38 U.S.C. § 3684 (VETERANS’ BENEFITS)
§ 3684. Reports by veterans, eligible persons, and institutions; reporting fee
(a)
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the veteran or eligible person and the educational institution offering a course in which such veteran or eligible person is enrolled under chapter 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, or 36 of this title shall, without delay, report to the Secretary, in the form prescribed by the Secretary, such enrollment and any interruption or termination of the education of each such veteran or eligible person. The date of such interruption or termination will be the last date of pursuit, or, in the case of correspondence training, the last date a lesson was serviced by a school.
(2)
(A) In the case of a program of independent study pursued on less than a half-time basis in an educational institution, the Secretary may approve a delay by the educational institution in reporting the enrollment or reenrollment of an eligible veteran or eligible person until the end of the term, quarter, or semester if the educational institution requests the delay and the Secretary determines that it is not feasible for the educational institution to monitor interruption or termination of the veteran’s or eligible person’s pursuit of such program.
(B) An educational institution which, pursuant to subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, is delaying the reporting of the enrollment or reenrollment of a veteran shall provide the veteran with notice of the delay at the time that the veteran enrolls or reenrolls.
(3)
(A) Subject to subparagraph (B) of this paragraph, an educational institution offering courses on a term, quarter, or semester basis may certify the enrollment of a veteran who is not on active duty, or of an eligible person, in such courses for more than one term, quarter, or semester at a time, but not for a period extending beyond the end of a school year (including the summer enrollment period).
(B) Subparagraph (A) of this paragraph shall not apply with respect to any term, quarter, or semester for which the veteran or eligible person is enrolled on a less than half-time basis and shall not be construed as restricting the Secretary from requiring that an educational institution, in reporting an enrollment for more than one term, quarter, or semester, specify the dates of any intervals within or between any such terms, quarters, or semesters.
(4) A course offered by an educational institution that does not begin on the first day of an academic term, but does begin seven or fewer days after such day, shall be treated as beginning on such day for purposes of this section.
(5) For purposes of this subsection, the term “educational institution” may include a group, district, or consortium of separately accredited educational institutions located in the same State that are organized in a manner that facilitates the centralized reporting of the enrollments in such group, district, or consortium of institutions.
(b) The Secretary, prior to making payment of a reporting fee to an educational institution, as provided for in subsection (c) of this section, shall require such institution to certify that it has exercised reasonable diligence in determining whether such institution or any course offered by such institution approved for the enrollment of veterans or eligible persons meets all of the applicable requirements of chapters 31, 34, 35, and 36 of this title and that it will, without delay, report any failure to meet any such requirement to the Secretary.
(c) 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. Such reporting fee shall be computed for each calendar year by multiplying $12 1 by the number of eligible veterans or eligible persons enrolled under this chapter or chapter 31, 34, or 35 of this title, or $15 1 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. 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. Any reporting fee paid 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 2 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. The reporting fee payable under this subsection shall be paid from amounts appropriated for readjustment benefits.
(d) Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this subsection, the Secretary shall ensure that the Department provides personnel of educational institutions who are charged with submitting reports or certifications to the Secretary under this section with assistance in preparing and submitting such reports or certifications.
(Added Pub. L. 89–358, § 3(b), Mar. 3, 1966, 80 Stat. 22, § 1784; amended Pub. L. 90–77, title III, § 308(a), Aug. 31, 1967, 81 Stat. 189; Pub. L. 92–540, title III, § 315, Oct. 24, 1972, 86 Stat. 1084; Pub. L. 93–508, title II, § 210(2), Dec. 3, 1974, 88 Stat. 1585; Pub. L. 94–502, title V, §§ 507, 508, 513(a)(17), Oct. 15, 1976, 90 Stat. 2400, 2403; Pub. L. 95–202, title III, § 304(a)(1), Nov. 23, 1977, 91 Stat. 1442; Pub. L. 96–466, title III, § 343(a), (b)(1), title VI, § 601(e), Oct. 17, 1980, 94 Stat. 2198, 2208; Pub. L. 97–295, § 4(55), Oct. 12, 1982, 96 Stat. 1309; Pub. L. 99–576, title III, §§ 318, 319, Oct. 28, 1986, 100 Stat. 3275; Pub. L. 101–237, title IV, §§ 416(a), 423(b)(1)(A), Dec. 18, 1989, 103 Stat. 2086, 2092; renumbered § 3684 and amended Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), (c)(1), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 406; Pub. L. 105–368, title II, § 201(a), (b), Nov. 11, 1998, 112 Stat. 3326; Pub. L. 106–419, title IV, § 404(a)(7), Nov. 1, 2000, 114 Stat. 1865; Pub. L. 108–454, title I, § 110(d), Dec. 10, 2004, 118 Stat. 3605; Pub. L. 111–275, title X, § 1001(i), Oct. 13, 2010, 124 Stat. 2896; Pub. L. 111–377, title II, § 204(a), (b), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 4126; Pub. L. 112–249, § 3, Jan. 10, 2013, 126 Stat. 2401; Pub. L. 114–315, title IV, § 407(a), Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1558; Pub. L. 115–48, title III, §§ 304(a), 309, Aug. 16, 2017, 131 Stat. 992, 994.)
heading: Amendment of Subsection (c)
text: Pub. L. 115–48, § 304, Aug. 16, 2017, 131 Stat. 992, provided that, effective Aug. 1, 2018, subsection (c) of this section 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 sponsor of a program of apprenticeship is required to submit to the Secretary by law or regulation.
“(2) Such reporting fee shall be computed for each calendar year by multiplying $16 by the number of eligible veterans or eligible persons enrolled under this chapter or chapter 31, 34, or 35 of this title. The reporting fee shall be paid to such educational institution or sponsor of a program of apprenticeship 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 sponsor of a program of apprenticeship 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 sponsor 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 100 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 sponsor of a program of apprenticeship.
“(5) The reporting fee payable under this subsection shall be paid from amounts appropriated for readjustment benefits.”
See 2017 Amendment note below.
heading: References in Text
text: The date of the enactment of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2011, referred to in subsec. (c), probably means the date of enactment of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Improvements Act of 2010, Pub. L. 111–377, which was approved Jan. 4, 2011.
The date of the enactment of this subsection, referred to in subsec. (d), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 112–249, which was approved Jan. 10, 2013.
heading: Prior Provisions
text: Provisions similar to those comprising this section were contained in Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1191, 1202, which was classified to former sections 1665(a) and 1765(a) of this title, prior to repeal by sections 4(a) and 3(a)(3) of Pub. L. 89–358, respectively.
heading: Amendments
text: 2017—Subsec. (a)(4), (5). Pub. L. 115–48, § 309, added par. (4) and redesignated former par. (4) as (5).
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 115–48, § 304(a), amended subsec. (c) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (c) related to purpose, computation, payment, and utilization of reporting fee.
2016—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 114–315, § 407(a)(1), inserted “32, 33,” after “31,”.
Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 114–315, § 407(a)(2), added par. (4).
2013—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 112–249 added subsec. (d).
2011—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 111–377 substituted “multiplying $12” for “multiplying $7” and “or $15” for “or $11” and inserted after fourth sentence “Any reporting fee paid 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 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.”
2010—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 111–275 substituted “34,” for “34,,”.
2004—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 108–454 substituted “or to the sponsor of a program of apprenticeship” for “or to any joint apprenticeship training committee acting as a training establishment”.
2000—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 106–419 substituted “calendar” for “calender” after “during the”.
1998—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 105–368, in second sentence, substituted “during the calender year.” for “on October 31 of that year; except that the Secretary may, where it is established by such educational institution or joint apprenticeship training committee that eligible veteran plus eligible person enrollment on such date varies more than 15 percent from the peak eligible veteran enrollment plus eligible person enrollment in such educational institution or joint apprenticeship training committee during such calendar year, establish such other date as representative of the peak enrollment as may be justified for such educational institution or joint apprenticeship training committee.” and inserted at end “The reporting fee payable under this subsection shall be paid from amounts appropriated for readjustment benefits.”
1991—Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(a), renumbered section 1784 of this title as this section.
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 102–83, § 5(c)(1), substituted “3680(d)(4)” for “1780(d)(4)” and “3685” for “1785”.
1989—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 101–237, § 423(b)(1)(A), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator” wher­ever appearing.
Pub. L. 101–237, § 416(a)(1), substituted “chapter 31, 34,” for “chapter 34”.
Subsec. (a)(2)(A), (3)(B). Pub. L. 101–237, § 423(b)(1)(A), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator” wherever appearing.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 101–237, § 423(b)(1)(A), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator” wherever appearing.
Pub. L. 101–237, § 416(a)(2), inserted reference to chapter 31.
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 101–237, § 423(b)(1)(A), substituted “Secretary” for “Administrator” wherever appearing.
Pub. L. 101–237, § 416(a)(3), inserted references to chapter 31.
1986—Subsec. (a)(1), (2). Pub. L. 99–576, § 318, designated existing provisions as par. (1), substituted “Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the” for “The”, and added par. (2).
Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 99–576, § 319, added par. (3).
1982—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 97–295 substituted “percent” for “per centum”.
1980—Pub. L. 96–466, § 343(b)(1), substituted “Reports by veterans, eligible persons, and institutions” for “Reports by institutions” in section catchline.
Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 96–466, § 343(a)(1), expanded provisions to require reports by veterans and eligible persons.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 96–466, § 343(a)(2), added subsec. (b). Former subsec. (b) redesignated (c).
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 96–466, §§ 343(a)(2), 601(e), redesignated former subsec. (b) as (c) and substituted “section 1780(d)(4)” for “section 1780(d)(5)”.
1977—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 95–202 substituted “$7” and “$11” for “$5” and “$6”, respectively, and inserted provision that no reporting fee payable to an educational institution under this subsection be subject to offset by the Administrator against any liability of the institution for any overpayment for which the institution may be administratively determined to be liable under section 1785 of this title unless that liability is not contested by the institution or has been upheld by a final decree of a court of appropriate jurisdiction.
1976—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 94–502, §§ 507, 513(a)(17), substituted “prescribed by the Administrator” for “prescribed by him”, and specified the date of interruption or termination as the last date of pursuit, or in the case of a correspondence school, the last date a lesson was serviced.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 94–502, §§ 508, 513(a)(17), substituted “$5” for “$3”, “$6” for “$4”, and “submit to the Administrator” for “submit to him”.
1974—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 93–508 extended the payment of reporting fee to educational institutions under this chapter and to joint apprenticeship training committees acting as training establishments, and in provisions relating to computation of such fee, substituted reference to this chapter for reference to chapter 36 of this title.
1972—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 92–540, § 315(1), inserted reference to chapter 36 of this title.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 92–540, § 315(1), (2), (3), inserted reference to chapter 36 of this title, and substituted provisions relating to the computation of the reporting fee based on the number of eligible veterans or eligible persons enrolled under chapter 34, 35, or 36 of this title, or based on eligible veterans and eligible persons whose educational assistance checks are directed in care of such institution for temporary custody and delivery and are delivered at the time of registration as provided under section 1780(d)(5) of this title, for provisions relating to the computation of such fee based on eligible veterans enrolled under chapter 34 of this title, plus the number of eligible persons enrolled under chapter 35 of this title.
1967—Pub. L. 90–77 provided for the reporting fee in section catchline, designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), and added subsec. (b).
heading: Effective Date of 2017 Amendment
text: Pub. L. 115–48, title III, § 304(b), Aug. 16, 2017, 131 Stat. 992, provided that: “The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect on August 1, 2018.”
heading: Effective Date of 2016 Amendment
text: Pub. L. 114–315, title IV, § 407(b), Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1558, provided that: “The amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply with respect to reports submitted on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 16, 2016].”
heading: Effective Date of 2011 Amendment
text: Pub. L. 111–377, title II, § 204(c), Jan. 4, 2011, 124 Stat. 4126, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall take effect on October 1, 2011.”
heading: Effective Date of 1998 Amendment
text: Pub. L. 105–368, title II, § 201(c), Nov. 11, 1998, 112 Stat. 3326, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall apply with respect to calendar years beginning after December 31, 1998.”
heading: Effective Date of 1989 Amendment
text: Pub. L. 101–237, title IV, § 416(b), Dec. 18, 1989, 103 Stat. 2086, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall take effect on January 1, 1990.”
heading: Effective Date of 1980 Amendment
text: Amendment by section 343(a), (b)(1) of Pub. L. 96–466 effective Oct. 1, 1980, except as otherwise specifically provided, see section 802(c) of Pub. L. 96–466, set out as a note under section 3452 of this title.
Amendment by section 601(e) of Pub. L. 96–466 effective Oct. 1, 1980, except as otherwise specifically provided, see section 802(f) of Pub. L. 96–466, set out as an Effective Date note under section 5314 of this title.
heading: Effective Date of 1977 Amendment
text: Amendment by section 304(a)(1)(A) of Pub. L. 95–202 effective retroactively to Oct. 1, 1977, and amendment by section 304(a)(1)(B) of Pub. L. 95–202 effective Nov. 23, 1977, see section 501 of Pub. L. 95–202, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.
heading: Effective Date of 1976 Amendment
text: Amendment by sections 507, 508, and 513(a)(17) of Pub. L. 94–502 effective Dec. 1, 1976, Oct. 1, 1976, and Oct. 15, 1976, respectively, see section 703 of Pub. L. 94–502, set out as an Effective Date note under section 3693 of this title.
heading: Effective Date of 1974 Amendment
text: Amendment by Pub. L. 93–508 effective Dec. 3, 1974, see section 503 of Pub. L. 93–508, set out as a note under section 3452 of this title.
heading: Effective Date of 1967 Amendment
text: Amendment by Pub. L. 90–77 effective first day of first month which begins more than ten days after Aug. 31, 1967, see section 405 of Pub. L. 90–77, set out as a note under section 101 of this title.
heading: Training for School Certifying Officials
text: Pub. L. 115–48, title III, § 305, Aug. 16, 2017, 131 Stat. 992, provided that:
“(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 of title 38, United States Code. If a covered educational institution does not ensure that a school certifying official employed by the educational institution meets such requirements, the Secretary may disapprove any course of education offered by such educational institution.
“(b) Definitions.—
In this section:
“(1) The term ‘covered educational institution’ means an educational institution that has enrolled 20 or more individuals using educational assistance under title 38, United States Code.
“(2) The term ‘school certifying official’ means an employee of an educational institution with primary responsibility for certifying veteran enrollment at the educational institution.
“(3) The term ‘State approving agency’ means a department or agency of a State designated under section 3671 of title 38, United States Code.
“(c) Effective Date.—
This section shall take effect on August 1, 2018.”
heading: Modifications of Reporting Fee Multipliers During Certain Periods
text: Pub. L. 115–62, title IV, § 411(b), Sept. 29, 2017, 131 Stat. 1165, provided that: “During the period beginning on August 1, 2018, and ending on July 31, 2020, section 3684(c)(2) of title 38, United States Code, as amended by section 304 of the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 (Public Law 115–48) shall be applied by substituting ‘$15’ for ‘$16’.”
Pub. L. 114–315, title IV, § 412(a), (b), Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1562, as amended by Pub. L. 115–62, title IV, § 411(a), Sept. 29, 2017, 131 Stat. 1165, provided that:
“(a) Through July 31, 2018.—
During the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 16, 2016] and ending on July 31, 2018, the second sentence of section 3684(c) of title 38, United States Code, shall be applied—
“(1) by substituting ‘$6’ for ‘$12’; and
“(2) by substituting ‘$12’ for ‘$15’.”
[(b) Repealed. Pub. L. 115–62, title IV, § 411(a)(1)(B), Sept. 29, 2017, 131 Stat. 1165.]
Pub. L. 113–175, title IV, § 406, Sept. 26, 2014, 128 Stat. 1905, as amended by Pub. L. 114–58, title IV, § 410, Sept. 30, 2015, 129 Stat. 535; Pub. L. 114–228, title IV, § 413, Sept. 29, 2016, 130 Stat. 941; Pub. L. 114–315, title IV, § 412(c), Dec. 16, 2016, 130 Stat. 1562, provided that:
“During the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act [Sept. 26, 2014] and ending on the day before the date of the enactment of the Jeff Miller and Richard Blumenthal Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2016 [Dec. 16, 2016], the second sentence of section 3684(c) shall be applied—
“(1) by substituting ‘$9’ for ‘$12’; and
“(2) by substituting ‘$13’ for ‘$15’.”