H.R. 5500 — Introduced in House

I 113th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 5500 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES September 17, 2014 Mr. Fitzpatrick introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs A BILL To amend title 38, United States Code, to protect employment and training services for veterans, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Protect Veterans Employment and Training Services Act of 2014. 2. Protection of employment and training services for veterans (a) Disabled veterans' outreach program Section 4103A of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (a), by adding at the end the following new paragraphs: (4) If a disabled veterans' outreach program specialist is not able to assist all eligible veterans seeking his or her assistance under this chapter, the Secretary may establish an order of priority for the furnishing of such assistance that is consistent with paragraph (1) of this subsection and section 4102 of this title. (5) A disabled veterans' outreach program specialist may perform an initial intake and assessment of an individual under this chapter in order to— (A) determine whether the individual is a special disabled veteran, another disabled veteran, or another eligible veteran; (B) administer the order of priority set forth in paragraph (1) and any order of priority established under paragraph (4); and (C) assess the needs of the individual, including whether the individual needs intensive services. ; and (2) by adding at the end the following new subsection: (e) Limitation The Secretary may not impose any restriction on the duties that a disabled veterans’ outreach program specialist may perform or on the individuals whom a disabled veterans’ outreach program specialist may assist other than those specifically provided for in this chapter. . (b) Local veterans' employment representatives Section 4104 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1) in subsection (b)— (A) by redesignating paragraphs (1) and (2) as subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively; (B) in the matter before subparagraph (A), as redesignated by subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, by inserting (1) before As principal duties; (C) by adding at the end the following new paragraphs: (2) In addition to the principal duties required by paragraph (1), a local veterans' employment representative may furnish employment, training, and placement services directly to eligible veterans and eligible persons. (3) Each local veterans’ employment representative shall spend a majority of his or her time as a local veterans’ employment representative carrying out the principal duties set forth in subsection (b). ; and (D) in the heading, by striking Principal; (2) by redesignating subsection (f) as subsection (g); and (3) by inserting after subsection (e) the following new subsection (f): (f) Limitation The Secretary may not impose any restriction on the duties that a local veterans’ employment representative may perform or on the individuals whom a local veterans’ employment representative may assist other than those specifically provided for in this chapter. .