GI Bill Access to Career Credentials Act of 2019

Bill: 116-s-2345
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2019-07-30
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Student aid and college costs

Veterans' education, employment, rehabilitation

Vocational and technical education
Latest action: action_date: 2019-07-30
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Summaries:
action_date: 2019-07-30
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p><b>GI Bill Access to Career Credentials Act</b> <b>of 2019</b></p> <p>This bill authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide educational assistance for certain preparatory courses. Under the bill, veterans who are entitled to educational assistance may also receive assistance for preparatory courses that are required for licensing or certification tests for employment in specified professions.</p>

tv_txt: II 116th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 2345 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 30, 2019 Ms. Hirono (for herself and Mr. Rounds ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the use of Post-9/11 Educational Assistance to pay for preparatory courses for professional licenses and certifications, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the GI Bill Access to Career Credentials Act of 2019 . 2. Treatment of certain preparatory courses as programs of education for purposes of Post-9/11 Educational Assistance (a) In general Chapter 33 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding the following new section: 3315B. Preparatory courses for licensure, certification, or national tests (a) In general An individual entitled to educational assistance under this chapter shall also be entitled to payment for a preparatory course for a licensing or certification test that is required or used to enter into, maintain, or advance in employment in a predetermined and identified vocation or profession. (b) Amount The amount of educational assistance payable under this chapter for a course described in subsection (a) is the lesser of— (1) the fee charged for the course; or (2) the amount of entitlement available to the individual under this chapter at the time of payment for the course under this section. (c) Charge against entitlement The number of months of entitlement charged an individual under this chapter for a course described in subsection (a) shall be pro-rated based on the actual amount of the fee charged for the course relative to the rate for one month payable— (1) for the academic year beginning on August 1, 2011, $1,460; or (2) for an academic year beginning on any subsequent August 1, the amount for the previous academic year beginning on August 1 under this subsection, as increased by the percentage increase equal to the most recent percentage increase determined under section 3015(h) of this title. . (b) Conforming amendments Section 3532(g) of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting or a preparatory course described in section 3315B(a) of this title after or national test providing an opportunity for course credit at institutions of higher learning described in section 3501(a)(5) of this title ; and (2) in paragraphs (2) and (3), by inserting or preparatory course after test everywhere it appears. (c) Effective date The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with respect to months beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act.