S.Amdt. 2754

1. Adds SEC. 207. COURSES UNDER EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE AUTHORITIES ADMINISTERED BY SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS on page 33, line 18

   Adds a sectionPrinted page

   Inserted: SEC. 207. COURSES UNDER EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE AUTHORITIES ADMINISTERED BY SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

   Inserted: (a) In General.--Section 3679 is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

   Inserted: "(c) A course offered by an educational institution in a State that is a required element of the curriculum to be satisfied to obtain employment in an occupation or profession requiring the approval or licensure of a board or agency of that State may be treated as approved for purposes of this chapter by an individual seeking to obtain employment in that occupation or profession only if--

   Inserted: "(1) the successful completion of the curriculum fully qualifies a student to--

   Inserted: "(A) take any examination required for entry into the occupation or profession, including satisfying any State or professionally mandated programmatic and specialized accreditation requirements; and

   Inserted: "(B) be certified or licensed or meet any other academically related pre-conditions that are required for entry into the occupation or profession; and

   Inserted: "(2) in the case of State licensing or professionally mandated requirements for entry into the occupation or profession that require specialized accreditation, the curriculum meets the requirement for specialized accreditation through its accreditation or pre-accreditation by an accrediting agency or association recognized by the Secretary of Education or designated by that State as a reliable authority as to the quality or training offered by the institution in that program.".

   Inserted: (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take effect on August 1, 2014, and shall apply with respect to courses pursued on or after that date.

   Inserted: SEC. 208. REVIVAL OF PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION AND LICENSURE ADVISORY COMMITTEE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

   Inserted: (a) In General.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall reestablish the Professional Certification and Licensure Advisory Committee of the Department of Veterans Affairs provided for under section 3689(e) of title 38, United States Code. The Committee shall be reestablished in accordance with the provisions of such section 3689(e), as amended by subsection (b), and shall carry out its duties in conformance with, and subject to the requirements of such section, as so amended.

   Inserted: (b) Modification of Authorities and Requirements.--Section 3689(e) is amended--

   Inserted: (1) in paragraph (2)--

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   Inserted: (A) by inserting "(A)" after "(2)"; and

   Inserted: (B) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:

   Inserted: "(B) In addition to the duties under subparagraph (A), the Committee shall--

   Inserted: "(i) develop, in coordination with other appropriate agencies, guidance to be used by the Department or other entities to perform periodic audits of licensure and certification programs to ensure the highest quality education is available to veterans and members of the Armed Forces; and

   Inserted: "(ii) develop, in coordination with the Department of Defense, appropriate certification agencies, and other appropriate nonprofit organizations, a plan to improve outreach to veterans and members of the Armed Forces on the importance of licensing and certification, as well as educational benefits available to them.";

   Inserted: (2) in paragraph (3)(B), by striking "and the Secretary of Defense" and inserting "the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Education";

   Inserted: (3) in paragraph (4), by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following new subparagraph:

   Inserted: "(B) The Committee shall meet with such frequency as the Committee determines appropriate."; and

   Inserted: (4) in paragraph (5), by striking "December 31, 2006" and inserting "December 31, 2019".

   Inserted: (c) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the reestablishment of the Professional Certification and Licensure Advisory Committee of the Department of Veterans Affairs pursuant to this section, the Committee shall submit to Congress a report setting forth an assessment of the feasibility and advisability of permitting members of the Armed Forces to use educational assistance to which they are entitled under chapters 30 and 33 of title 38, United States Code, to obtain or pursue civilian employment certifications or licenses without the use of such assistance for that purpose being charged against the entitlement of such members to such educational assistance.

   Original wording

   On page 33, after line 18, add the following:

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As printed