I 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8661 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES June 7, 2024 Mr. James introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain improvements to the laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs relating to educational assistance, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Reforming Education for Veterans Act . 2. Absence from certain education due to certain service (a) Options Section 3691A of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking paragraph (1) of subsection (a) and inserting the following: (1) A covered member may, after receiving orders to enter a period of covered service— (A) withdraw from covered education; (B) take a leave of absence from covered education; or (C) subject to subsection (d), enter into an agreement with the institution concerned to complete a course of covered education to the satisfaction of such institution concerned. . (b) Conforming amendment Such subsection is further amended, in paragraph (2)(A), by striking or takes a leave of absence and inserting , takes a leave of absence, or enters into an agreement . (c) Agreement Such section is further amended by— (1) redesignating subsection (d) as subsection (e); and (2) by inserting, after subsection (c), the following new subsection (d): (d) Agreement with institution concerned A covered member may enter into an agreement under subsection (a) only if the covered member has completed at least half of a course of covered education. . (d) Section heading Such section is amended by striking the heading and inserting Absence from certain education due to certain service . (e) Table of sections The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 36 of such title is amended by striking the item relating to section 3691A and inserting the following new item: 3691A. Absence from certain education due to certain service. . 3. Department of Veterans Affairs compliance surveys Section 3693 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (3) In conducting annual compliance surveys under this subsection, the Secretary shall ensure that any educational institution or training establishment with multiple campuses is only required to complete one such survey. ; and (2) in subsection (c)— (A) by striking not more than 10 business days of notice ; (B) by striking this section. and inserting this section— ; and (C) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs: (1) in the case of an educational institution or training establishment with a time stamp database collection feature, not more than 15 business days of notice; and (2) in the case of any other educational institution or training establishment, not more than 10 business days of notice. . 4. Notification of school certifying officials of handbook updates (a) In general Not later than 14 business days after updating the school certifying official handbook of the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall provide notice to all school certifying officials of such update. (b) School certifying official defined The term school certifying official means an employee of an educational institution with primary responsibility for certifying veteran enrollment at the educational institution.