S.Amdt. 3576

1. Rewrites section 531

   Replaces

   In S. 2410 · Placed on Calendar Senate

   SEC. 531. ENHANCEMENT OF AUTHORITY FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES TO OBTAIN PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS.

   Struck: (a) In General.--Section 2015 of title 10, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

   Struck: "Sec. 2015. Professional credentials: program to assist members in obtaining credentials

   Struck: "(a) Program Required.--(1) Subject to subsection (b), the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security, with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, shall carry out a program to enable members of the armed forces to obtain, while serving in the armed forces, professional credentials that relate to training and skills that are acquired during their service in the armed forces and translate into civilian occupations.

   Struck: "(2) The program shall provide for the payment of expenses of members for professional accreditation, Federal occupational licenses, State-imposed and professional licenses, professional certification, and related expenses.

   Show 11 more struck paragraphsShow less

   Struck: "(b) Limitation.--The authority under subsection (a) may not be used to pay the expenses of a member to obtain professional credentials that are a prerequisite for appointment in the armed forces.

   Struck: "(c) Regulations.--(1) The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section.

   Struck: "(2) The regulations shall apply uniformly to the armed forces to the extent practicable.

   Struck: "(3) The regulations shall include the following:

   Struck: "(A) Requirements for eligibility for participation in the program under this section.

   Struck: "(B) A description of the professional credentials and occupations covered by the program.

   Struck: "(C) Mechanisms for oversight of the payment of expenses and the provision of other benefits under the program.

   Struck: "(D) Such other matters in connection with the payment of expenses and the provision of other benefits under the program as the Secretaries consider appropriate.

   Struck: "(d) Expenses Defined.--In this section, the term 'expenses' means expenses for class room instruction, hands-on training (and associated materials), manuals, study guides and materials, text books, processing fees, and test fees and related fees.".

   Struck: (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 101 of such title is amended by striking the item relating to section 2015 and inserting the following new item:

   Struck: "2015. Professional credentials: program to assist members in obtaining credentials.".

   Inserted: (a) In General.--Paragraph (1) of subsection (a) of section 2015 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking "professional accreditation" and all that follows through "certification" and inserting "State-imposed licenses, Federal occupational licenses, and professional certification".

   Inserted: (b) Limitations.--Subsection (b) of such section is amended--

   Inserted: (1) by inserting "(1)" before "The authority";

   Inserted: (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs:

   Inserted: "(2) The authority under subsection (a) may not be used to pay the expenses of a member to obtain professional credentials unless such credentials are recognized and approved by the armed force concerned as necessary to meet--

   Inserted: "(A) readiness requirements or professional occupational development goals of such armed force; or

   Inserted: "(B) the self-development requirements of the member.

   Inserted: "(3) Except as provided in paragraph (4), the authority under subsection (a) may not be used to pay the expenses of obtaining professional credentials unless--

   Inserted: "(A) such credentials are accredited under International Organization for Standardization/International Commission (ISO/IEC) Standard 17024-2012, entitled 'General Requirements for Bodies Operating Certification of Persons'; and

   Inserted: "(B) the entity accrediting such credentials provides documentary evidence to the Secretary of Defense that it complies International Organization for Standardization/ International Commission Standard 17011, entitled 'Conformity assessment-General requirements for accreditation bodies accrediting conformity assessment bodies'.

   Inserted: " '(4) During the three-year period beginning on the date of the authorization of the Credentialing agency by the Department of Defense, the authority under subsection (a) may be used to pay the expenses of obtaining professional credentials from an entity not complying with the Standards referred to in paragraph (3) if the entity certifies in writing to the Secretary of Defense that the entity agrees to seek to obtain certification of compliance with the Standards before the end of such period.'.

   Inserted: (c) Funds Available.--Such section is further amended--

   Show 2 more inserted paragraphsShow less

   Inserted: (1) in subsection (a), by striking "may pay" in the matter preceding paragraph (1) and inserting "may, using funds described in subsection (c), pay"; and

   Inserted: (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:

   Original wording

   Strike section 531 and insert the following:

Read automatically from the Congressional Record. Check the original before relying on it.

As printed