An act to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide cost-of-living increases in the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and in the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children of veterans, to provide for limited grants for special home adaptations for certain severely disabled veterans, to provide for Veterans' Administration guaranties for loans to refinance certain existing veterans' home loans and to increase the maximum loan guaranties for home loans made to veterans, and to provide for the confidentiality of certain Veterans' Administration medical quality assurance records; and for other purposes.
PL 96-385 (H.R.7511), enacted 10/07/1980

94 STAT. 1528 
PUBLIC LAW 96-385—OCT. 7, 1980 
Oct. 7, 1980 
[H.R. 7511] 
Veterans' 
Disability 
Compensation 
and Housing 
Benefits 
Amendments of 
1980. 
38 u s e 101 note. 
Public Law 96-385 
96th Congress 
An Act 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide cost-of-living increases in the rates 
of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and in the rates 
of dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children of 
veterans, to provide for limited grants for special home adaptations for certain 
severely disabled veterans, to provide for Veterans' Administration guaranties for 
loans to refinance certain existing veterans' home loans and to increase the 
maximum loan guaranties for home loans made to veterans, and to provide for 
the confidentiality of certain Veterans' Administration medical quality assurance 
records; and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That (a) this Act 
may be cited as the "Veterans' Disability Compensation and Housing 
Benefits Amendments of 1980". 
0)) Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this Act an 
amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or 
repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be consid-
ered to be made to a section or other provision of title 38, United 
States Code. 
TITLE I—VETERANS' DISABILITY COMPENSATION 
BENEFITS 
38 u s e 314. 
RATES OF DISABILITY COMPENSATION 
SEC. 101. (a) Section 314 is amended— 
(1) by striking out "$48" in subsection (a) and inserting in lieu 
thereof"$54"; 
(2) by striking out "$88" in subsection (b) and inserting in lieu 
thereof"$99"; 
(3) by striking out "$133" in subsection (c) and inserting in lieu 
thereof "$150"; 
(4) by striking out "$182" in subsection (d) and inserting in lieu 
thereof"$206"; 
(5) by striking out "$255" in subsection (e) and inserting in lieu 
thereof"$291"; 
(6) by striking out "$321" in subsection (f) and inserting in lieu 
thereof "$367"; 
(7) by striking out "$380" in subsection (g) and inserting in lieu 
thereof"$434"; 
(8) by striking out "$440" in subsection (h) and inserting in lieu 
thereof "$503"; 
(9) by striking out "$495" in subsection (i) and inserting in lieu 
thereof "$566"; 
(10) by striking out "$889" in subsection (j) and inserting in lieu 
thereof "$1,016"; 
(11) by striking out "$1,104" and "$1,547" in subsection (k) and 
inserting in lieu thereof "$1,262" and "$1,768", respectivel;yr; 
(12) by striking out "$1,104" in subsection (1) and inserting in 
lieu thereof "$1,262"; 
PUBLIC LAW 96-385—OCT. 7, 1980 
94 STAT. 1529 
(13) by striking out "$1,217" in subsection (m) and inserting in 
Ueu thereof "$1,391"; 
(14) by striking out "$1,383" in subsection (n) and inserting in 
lieu thereof "$1,581"; 
(15) by striking out "$1,547" each place it appears in subsec-
tions (o) and (p) and inserting in lieu thereof "$1,768"; 
(16) by striking out "$664" and "$989" in subsection (r) and 
inserting in lieu thereof "$759" and "$1,130", respectively; 
(17) by striking out "$995" in subsection (s) and inserting in 
lieu thereof "$1,137"; and 
(18) by striking out "$192" in subsection (t) and inserting in 
lieu thereof "$219". 
O^TTC^.I. 
(b) The Administrator of Veterans' Affairs may adjust administra- ^^ ^sc 3i4 note. 
tively, consistent with the increases authorized by this section, the 
rates of disability compensation payable to persons within the pur-
view of section 10 of Public Law 85-857 who are not in receipt of ^8 use note 
compensation payable pursuant to chapter 11 of title 38, United ^^^^-
States Code. 
38usc30ie^ 
seq. 
RATES OP ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION FOR DEPENDENTS 
SEC. 102. Section 315(1) is amended— 
^^ ^^ ^^^ 
(1) by striking out "$54" in clause (A) and inserting in lieu 
thereof "$62"; 
(2) by striking out "$91" in clause (B) and inserting in lieu 
thereof "$104"; 
(3) by striking out "$121" in clause (C) and inserting in lieu 
thereof"$138"; 
(4) by striking out "$151" and "$30" in clause (D) and inserting 
in lieu thereof "$173" and "$34", respectively; 
(5) by striking out "$37" in clause (E) and inserting in lieu 
thereof "$42"; 
(6) by striking out "$67" in clause (F) and inserting in lieu 
thereof "$77"; 
(7) by striking out "$97" and "$30" in clause (G) and inserting 
in lieu thereof "$111" and "$34", respectively; 
(8) by striking out "$44" in clause (H) and inserting in lieu 
thereof "$50"; 
(9) by striking out "$98" in clause (I) and inserting in lieu 
thereof "$112"; and 
(10) by striking out "$82" in clause (J) and inserting in lieu 
thereof ^^^$94". 
CLOTHING ALLOWANCE FOR CERTAIN DISABLED VETERANS 
SEC. 103. Section 362 is amended by striking out "$240" and ^8 use 362. 
inserting in lieu thereof "$274". 
TITLE II-SURVIVORS* DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY 
COMPENSATION BENEFITS 
RATES OF DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION FOR 
SURVIVING SPOUSES 
SEC. 201. (a) Subsection (a) of section 411 is amended to read as 38 use 4ii. 
follows: 
"(a) Dependency and indemnity compensation shall be paid to a 
surviving spouse, based on the pay grade of the person upon whose 
94 STAT. 1530 
PUBLIC LAW 96-385—OCT. 7, 1980 
death entitlement is predicated, at monthly rates set forth in the 
foUovdng 
table: 
Monthly 
"Pay grade 
rate 
W-4 
$535 
0-1 
472 
0-2 
487 
0 - 8 ..MM....~........».................... 
522 
0-4 
551 
0-5 
608 
0-6 
. 
684 
0-7 
. 
741 
0-8 
812 
0-9 
872 
O-IO 
«954 
*Tay 
grade 
E-1 
E-2 
E-3 
E-4 
E-5 
E-6 
E-7 
E-8 
E-9 
W-1 
W-2.. 
W-3 
Monthly 
r
a
t
e 
$373 
885 
894 
419 
431 
441 
462 
4
8
7 
»510 
472 
491 
5
0
5 
"^ If the veteran served as sergeant major of the Army, senior enlisted advisor of 
the Navy, chief master sergeant of the Air Force, sergeant nuyor of the Marine 
Corps, or master chief petty officer of the Coast Gusud, at the applicable time 
designated by section 402 of this title, the surviving spouse's rate shall be $549. 
"2 If the veteran served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Chief of Staff of 
the Army, Chief of Naval Operations, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, or Comman-
dant of the Marine Corps, at the applicable time designated by section 402 of this 
title, the sturviving spouse's rate shall be $1,023.". 
(b) Subsection (b) of such section is amended by striking out ''$38" 
and inserting in lieu thereof "$43". 
(c) Subsection (c) of such section is amended by striking out "$98" 
and inserting in lieu thereof "$112". 
(d) Subsection (d) of such section is amended by striking out "$49" 
and inserting in lieu thereof "$56". 
BATES OF DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION FOR CHILDREN 
38 use 413. 
SEC. 202. Section 413 is amended— 
(1) by striking out "$165" in clause (1) and inserting in lieu 
thereof "$189"; 
(2) by striking out "$237" in clause (2) and inserting in lieu 
thereof"$271"; 
(3) by striking out "$306" in clause (3) and inserting in lieu 
thereof "$350"* and 
(4) by striking out "$306" and "$62" 
in clause (4) and inserting 
in Ueu thereof "$350" and "$71", respectively. 
SATES OF SUPPLEMENTAL DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION 
FOR CHILDREN 
38 use 414. 
SEC. 203. Section 414 is amended— 
(1) by striking out "$98" 
in subsection (a) and inserting in lieu 
thereof "$112"; 
(2) by striking out "$165" in subsection (b) and inserting in lieu 
thereof "$189"; and 
(3) by striking out "$84" 
in subsection (c) and inserting in lieu 
thereof"$96". 
PUBLIC LAW 96-385—OCT. 7, 1980 
94 STAT. 1531 
TITLE m—SPECIAL HOME ADAPTATION GRANTS FOR 
CERTAIN SEVERELY DISABLED VETERANS 
EXTENSION OF SPECIALLY-ADAPTED HOUSING GRANT PROGRAM 
SEC. 301. (a) Section 801 is amended by inserting "(a)" before "The 
Administrator" and by adding at the end the_ following new 
subsection: 
"(b)(1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Administra-
tor, under regulations which the Administrator shall prescribe, shall 
assist any veteran (other than a veteran who is eligible for assistance 
under subsection (a) of this section) who is entitled to compensation 
under chapter 11 of this title for a permanent and total service-
connected disability which— 
"(A) is due to blindness in both eyes with 5/200 visual acuity or 
less, or 
"(B) includes the anatomical loss or loss of use of both hands, 
in acquiring such adaptations to such veteran's residence as are 
determined by the Administrator to be reasonably necessary because 
of 
such disability. 
"(2) Assistance under paragraph (1) of this subsection may be 
provided only to a veteran who the Administrator determines is 
residing in and reasonably intends to continue residing in a residence 
owned by such veteran or by a member of such veteran's family or, if 
the veteran's residence is to be constructed or purchased, will be 
residing in and reasonably intends to continue residing in a residence 
owned by such veteran or by a member of such veteran's family.". 
(b) Section 802 is amended— 
(1) by inserting "(a)" before "The assistance"; 
(2) by striking out "section 801" and inserting in lieu thereof 
"section 801(a)"; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new subsection: 
"(b) Except as provided in section 8040t>)(2) of this title, the assist-
ance authorized by section SOlOb) of this title shall be limited to the 
lesser o
f
— 
"(1) the actual cost of the adaptations determined by the 
Administrator under such section 8010t)) to be reasonably neces-
sary, or 
"(2) $5,000.". 
(c) Section 804 is amended— 
(1) by inserting "(a)" before "Any veteran"; 
(2) by striking out "the assistance authorized by this chapter" 
and inserting in lieu thereof "except as provided in subsection (b) 
of this section, the assistance authorized by section 801 of this 
title"; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new subsection: 
"Ob) A veteran eligible for assistance under section 801(b) of this 
title shall not by reason of such eligibility be denied benefits for 
which such veteran becomes eligible under section 801(a) of this title 
or benefits relating to home health services under section 612(a) of 
this title. However, no particular type of adaptation, improvement, or 
structural alteration provided to a veteran under section 612(a) of 
this title may be provided to such veteran under section 801(b) of this 
title.". 
(d) Section 805 is amended by striking out "unit, or necessary land 
therefor," and inserting in lieu thereof "unit, or necessary land 
therefor, or adaptation". 
38 u s e 801. 
Regulations. 
38 u s e 301 et 
seq. 
38 u s e 802. 
Supra. 
38 u s e 804. 
Home health 
services. 
Supra. 
38 u s e 612. 
38 u s e 805. 
94 STAT. 1532 
PUBLIC LAW 96-385—OCT. 7, 1980 
TITLE IV—VETERANS' ADMINISTRATION HOME-LOAN 
PROGRAM AMENDMENTS 
38 u s e 1810. 
38 u s e 1803. 
Loan guarantee. 
38 u s e 1802. 
Surviving 
spouse. 
38 u s e 1819. 
REFINANCING OF VETERANS ADMINISTRATION HOME LOANS 
SEC. 401. (a) Section 1810 is amended— 
(1) by inserting after clause (7) of subsection (a) the following 
new clause: 
"(8) To refinance in accordance with subsection (e) of this 
section an existing loan guaranteed, insured, or made under this 
chapter."; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection: 
"(e)(1) For a loan to be guaranteed for the purpose specified in 
subsection (a)(8) of this section— 
"(A) the interest rate of the loan must be less than the interest 
rate of the loan being refinanced; 
"(B) the loan must be secured by the same dwelling or farm 
residence as was the loan being refinanced and such dwelling or 
residence must be owned and occupied by the veteran as such 
veteran's home; 
"(C) the amount of the loan may not exceed an amount equal to 
the sum of the balance of the loan being refinanced and such 
closing costs (including any discount permitted pursuant to 
section 1803(c)(3)(A) of this title) as may be authorized by the 
Administrator, under regulations which the Administrator shall 
prescribe, to be included in such loan; 
"(D) the amount of the guaranty of the loan may not exceed the 
original guaranty amount of the loan being refinanced; and 
(E) the term of the loan may not exceed the original term of 
the loan being refinanced. 
"(2) A loan to a veteran may be guaranteed by the Veterans' 
Administration under this chapter for the purpose specified in clause 
(8) of subsection (a) of this section without regard to the amount of 
outstanding guaranty entitlement available for use by such veteran, 
and the amount of such veteran's guaranty entitlement shall not be 
charged as a result of any guaranty provided for such purpose. For 
purposes of section 1802(b) of this title, such loan shall be deemed to 
have been obtained with the guaranty entitlement used to obtain the 
loan being refinanced. 
"(3) If a veteran is deceased and if such veteran's surviving spouse 
was a co-obligor under an existing loan guaranteed, insured, or made 
under this chapter, such surviving spouse shall, only for the purpose 
specified in subsection (a)(8) of this section, be deemed to be a veteran 
eligible for benefits under this chapter.", 
(b) Section 1819(a) is amended— 
(1) by adding at the end of paragraph (1) the following new 
clause: 
"(F) To refinance in accordance with paragraph (4) of this 
subsection an existing loan guaranteed, insured, or made under 
this section."; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
"(4)(A) For a loan to be guaranteed for the purpose specified in 
clause (F) of paragraph (1) of this subsection— 
"(i) the interest rate of the loan must be less than the interest 
rate of the loan being refinanced; 
"(ii) the loan must be secured by the same mobile home or 
mobile-home lot, or mobile home and mobile-home lot, as was the 
loan being refinanced and such mobile home (or a mobile home 
PUBLIC LAW 96-385—OCT. 7, 1980 
94 STAT. 1533 
on such lot) must be owned and occupied by the veteran as such 
veteran's home; 
"(iii) the amount of the loan may not exceed an amount equal 
to the sum of the balance of the loan being refinanced and such 
closing costs (including any discount permitted pursuant to 
section 1803(cX3)(A) of this title) as may be authorized by the 38 use 1803. 
Administrator, under regulations which the Administrator shall 
prescribe, to be included in such loan; 
"(iv) the amount of the guaranty of the loan may not exceed 
the original guaranty amount of the loan being refinanced; and 
"(v) the term of the loan may not exceed the original term of 
the loan being refinanced. 
"(B) A loan to a veteran may be guaranteed by the Veterans' Loan guarantee. 
Administration under this chapter for the purpose specified in clause 
(F) of paragraph (1) of this subsection without regard to the amount of 
outstanding guaranty entitlement available for use by such veteran, 
and the amount of such veteran's guaranty entitlement shall not be 
charged as a result of any guaranty provided for such purpose. For 
purposes of section 1802(b) of this title, such loan shall be deemed to 
have been obtained with the guaranty entitlement used to obtain the 
loan being refinanced. 
"(C) If a veteran is deceased and if such veteran's surviving spouse 
was a co-obligor under an existing loan previously guaranteed, 
insured, or made under this section, such surviving spouse shall, only 
for the purpose specified in clause (F) of paragraph (1) of this 
subsection, be deemed to be a veteran eligible for benefits under this 
chapter.". 
(c)(1) Section 1803(c)(3)(A) is amended by striking out "section 38 use 1803. 
1810(a)(5)" and inserting in lieu thereof "clause (5) or (8) of section 
1810(a) of this title or section 1819(a)(1)(F) of this title". 
(2) The second sentence of section 1811(b) is amended by inserting 
"(other than the refinancing of a loan under section 1810(a)(8) or 
1819(a)(1)(F))" after "section 1810(a) or 1819 of this title". 
38 u s e 1802. 
Surviving 
spouse. 
Ante, p. 1532. 
38 u s e 1811. 
INCREASES IN MAXIMUM AMOUNTS OF VETERANS HOME-LOAN 
GUARANTIES 
SEC. 402. (a) Section 1810(c) is amended by striking out "$25,000" 38 use isio. 
and inserting in lieu thereof "$27,500". 
(b) Section 1811(d)(2) is amended— 
38 use i8ii. 
(1) by striking out "$25,000" both places it appears in subpara-
graph (A) and inserting in lieu thereof "$27,500"; and 
(2) by striking out "$17,500" both places it appears in subpara-
graph (B) and inserting in lieu thereof "$20,000". 
(c) Section 1819(c) is amended by striking out "$17,500" each place 38 use 1819. 
it appears and inserting in lieu thereof "$20,000". 
TITLE V-MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS 
EXTENSION OP AUTHORITY FOR VETERANS' ADMINISTRATION OFFICE IN 
THE REPUBUC OF THE PHIUPPINES 
SEC. 501. Section 230(b) is amended by striking out "1981" and 
inserting in lieu thereof "1985". 
38 u s e 230. 
94 STAT. 1534 
PUBLIC LAW 96-385—OCT. 7, 1980 
HEADSTONES AND MARKERS IN CERTAIN CASES 
38 use 906. 
SEC. 502. Section 906(a) is amended by adding at the end of such 
section the following new paragraph: 
38 use 1002. 
"(4) ^jiy individual described in section 1002(5) of this title who is 
buried in a veterans' cemetery owned by a State.". 
PAYMENT OF PENSION IN CERTAIN CASES 
38 use 3104. 
SEC. 503. (a) Section 3104(a) is amended— 
(1) by inserting "(1)" after "(a)"; and 
(2) by adding at the end of such subsection the following new 
paragraph: 
"(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsec-
38 use 3105. 
tion and of section 3105 of this title, pension under section 521 or 541 
38 use 521, 541. of this title may be paid to a person entitled to receive retired or 
retirement pay described in section 3105 of this title concurrently 
with such person's receipt of such retired or retirement pay if the 
annual amount of such retired or retirement pay is counted as annual 
38 use 501 et 
income for the purposes of chapter 15 of this title.". 
38^USe 3203 
^^ Section 3203(a)(1)(C) is amended by striking out "of not less than 
two full calendar months" and inserting in lieu thereof "in connec-
tion with which pension was reduced pursuant to subparagraph (A) 
or (B) of this paragraph". 
LIMITATION ON PAYMENT OF COMPENSATION FOR SERVICE-CONNECTED 
DISABILITIES OR DEATH AND OF DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COM-
PENSATION FOR INCARCERATION FOR FELONY CONVICTION 
SEC. 504. (a) Chapter 53 is amended by adding at the end the 
following new section: 
38 use 3113. 
"§3113. Limitation on payment of compensation and dependency 
and indemnity compensation to persons incarcerated 
for conviction of a felony 
"(a)(1) To the extent provided in subsection (d) of this section, any 
person who is entitled to compensation or to dependency and indem-
nity compensation and who is incarcerated in a Federal, State, or 
local penal institution for a period in excess of sixty days for 
conviction of a felony shall not be paid such compensation or 
dependency and indemnity compensation, for the period beginning 
on the sixty-first day of such incarceration and ending on the day 
such incarceration ends, in an amount that exceeds— 
"(A) in the case of a veteran with a service-connected disability 
rated at 20 percent or more, the rate of compensation payable 
38 use 314. 
under section 314(a) of this title; or 
"(B) in the case of a veteran with a service-connected disability 
not rated at 20 percent or more or in the case of a surviving 
spouse, parent, or child, one-half of the rate of compensation 
payable under section 314(a) of this title. 
"(2) The provisions of paragraph (1) of this section shall not apply 
with respect to any period during which a person is participating in a 
work-release program or is residing in a halfway house. 
"(b)(1) All or any part of the compensation not paid to a veteran by 
reason of subsection (a) of this section may, as appropriate in an 
individual case, be apportioned under the same terms and conditions 
38 use 3107. 
as are provided under section 3107 of this title. 
PUBLIC LAW 96-385—OCT. 7, 1980 
94 STAT. 1535 
"(2) All or any part of the dependency and indemnity compensation 
not paid to a surviving spouse or child by reason of subsection (a) of 
this section may, as appropriate in an individual case, be apportioned 
as follows: 
"(A) In the case of dependency and indemnity compensation 
not paid to a surviving spouse, any apportionment shall be to the 
surviving child or children. 
"(B) In the case of dependency and indemnity compensation 
not paid to a surviving child, any apportionment shall be to the 
surviving spouse or other surviving children, as applicable. 
"(3) No apportionment may be made under this subsection to or on 
behalf of any person who is incarcerated in a Federal, State, or local 
penal institution for conviction of a felony. 
"(c) The Administrator shall not assign to any veteran a rating of 
total disability based on the individual unemployability of the vet-
eran resulting from a service-connected disability during any period 
during which the veteran is incarcerated in a Federal, State, or local 
penal institution for conviction of a felony. 
"(d) The provisions of subsection (a) of tiiis section shall apply (1) 
with respect to any period of incarceration of a person for conviction 
of a felony committed after the date of the enactment of this section, 
and (2) with respect to any period of incarceration on or after October 
1,1980, for conviction of a felony of a person who on October 1,1980, is 
incarcerated for conviction of such felony and with respect to whom 
the action granting an award of compensation or dependency and 
indemnity compensation is taken on or after such date. 
"(e) For purposes of this section— 
"(1) The term 'compensation' includes disability compensation 
payable under section 351 of this title. 
"(2) The term 'dependency and indemnity compensation' 
means death compensation payable under section 321 or 341 of 
this title, death compensation and dependency and indemnity 
compensation payable under section 351 of this title, and any 
benefit payable under chapter 13 of this title.". 
(h) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is 
amended by adding at the end the following new item: 
"3113. Limitation on payment of compensation and dependency and indemnity com-
pensation to persons incarcerated for conviction of a felony.". 
CONFIDENTIALITY OF MEDICAL QUALITY-ASSURANCE RECORDS 
SEC. 505. (a) Subchapter I of chapter 57 is amended by adding at the 
end the following new section: 
"§ 3305. Confidentiality of medical quality-assurance records 
"(a) Records and documents created by the Veterans' Administra-
tion as part of a medical quality-assurance program are confidential 
and privileged and may not be disclosed to any person or entity 
except as provided in subsection (b) of this section. 
"03)(1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, a record or 
document described in subsection (a) of this section shall, upon 
request, be disclosed as follows: 
"(A) To a Federal agency or private organization, if such record 
or document is needed by such agency or organization to perform 
licensing or accreditation functions related to Veterans' Admin-
istration health-care facilities or to perform monitoring, required 
by statute, of Veterans' Administration health-care facilities. 
"Compensation." 
38 u s e 351. 
"Dependency 
and indemnity 
compensation." 
38 u s e 321, 341. 
38 u s e 351. 
38 u s e 401 et 
seq. 
38 u s e 3305. 
79-194 
O—81—pt. 2 
17 : QL3 
94 STAT. 1536 
PUBLIC LAW 96-385—OCT. 7, 1980 
Withholding 
record from 
congressional 
committees. 
"Medical 
quality-
assurance 
program." 
Regulations. 
"(B) To a Federal executive agency or provider of health-care 
services, if such record or document is required by such agency or 
provider for participation by the Veterans' Administration in a 
health-care program with such agency or provider. 
"(C) To a criminal or civil law enforcement governmental 
agency or instrumentality charged under applicable law with the 
protection of the public health or safety, if a qualified representa-
tive of such agency or instrumentality makes a written request 
that such record or document be provided for a purpose author-
ized by law. 
"(D) To health-care personnel, to the extent necessary to meet 
a medical emergency affecting the health or safety of any 
individual. 
"(2) The name of and other identifying information regarding any 
individual Veterans' Administration patient or employee, or any 
other individual associated with the Veterans' Administration for 
purposes of a medical quality-assurance program, contained in a 
record or document described in subsection (a) of this section shall be 
deleted from any record or document before any disclosure made 
under this subsection if disclosure of such name and identifying 
information would constitute a clearly unwarranted invasion of 
personal privacy. 
"(3) No person or entity to whom a record or document has been 
disclosed under this subsection shall make further disclosure of such 
record or document except for a purpose provided in this subsection. 
"(4) Nothing in this section shall be construed as authority to 
withhold any record or document from a committee of either House of 
Congress or any joint committee of Congress, if such record or 
document pertains to any matter within the jurisdiction of such 
committee or joint committee. 
"(5) Nothing in this section shall be construed as limiting the use of 
records and documents described in subsection (a) of this section 
within the Veterans' Administration (including contractors and 
consultants of the Veterans' Administration). 
"(c) For the purpose of this section, the term 'medical quality-
assurance program means— 
"(1) with respect to any activity carried out before the date of 
the enactment of this section, a Veterans' Administration sys-
tematic health-care review activity carried out by or for the 
Veterans' Administration for the purpose of improving the 
quality of medical care or improving the utilization of health-
care resources in Veterans' Administration health-care facilities; 
and 
"(2) with respect to any activity carried out on or after the date 
of the enactment of this section, a Veterans' Administration 
systematic health-care review activity designated by the Admin-
istator to be carried out by or for the Veterans' Administration 
for either such purpose. 
"(d)(1) Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of 
this section, the Administrator shall prescribe regulations to carry 
out this section. In prescribing such regulations, the Administrator 
shall specify those activities carried out before such enactment date 
which the Administrator determines meet the definition of medical 
quality-assurance program in subsection (c)(1) of this section and 
those activities which the Administrator has designated under sub-
section (c)(2) of this section. The Administrator shall, to the extent 
appropriate, incorporate into such regulations the provisions of the 
PUBLIC LAW 96-385—OCT. 7, 1980 
94 STAT. 1537 
existing administrative guidelines and procedures governing such 
programs. 
"(2) After the date on which such regulations are first prescribed, 
no activity shall be considered as having been designated as a medical 
quality-assurgince program for the purposes of subsection (cX2) of this 
section unless the designation has been specified in such regulations. 
"(e) Any person who, knowing that a document or record is a Penalty. 
document or record described in subsection (a) of this section, will-
fully discloses such record or document except as provided for in 
subsection (b) of 
this section shall be fined not more than $5,000 in the 
case of a first offense and not more than $20,000 in the case of a 
subsequent offense.". 
O
b
) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is 
amended by inserting after the item relating to section 3304 the 
following new item: 
"3305. Confidentiality of medical quality-assurance records.". 
MINIMUM NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES OF AMERICAN BATTLE MONUMENTS 
COMMISSION 
SEC. 506. The third pargigraph of the first section of the Act entitled 
"An Act for the creation of an American Battle Monuments Commis-
sion to erect suitable memorials commemorating the services of the 
American soldier in Europe, and for other purposes", approved 
March 4, 1923 (36 U.S.C. 121), is amended by inserting after the 
second sentence thereof the following new sentence: "To ensure 
adequate care and maintenance of the cemeteries, monuments, and 
memorials under the jurisdiction of the Commission, the Commis-
sion, subject to the availability of appropriations, shall employ (1) not 
less than 50 personnel in the competitive service (as defined in section 
2102 of title 5, United States Code), of whom not less than 43 shall be 
assigned to duty in foreign countries in which such cemeteries, 
monuments, and memorials are located, and (2) not less than 348 
individuals who are citizens of the countries in which such ceme-
teries, monuments, and memorials are located, who shall be hired for 
local employment relating to the care and maintenance of such 
cemeteries, monuments, and memorials.". 
LAND TRANSFER, CHEYENNE, WYOMING 
SEC. 507. (a) Subject to subsection (b), the Administrator of Veter-
ans' AffEiirs is authorized to execute such instruments as may be 
necessary to permit the city of Cheyenne, Wyoming, to use for public 
roadway purposes a tract of land consisting of four acres, more or less, 
which is a portion of a larger tract of land previously conveyed by the 
United States to such city under the authority of the Act entitled "An 
Act authorizing the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs to convey 
certain property to the city of Cheyenne, Wyoming", approved 
November 8,1965 (Public Law 89-345; 79 Stat. 1304), for use by such 
city for park and recreational purposes only. 
(b) Any instrument executed by the Administrator of Veterans' 
Affairs under this section shall— 
(1) provide that the four-acre tract of land referred to in 
subsection (a) may be used only for park and recreational 
purposes or for public roadway purposes, or both, and only in a 
manner that will not, in the judgment of the Administrator of 
Veterans' Affairs, interfere in any manner with the care and 
94 STAT. 1538 
PUBLIC LAW 96-385—OCT. 7, 1980 
treatment of patients in the Veterans' Administration Center, 
Cheyenne, Wyoming; 
(2) contain such additional terms, conditions, and restrictions 
as may be determined by the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs 
to be necessary to protect the interest of the United States; and 
(3) provide that, if the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs 
determines that the city of Cheyenne has violated any provision 
of any such instrument, title to the tract of land conveyed under 
the authority of such Act shall revert to the United States as 
provided in the deed of conveyance executed pursuant to such 
Act. 
Survey. 
(c) The legal description of the four-acre tract of land referred to in 
subsection (a) shall be determined by the Administrator of Veterans' 
Affairs. If a survey is required in order to make such determination, 
the city of Cheyenne shall bear the expenses of the survey. 
TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS TO PUBLIC LAW 96-330 
Ante, p. 1036. 
SEC. 508. (a) Section 4107(c)(3) is amended by striking out "section 
4507" and inserting in lieu thereof "sections 4507 and 5384". 
Ante, p. 1039. 
(b) Section 4109(b) is amended— 
(1) by inserting "after August 25, 1980," after "any period of 
service"; and 
(2) by inserting "after such date" after "such service". 
TITLE VI—EFFECTIVE DATES 
EFFECTIVE DATES 
38 use 314 note. 
SEC. 601. (a) The amendments made by titles I and II shall apply 
ibU' ^^ 
^^^y ^^ payments for months beginning after September 30, 1980. 
Ante, p. 1531. 
(b) The amendments made by title III and by sections 402,501,503, 
and 506 shall take effect on October 1,1980. 
(c) The amendments made by section 502 shall apply only with 
respect to individuals who die after September 30,1980. 
(d) The amendments made by sections 401, 504, 505, and 507 shall 
take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act. 
(e) The amendments made by section 508 shall take effect as of 
August 26,1980. 
Approved October 7, 1980. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 96-1155 (Comm. on Veterans' Affairs). 
SENATE REPORT No. 96-876 accompanying S. 2649 (Comm. on Veterans' Affairs). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 126 (1980): 
July 21, considered and passed House. 
Aug. 6, considered and passed Senate, amended, in lieu of S. 2649. • 
Sept. 18, House concurred in Senate amendments with amendments. 
Sept. 24, Senate concurred in House amendments. 
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 16, No. 41: 
Oct. 7, Presidential statement.