An act to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to furnish assistance for adaptations of residences of veterans in rehabilitation programs under chapter 31 of such title, and for other purposes
PL 115-177 (H.R.3562), enacted 06/01/2018

132 STAT. 1376 
PUBLIC LAW 115–177—JUNE 1, 2018 
Public Law 115–177 
115th Congress 
An Act 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs to furnish assistance for adaptations of residences of veterans in rehabilita-
tion programs under chapter 31 of such title, 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. IMPROVEMENTS TO AUTHORITIES FOR PROVISION OF 
ASSISTANCE FOR ADAPTATIONS OF RESIDENCES OF 
VETERANS IN REHABILITATION PROGRAMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 21 of title 38, United States Code, 
is amended by inserting after section 2102A the following new 
section: 
‘‘§ 2102B. Adaptations to residences of veterans in rehabilita-
tion programs 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subsections (b) and (c), the Sec-
retary may assist a veteran who is entitled to services and assist-
ance under chapter 31 of this title and is pursuing a rehabilitation 
program under such chapter in acquiring such adaptations to such 
veteran’s residence as are determined necessary by the Secretary 
to accomplish the purposes of such rehabilitation program. 
‘‘(b) AMOUNT.—(1) The aggregate amount of assistance available 
to a veteran under subsection (a) may not exceed $77,307. The 
Secretary may waive this limitation for a veteran if the Secretary 
determines a waiver is necessary for the rehabilitation program 
of the veteran. 
‘‘(2) Effective on October 1 of each year (beginning in 2017), 
the Secretary shall increase the amount described in paragraph 
(1) by the percentage calculated under section 2102(e)(2) of this 
title. 
‘‘(3) Beginning on October 1, 2019, the Secretary shall submit 
to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House 
of Representatives a biennial report on the use of the waiver 
authority under paragraph (1). 
‘‘(c) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary shall prescribe such regula-
tions as may be necessary to carry out this section. 
‘‘(d) REHABILITATION PROGRAM DEFINED.—In this section, the 
term ‘rehabilitation program’ has the meaning given such term 
in section 3101 of this title.’’. 
(b) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary may provide assistance under 
section 2102B of such title, as added by subsection (a), in advance 
of regulations by issuing notice specifying the criteria for the 
application, approval, and oversight processes relating to the provi-
sion of assistance under such section. 
Notice. 
Criteria. 
38 USC 2102b 
note. 
Reports. 
Waiver authority. 
Determination. 
Effective dates. 
Determination. 
38 USC 2102b. 
June 1, 2018 
[H.R. 3562] 
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132 STAT. 1377 
PUBLIC LAW 115–177—JUNE 1, 2018 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.— 
(1) SCOPE OF SERVICES AND ASSISTANCE FOR TRAINING AND 
REHABILITATION.—Section 3104 of such title is amended by 
adding at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(d) The Secretary may not assist a veteran in acquiring adapta-
tions to the residence of the veteran under this chapter. Any such 
assistance may be furnished only under section 2102B of this title.’’. 
(2) MEMBERS
OF
THE
ARMED
FORCES
RESIDING
OUTSIDE 
THE UNITED STATES.—Section 2101A of such title is amended— 
(A) by redesignating subsection (c) as subsection (d); 
and 
(B) by inserting after subsection (b) the following new 
subsection (c): 
‘‘(c) LIMITATION.—Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b), this 
section shall not apply to the provision of assistance under section 
2102B of this title.’’. 
(3) BENEFITS
ADDITIONAL
TO
BENEFITS
UNDER
OTHER 
LAWS.—Section 2104 of such title is amended— 
(A) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘; however’’ and all 
that follows through ‘‘once’’; 
(B) in subsection (b), by striking the second sentence; 
and 
(C) by adding at the end the following new subsection: 
‘‘(c) The Secretary may not provide assistance to a veteran 
under this chapter if the Secretary determines such assistance 
would result in a duplication of benefits under this title to the 
veteran.’’. 
(4) EXCEPTION TO MANDATORY LIFE INSURANCE.—Section 
2106(a) of such title is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(a) The Secretary shall insure any individual under 70 years 
of age who has received assistance under this chapter against 
the death of the individual except for an individual who— 
‘‘(1) elects in writing to not receive insurance under this 
section; 
‘‘(2) fails to respond in a timely manner to a request from 
the Secretary for information on which the premium for such 
insurance can be based; or 
‘‘(3) receives such assistance under section 2102B of this 
title.’’. 
Determination. 
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132 STAT. 1378 
PUBLIC LAW 115–177—JUNE 1, 2018 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 3562: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 115–386 (Comm. on Veterans’ Affairs). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 
Vol. 163 (2017): Nov. 6, considered and passed House. 
Vol. 164 (2018): May 16, considered and passed Senate. 
(d) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at the begin-
ning of chapter 21 of such title is amended by inserting after 
the item relating to section 2102A the following new item: 
‘‘2102B. Adaptations to residences of veterans in rehabilitation programs.’’. 
Approved June 1, 2018. 
38 USC 
prec. 2101. 
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