38 U.S.C. § 3673 (VETERANS’ BENEFITS)
§ 3673. Approval activities: cooperation and coordination of activities
(a) Cooperation in Activities.—
The Secretary and each State approving agency shall take cognizance of the fact that definite duties, functions, and responsibilities are conferred upon the Secretary and each State approving agency under the educational programs established under this chapter and chapters 34 and 35 of this title. To assure that such programs are effectively and efficiently administered, the cooperation of the Secretary and the State approving agencies is essential. It is necessary to establish an exchange of information pertaining to activities of educational institutions, and particular attention should be given to the enforcement of approval standards, enforcement of enrollment restrictions, and fraudulent and other criminal activities on the part of persons connected with educational institutions in which eligible persons or veterans are enrolled under this chapter and chapters 34 and 35 of this title.
(b) Coordination of Activities.—
The Secretary shall take appropriate actions to ensure the coordination of approval activities performed by State approving agencies under this chapter and chapters 34 and 35 of this title and approval activities performed by the Department of Labor, the Department of Education, and other entities in order to reduce overlap and improve efficiency in the performance of such activities.
(c) Availability of Information Material.—
The Secretary will furnish the State approving agencies with copies of such Department of Veterans Affairs informational material as may aid them in carrying out chapters 34 and 35 of this title.
(d) Use of State Approving Agencies for Oversight Activities.—
The Secretary may utilize the services of a State approving agency for conducting compliance and risk-based surveys and other such oversight purposes as the Secretary, in consultation with the State approving agencies, considers appropriate without regard to whether the Secretary or the agency approved the courses offered in the State concerned.
(Added Pub. L. 88–126, § 1, Sept. 23, 1963, 77 Stat. 158, § 1773; amended Pub. L. 89–358, § 3(a)(7), (11), Mar. 3, 1966, 80 Stat. 20, 21; Pub. L. 92–540, title IV, § 403(6), Oct. 24, 1972, 86 Stat. 1090; Pub. L. 97–295, § 4(51), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1308; Pub. L. 101–237, title IV, § 423(b)(1), Dec. 18, 1989, 103 Stat. 2092; renumbered § 3673, Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 406; Pub. L. 110–389, title III, § 326(a)(1), (2)(A), (3), Oct. 10, 2008, 122 Stat. 4169; Pub. L. 111–377, title II, § 203(b), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 4125; Pub. L. 115–48, title III, § 310, Aug. 16, 2017, 131 Stat. 994; Pub. L. 115–62, title V, § 501(a), Sept. 29, 2017, 131 Stat. 1165.)
heading: Amendments
text: 2017—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 115–62 inserted “compliance and” before “risk-based surveys”.
Pub. L. 115–48, in heading, struck out “Compliance and” before “Oversight” and, in text, substituted “conducting risk-based surveys and other such oversight” for “such compliance and oversight”, and inserted “, in consultation with the State approving agencies,” after “as the Secretary”.
2011—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 111–377 added subsec. (d).
2008—Pub. L. 110–389, § 326(a)(2)(A), amended section catchline generally. Prior to amendment, catchline read as follows: “Cooperation”.
Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 110–389, § 326(a)(3)(A), inserted heading.
Subsecs. (b), (c). Pub. L. 110–389, § 326(a)(1), (3)(B), added subsec. (b), redesignated former subsec. (b) as (c), and inserted heading in subsec. (c).
1991—Pub. L. 102–83 renumbered section 1773 of this title as this section.
1989—Pub. L. 101–237 substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator” wherever appearing in subsecs. (a) and (b) and “Department of Veterans Affairs” for “Veterans’ Administration” in subsec. (b).
1982—Pub. L. 97–295 inserted “of this title” after “34 and 35” wherever appearing.
1972—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 92–540 inserted “this chapter and” before “chapters 34 and 35” wherever appearing.
1966—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 89–358, § 3(a)(7), (11), substituted “chapters 34 and 35” for “this chapter” twice and inserted “or veterans” after “eligible persons”.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 89–358, § 3(a)(7), substituted “chapters 34 and 35” for “this chapter”.
heading: Effective Date of 2011 Amendment
text: Amendment by Pub. L. 111–377 effective Aug. 1, 2011, see section 203(e) of Pub. L. 111–377, set out as a note under section 3034 of this title.