GI Bill Work Study Improvement Act of 2019

To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the work-study allowance program administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the GI Bill Work Study Improvement Act of 2019 2. Improvement to work-study allowance program (a) Payment of allowance Subsection (a) of section 3485 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (1), by striking Individuals In accordance with paragraph (4), individuals (2) by redesignating paragraphs (4), (5), and (6) as paragraphs (5), (6), and (7), respectively; and (3) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following new paragraph: (4) (A) The Secretary shall carry out this section by providing to an educational institution an annual amount for the institution to use in paying work-study allowance under paragraph (1) to individuals enrolled at the institution. (B) With respect to an educational institution that participated in the work-study program under this section during the academic year beginning August 1, 2018, the Secretary shall determine the annual amount to provide to the educational institution under subparagraph (A) as follows: (i) For the academic year beginning August 1, 2020, the amount shall be the total amount the Secretary paid under this section to individuals enrolled at such educational institution during the academic year beginning August 1, 2018. (ii) Except as provided by subparagraph (D)(ii), for each academic year beginning on or after August 1, 2021, the amount shall be the total amount the educational institution paid under this section for work-study allowance to individuals enrolled at such educational institution during the previous academic year in which individuals participated in the work-study program. (C) With respect to an educational institution that did not participate in the work-study program under this section during the academic year beginning August 1, 2018, the Secretary shall determine the annual amount to provide to the educational institution under subparagraph (A) as follows: (i) For the first academic year in which the educational institution participates in the work-study program beginning on or after August 1, 2020, the amount shall be an amount the Secretary determines appropriate based on an amount provided to a similar educational institution pursuant to subparagraph (B). (ii) Except as provided by subparagraph (D)(ii), for each academic year occurring after the academic year specified in clause (i), the amount shall be the total amount the educational institution paid under this section for work-study allowance to individuals enrolled at such educational institution during the previous academic year in which individuals enrolled at such educational institution participated in the work-study program. (D) (i) Except as provided in clause (ii), if the Secretary provides an annual amount to an educational institution under subparagraph (B) or (C) that is more than the total amount the educational institution pays to individuals under paragraph (1)— (I) the educational institution shall return to the Secretary the unpaid amount; and (II) the Secretary shall transfer the returned amount into the general fund of the Treasury. (ii) (I) If the annual amount provided to an educational institution under subparagraph (B) or (C) is more, but less than 10 percent more, than the total amount the educational institution pays to individuals under paragraph (1), and the educational institution plans to participate in the work-study program under this section during the subsequent academic year, the educational institution may retain the amount of the overpayment if the educational institution notifies the Secretary of the amount of the overpayment and the intention of the educational institution to retain such amount. (II) Any amount retained by an educational institution under this clause may only be used by the educational institution to provide work-study allowance to individuals enrolled at the educational institution. (iii) At any time an educational institution may request the Secretary to increase the annual amount that the Secretary provides the educational institution under subparagraph (B) or (C). (E) Pursuant to section 3690(c), section 3693, and other provisions of chapter 36 of this title, the Secretary shall ensure that an educational institution carries out the work-study allowance program in compliance with this section. . (b) Conforming amendment Subsection (e)(1) of such section is amended by striking subsection (a)(4) subsection (a)(5) (c) Application The amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to a quarter, semester, or term, as applicable, commencing on or after August 1, 2020.

Summary: GI Bill Work Study Improvement Act of 2019 This bill updates provisions related to the work-study allowance benefit available to eligible veterans, including by authorizing educational institutions to make payments directly to veterans for work performed under the program and prescribing the annual amount that the Department of Veterans Affairs must provide to educational institutions for this purpose.