Title: TEAMS Act
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security

Summary:
This bill renames the Troops-to-Teachers Program as the Veterans-to-Classrooms Program, expands the program to include recruitment of veterans to non-teaching positions such as positions for nurses, counselors, and school resource officers, and generally modifies the program's scope and related requirements.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5067 Introduced in House (IH)]

<DOC>






116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 5067

To transition military veterans into new careers in education, and for 
                            other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 13, 2019

 Mr. Meadows introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
   Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committees on 
Education and Labor, the Judiciary, and Veterans' Affairs, for a period 
    to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for 
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the 
                          committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To transition military veterans into new careers in education, and for 
                            other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Troops Educating And Managing 
Schools Act'' or the ``TEAMS Act''.

SEC. 2. VETERANS-TO-CLASSROOMS PROGRAM.

    (a) Modification and Redesignation of Program.--Section 1154 of 
title 10, United States Code, is amended--
            (1) in the section heading, by striking: ``employment as 
        teachers: Troops-to-Teachers Program'' and inserting 
        ``employment in schools: Veterans-to-Classrooms Program'';
            (2) in subsection (a)--
                    (A) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (8) as 
                paragraphs (4) through (10), respectively;
                    (B) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following 
                new paragraphs:
            ``(2) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary 
        of Defense.
            ``(3) Covered position.--
                    ``(A) The term `covered position' means a full-time 
                position in an eligible school as--
                            ``(i) a teacher, including an elementary 
                        school teacher, a secondary school teacher, and 
                        a career and technical education teacher;
                            ``(ii) a school leader;
                            ``(iii) a school administrator;
                            ``(iv) a nurse;
                            ``(v) a principal;
                            ``(vi) a counselor;
                            ``(vii) a teaching aide;
                            ``(viii) specialized instructional support 
                        personnel;
                            ``(ix) a school resource officer; or
                            ``(x) a contractor who performs the 
                        functions of a position described in any of 
                        clauses (i) through (viii).'';
                    (C) by amending paragraph (4), as so redesignated, 
                to read as follows:
            ``(4) Eligible school.--The term `eligible school' means--
                    ``(A) a public elementary school, including a 
                public elementary charter school;
                    ``(B) a public secondary school, including a public 
                secondary charter school; or
                    ``(C) a Bureau-funded school as defined in section 
                1141(3) of the Education Amendments of 1978 (25 U.S.C. 
                2021(3)).'';
                    (D) in paragraph (8), as so redesignated, by 
                striking ``Troops-to-Teachers'' and inserting 
                ``Veterans-to-Classrooms'';
                    (E) by striking paragraph (9), as so redesignated, 
                and inserting the following new paragraph (9):
            ``(9) School resource officer.--The term `school resource 
        officer' has the meaning given that term in section 1709(4) of 
        the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 
        U.S.C. 10389(4)).''; and
                    (F) in paragraph (10), as so redesignated, by 
                striking ``and `State''' and inserting ```specialized 
                instructional support personnel', and `State''';
            (3) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by 
                striking ``Secretary of Defense may carry out a Troops-
                to-Teachers Program'' and inserting ``The Secretary of 
                Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of 
                Education, may carry out a Veterans-to-Classrooms 
                Program'';
                    (B) in paragraph (1), by striking ``become a 
                teacher'' and inserting ``obtain a covered position''; 
                and
                    (C) by amending subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) 
                to read as follows:
                    ``(A) by local educational agencies or charter 
                schools in States with a shortage of individuals to 
                fill covered positions, as determined by the Secretary 
                of Education.'';
            (4) in subsection (d)(4)(A)--
                    (A) in clause (i), by striking ``or career or 
                technical subjects'' and inserting ``career and 
                technical education, or subjects relating to a covered 
                position''; and
                    (B) in clause (ii), by inserting ``in a covered 
                position or'' after ``seek employment'';
            (5) in subsection (e)--
                    (A) in paragraph (1)(A)--
                            (i) in clause (i), by striking ``become a 
                        teacher'' and inserting ``obtain a covered 
                        position''; and
                            (ii) in clause (ii), by striking ``as an 
                        elementary school teacher'' and all that 
                        follows through the period at the end and 
                        inserting ``in a covered position for not less 
                        than three school years in an eligible school 
                        to begin the school year after the member 
                        obtains the professional credentials required 
                        for the position involved'';
                    (B) in paragraph (2)(E), by striking ``as a teacher 
                in an eligible elementary school or secondary school or 
                as a career or technical teacher'' and inserting ``in a 
                covered position''; and
                    (C) in paragraph (3)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A)--
                                    (I) in the first sentence, by 
                                striking ``educational level, 
                                certification, or licensing'' and 
                                inserting ``educational level, 
                                certification, licensing, or other 
                                professional credentials''; and
                                    (II) in the second sentence, by 
                                striking ``$5,000'' and inserting 
                                ``$9,000 (except as adjusted by the 
                                Secretary in accordance with 
                                subparagraph (D))'';
                            (ii) in subparagraph (B)--
                                    (I) in clause (i), by striking ``as 
                                an elementary school teacher, secondary 
                                school teacher, or career or technical 
                                teacher'' and inserting ``in a covered 
                                position''; and
                                    (II) in clause (ii), by striking 
                                ``may not exceed $5,000, unless the 
                                eligible school is a high-need school, 
                                in which case the amount of the bonus 
                                may not exceed $10,000'' and inserting 
                                ``may not exceed $9,000 (except as 
                                adjusted by the Secretary in accordance 
                                with subparagraph (D)), unless the 
                                eligible school is a high-need school, 
                                in which case the amount of the bonus 
                                may not exceed $18,000 (except as so 
                                adjusted)'';
                            (iii) in subparagraph (C)--
                                    (I) in clause (i), by striking 
                                ``5,000'' and inserting ``20,000'';
                                    (II) in clause (ii), by striking 
                                ``3,000'' and inserting ``5,000''; and
                                    (III) in clause (iv), by striking 
                                ``$10,000'' and inserting ``$18,000 
                                (except as adjusted by the Secretary in 
                                accordance with subparagraph (D))''; 
                                and
                            (iv) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(D)(i) The Secretary may adjust the dollar amounts set 
        forth in subparagraphs (A), (B)(ii), and (C)(iv) to reflect 
        changes in the Consumer Price Index over the applicable period.
            ``(ii) In this subparagraph, the term `applicable period' 
        means--
                    ``(I) with respect to an initial adjustment under 
                clause (i), the period that has elapsed since the date 
                of the enactment of the TEAMS Act; or
                    ``(II) with respect to any adjustment after the 
                initial adjustment, the period that has elapsed since 
                the date of the most recent adjustment under clause 
                (i).'';
            (6) in subsection (f)(1)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A)--
                            (i) by striking ``become a teacher'' and 
                        inserting ``obtain a covered position''; and
                            (ii) by striking ``as an elementary school 
                        teacher, secondary school teacher, or career or 
                        technical teacher'' and insert ``in a covered 
                        position''; and
                    (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``, employment 
                as an elementary school teacher, secondary school 
                teacher, or career or technical teacher'' and inserting 
                ``employment in a covered position'';
            (7) in subsection (h)(2)(A), by striking ``as elementary 
        school teachers, secondary school teachers, and career or 
        technical teachers'' and inserting ``in covered positions''; 
        and
            (8) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
    ``(j) Partnerships.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary may enter into one or more 
        partnerships with States, local educational agencies, or 
        covered entities--
                    ``(A) to help sustain and expand the reach of the 
                Veterans-to-Classrooms Program to promote careers in 
                education among current and future veterans under this 
                section;
                    ``(B) to provide information on the Program in 
                accordance with subsection (k)(2) in widely available, 
                user-friendly formats;
                    ``(C) to help recruit more veterans, including 
                veterans who are retired law enforcement officers, and 
                service members who are within 6 months of 
                transitioning out of the military into new careers in 
                education;
                    ``(D) to promote careers in education among current 
                and future veterans by providing veterans with 
                information on other employment transition programs, 
                including--
                            ``(i) the Veterans' Employment & Training 
                        Service and the National Veterans' Training 
                        Institute of the Department of Labor;
                            ``(ii) the transition assistance programs 
                        established under section 1144 of this title;
                            ``(iii) the SkillBridge and Career Skills 
                        Programs of the Department of Defense;
                            ``(iv) the AmeriCorps program carried out 
                        under subtitle C of title I of the National and 
                        Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12571 
                        et seq.); and
                            ``(v) other transitional or educational 
                        programs; and
                    ``(E) to promote careers in education by helping 
                veterans learn about educational benefits available to 
                them, including Post-9/11 Educational Assistance, 
                certification programs, and applicable on-the-job 
                training and apprenticeship programs, to help veterans 
                get into an educational career field.
            ``(2) Covered entity defined.--In this subsection, the term 
        `covered entity' means--
                    ``(A) an entity qualifying as an exempt 
                organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal 
                Revenue Code of 1986; or
                    ``(B) a veterans service organization recognized by 
                the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the 
                representation of veterans under section 5902 of title 
                38.
    ``(k) Program Information.--
            ``(1) Information from the secretary.--The Secretary shall 
        make available, on a publicly accessible website of the 
        Department of Defense, the information described in paragraph 
        (3).
            ``(2) Information from covered entities.--Each State, local 
        educational agency, and covered entity that enters into a 
        partnership with the Secretary under paragraph (1) shall make 
        available, on a publicly accessible website, the information 
        described in paragraph (3).
            ``(3) Information described.--The information described in 
        this subparagraph is information on the Veterans-to-Classrooms 
        program authorized under this section, including a description 
        of the application process for the program and the potential 
        benefits of participating in the program.
    ``(l) Biennial Review.--Not less frequently than once every two 
years, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the Veterans-
to-Classrooms Program. At minimum, the report shall include a 
comparison of the number of participants in the Program during the 
period covered by the report relative to the number of stipends 
authorized under the Program during such period.
    ``(m) Process To Streamline Applications.--Not later than one year 
after the date of the enactment of the TEAMS Act, the Secretary shall 
implement a process to simplify the submission of applications under 
subsection (d)(2).''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
chapter 58 of such title is amended by striking the item relating to 
section 1154 and inserting the following new item:

``1154. Assistance to eligible members and former members to obtain 
                            employment in schools: Veterans-to-
                            Classrooms Program.''.
    (c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b) 
shall take effect on July 1, 2020.
    (d) References.--Beginning on July 1, 2020, any reference in 
Federal law (other than this Act), regulations, guidance, instructions, 
or other documents of the Federal Government to the Troops-to-Teachers 
Program shall be deemed to be a reference to the Veterans-to-Classrooms 
Program.

SEC. 3. VETERANS EMPLOYABLE AS SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS.

    Section 1709(4) of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act 
of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10389(4)) is amended by inserting after ``a career 
law enforcement officer, with sworn authority,'' the following: ``or a 
veteran (as such term is defined in section 101(2) of title 38, United 
States Code) who is hired by a State or local public agency as a law 
enforcement officer for purposes of serving as a school resource 
officer, who is''.

SEC. 4. TASK FORCE ON EDUCATION CAREERS FOR VETERANS.

    (a) Task Force.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the President shall convene a task force to 
identify strategies that may be used to assist veterans in obtaining 
employment in the field of education.
    (b) Responsibilities.--The task force convened under subsection (a) 
shall--
            (1) consult regularly with veterans service organizations 
        in performing the duties of the task force; and
            (2) coordinate administrative and regulatory activities and 
        develop proposals to--
                    (A) identify State licensing and certification 
                requirements that are excessive and unnecessarily 
                burdensome for veterans seeking to transition into 
                careers in education;
                    (B) identify potential compensation structures for 
                educational employment that include salary credit for 
                prior military and law enforcement experience;
                    (C) recommend incentives to encourage educational 
                employers to hire veterans;
                    (D) assess the feasibility of establishing 
                dedicated military veteran liaison positions in school 
                districts;
                    (E) examine how funds made available for the 
                Veterans-to-Classrooms Program under section 1154 of 
                title 10, United States Code, may be used to conduct 
                outreach, provide certification support, and help 
                States establish outreach centers for veterans; and
                    (F) explore how partnerships entered by the 
                Secretary under subsection (j) of such section may be 
                used to promote careers in education among veterans 
                through collaboration with relevant employment 
                transition programs, including the Transition 
                Assistance Program, the SkillBridge and Career Skills 
                Programs of the Department of Defense, and the 
                AmeriCorps program.
    (c) Membership.--The task force shall consist of--
            (1) the Secretary of Defense, or the designee of the 
        Secretary, who shall be the head of the task force;
            (2) the Secretary of Education, or the designee of the 
        Secretary;
            (3) the Attorney General, or the designee of the Attorney 
        General;
            (4) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or the designee of 
        the Secretary;
            (5) the Secretary of Labor, or the designee of the 
        Secretary;
            (6) the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, or 
        the designee of the Director;
            (7) four representatives from a veterans service 
        organization, selected by the President;
            (8) a representative of the Administrative Conference of 
        the United States; and
            (9) representatives of State and local governments selected 
        by the President, which may include representatives of State 
        boards of education and relevant State licensing agencies.
    (d) Report.--
            (1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date on 
        which the task force is convened under subsection (a), the task 
        force shall submit to Congress a report that includes--
                    (A) a description of actions that may be carried 
                out by State and local governments to reduce barriers 
                that interfere with the ability of veterans to 
                transition into careers in education; and
                    (B) recommendations for specific legislative and 
                regulatory actions that may be carried out to reduce 
                such barriers.
            (2) Public availability.--The report under paragraph (1) 
        shall be made available on a publicly accessible website of the 
        Department of Defense.
    (e) Definitions.--In this section, the term ``veterans service 
organization'' means any organization recognized by the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs for the representation of veterans under section 5902 
of title 38, United States Code.
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