. (2) Such reporting fee shall be computed for each calendar year by multiplying $12 by the number of eligible veterans or eligible persons enrolled under this chapter or chapter 31, 34, or 35 of this title, or $15 in the case of those eligible veterans and eligible persons whose educational assistance checks are directed in care of each institution for temporary custody and delivery and are delivered at the time of registration as provided under section 3680(d)(4) of this title, during the calendar year. The reporting fee shall be paid to such educational institution or joint apprenticeship training committee as soon as feasible after the end of the calendar year for which it is applicable. (3) No reporting fee payable to an educational institution under this subsection shall be subject to offset by the Secretary against any liability of such institution for any overpayment for which such institution may be administratively determined to be liable under section 3685 of this title unless such liability is not contested by such institution or has been upheld by a final decree of a court of appropriate jurisdiction. (4) Any reporting fee paid to an educational institution or joint apprenticeship training committee after the date of the enactment of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2011 ( Public Law 111–377 (A) shall be utilized by such institution or committee solely for the making of certifications required under this chapter or chapter 31, 34, or 35 of this title or for otherwise supporting programs for veterans; and (B) with respect to an institution that has 75 or more enrollees described in paragraph (2), may not be used for or merged with amounts available for the general fund of the educational institution or joint apprenticeship training committee. (5) The reporting fee payable under this subsection shall be paid from amounts appropriated for readjustment benefits. .

Summary: Veterans Education Enhancement Act of 2016 This bill revises the fee that is deducted from a veteran's education entitlement under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Post-9/11 educational assistance program from a monthly to a prorated fee for: (1) certain license and certification tests, and (2) national tests. The Veterans' Advisory Committee on Education is extended through December 31, 2021. The VA shall, in consultation with state approving agencies, prescribe training requirements for a school certifying official (SCO) employed by a covered educational institution offering approved veterans education courses. The VA may disapprove any course of education offered by a covered educational institution that does not ensure that an SCO meets such requirements. (A covered educational institution is an institution that has enrolled 20 or more individuals using veterans educational assistance.) The bill extends the applicability of provisions requiring rounding down, and delays the applicability of provisions requiring rounding up, of veterans educational assistance increases for: (1) the All-Volunteer Force, and (2) survivors and dependents. The VA shall reduce the monthly housing stipend on a pro rata basis for a student who reduces his or her course load, effective for a month that begins on or after August 1, 2017. A reporting fee paid by the VA to an educational institution or joint apprenticeship training committee with respect to an institution that has 75 or more enrollees may not be used for or merged with amounts available for the general fund of the educational institution or joint apprenticeship training committee.