Improving Veterans' Access to Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Act of 2014

To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements in the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs relating to training and rehabilitation for veterans with service-connected disabilities, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Improving Veterans’ Access to Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Act of 2014 2. Calculation of rate of veterans rehabilitated to the point of employability (a) In general Chapter 31 3123. Calculation of rate of veterans rehabilitated to the point of employability To calculate the rate of veterans whom the Secretary determines are rehabilitated to the point of employability under this chapter during a fiscal year, the Secretary shall divide— (1) the number of veterans who participated in vocational rehabilitation programs under this chapter during such fiscal year whom the Secretary determines to have been rehabilitated to the point of employability; by (2) the sum of— (A) the number of veterans who participated in such programs during such fiscal year (regardless of whether such a veteran first participated in such programs during a previous fiscal year); and (B) the number of veterans who were entitled to participate in such programs during such fiscal year but did not complete a program. . (b) Clerical amendment The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding after the item relating to section 3122 the following new item: 3123. Calculation of rate of veterans rehabilitated to the point of employability. . 3. 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) 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 4. Eligibility of certain veterans enrolled in vocational rehabilitation programs for specially adapted housing provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs Section 2101(b)(2) (D) The disability is a disability for which the veteran is eligible for a rehabilitation program under chapter 31 of this title and is referred for assistance under this section pursuant to section 2107 of this title. . 5. Authority to prioritize vocational rehabilitation services based on need Section 3104 (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 Congress a plan describing such changes. . 6. Modification of definition of serious employment handicap Paragraph (7) of section 3101 (7) The term serious employment handicap .

Summary: Improving Veterans' Access to Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Act of 2014 - Requires the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA), when calculating the rate of veterans determined to be rehabilitated to the point of employability, to divide the number of veterans who participated in VA vocational rehabilitation programs whom the Secretary determines to have been so rehabilitated by the total number of veterans who: (1) participated in such programs during that fiscal year, and (2) were entitled to participate in such programs during such fiscal year but who did not complete a program. Allows a course of education and training to be pursued by a veteran as part of a rehabilitation program only if the course is approved under VA vocational rehabilitation requirements. Makes veterans enrolled in a VA vocational rehabilitation program eligible for VA specially adapted housing, when appropriate. Authorizes the Secretary to prioritize VA vocational rehabilitation services based on need upon consideration of disability ratings, the severity of employment handicaps, qualification for a program of independent living, income, and other factors determined appropriate.