GI Bill Planning Act of 2019

To amend title 38, United States Code, to extend the period under which an election must be made for entitlement to educational assistance under the All-Volunteer Educational Assistance Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to phase out the use of such program, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the GI Bill Planning Act of 2019 2. Period for election to receive benefits under All-Volunteer Educational Assistance Program of Department of Veterans Affairs (a) In general Section 3011 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (c)(1), by striking Any such election shall be made at the time the individual initially enters on active duty as a member of the Armed Forces Any such election shall be made during the 90-day period beginning on the day that is 180 days after the date on which the individual initially enters initial training (2) in subsection (b)(1), by striking that such individual is entitled to such pay that begin after the date that is 270 days after the date on which the individual initially enters initial training (b) Effective date The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the date that is one year after the date of the enactment of this Act. 3. Phase out of All-Volunteer Educational Assistance Program of Department of Veterans Affairs Subsection (a)(1)(A) of section 3011 of title 38, United States Code, as amended by section 2, is further amended by striking after June 30, 1985 during the period beginning July 1, 1985, and ending September 30, 2029 4. Modification of Department of Veterans Affairs requirements for in-State tuition (a) In general Section 3679(c) of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (2)(A), by striking less than three years before the date of enrollment in the course concerned (2) in paragraph (4)— (A) by striking It shall (A) It shall (B) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: (B) To the extent feasible, the Secretary shall make publicly available on the Internet website of the Department a database explaining any requirements described in subparagraph (A) that are established by a public institution of higher learning for an individual to be charged tuition and fees at a rate that is equal to or less than the rate the institution charges for tuition and fees for residents of the State in which the institution is located. The Secretary shall disapprove a course of education provided by such an institution that does not provide the Secretary— (i) an initial explanation of such requirements; and (ii) not later than 90 days after the date on which any such requirements change, the updated requirements. . (b) 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 Planning Act of 2019 This bill extends or removes specified deadlines for certain Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) education benefits. Specifically, the bill updates the Montgomery GI Bill program by extending the period of time under which an election must be made for entitlement to educational assistance under the program. The bill phases the program out to end on September 30, 2029. The bill also removes a deadline that prevents certain veterans from receiving in-state tuition, regardless of their state of residence, using VA education benefits at public institutions of higher education. Currently, a veteran who is discharged or released after at least 90 days of active service must be within three years of their discharge from active duty to receive in-state tuition (regardless of their state of residence). The VA must post on a public VA website a database explaining any requirements established by a public institution of higher learning for an individual to be charged in-state tuition. The VA must disapprove a course of education at a public institution of higher learning that does not provide the VA with an explanation of the requirements (or a timely update of such requirements) for an individual to be charged in-state tuition.