,,ii  #aacth ,,congress  #ast ,session  
,s4 #agag  ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of     
,,the ,,united ,,states  ,november #ad1 
#bjac,mr4 ,kaine 7for himself and ,mr4  
,chambliss7 introduced the following    
bill2 which was read twice and referred 
to the ,committee on ,veterans' ,affairs
  ,a ,,bill  ,to amend title #ch1       
,united ,states ,code1 to improve       
oversight of educational assistance     
provided under laws administered by the 
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs and the
 ,secretary of ,defense1 and for other  
purposes4  #a4 ,short title ,this ,act  
may be cited as the ,servicemember      
,education ,reform and ,vocational      
,enhancement ,act of #bjac or the       
,,serve ,act of #bjac4  #b4 ,additional 
requirements for approval of courses of 
education for purposes of educational   
assistance under laws administered by   
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs and    
,secretary of ,defense  7a7 ,automatic  
approval by ,secretary of ,veterans     
,affairs of degree programs approved by 

,secretary of ,education ,clause 7i7 of 
section #cfgb7;b77#b77;,a7 of title #ch1
 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended to   
read as follows3  7i7 ,a course that is 
described by section #cfge7;a7 of this  
title4  4  7b7 ,approval by ,secretary  
of ,veterans ,affairs of non-,degree    
programs approved by ,secretary of      
,education  7#a7 ,in general ,section   
#cfge of such title is amended-- 7,a7 by
 redesignating subsections 7b7 and 7c7  
as subsections 7c7 and 7d71             
respectively2  7,b7 by striking         
subsection 7a72 and  7,c7 by inserting  
before subsection 7c71 as redesignated  
by subparagraph 7,a71 the following new 
subsections3  7a7 ,the ,secretary or a  
,state approving agency may only approve
 a course that leads to an associate or 
higher degree when such course is an    
eligible program 7as defined in section 
#dha of the ,higher ,education ,act of  
#aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajhh77 offered by 
an institution of higher education 7as  
defined in section #ajb of such ,act    

7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajjb77 that has entered 
into1 and is complying with1 a program  
participation agreement under section   
#dhg of such ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajid74
  7b7 7#a7 ,the ,secretary or a ,state  
approving agency may approve a course   
that does not lead to an associate or   
higher degree when-- 7,a7 such course-- 
7i7 is an eligible program 7as defined  
in section #dha of the ,higher          
,education ,act of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 
#ajhh77 offered by an institution of    
higher education 7as defined in section 
#ajb of such ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajjb77
 that has entered into1 and is complying
 with1 a program participation agreement
 under section #dhg of such ,act 7#bj   
,u4,s4,c4 #ajid72  7ii7 in the case of a
 course designed to prepare individuals 
for licensure or certification1 meets   
the instructional curriculum licensure  
or certification requirements of the    
,state in which the institution is      
located2 and  7iii7 in the case of a    
course designed to prepare an individual

 for employment by a ,state board or    
agency in an occupation that requires   
approval or licensure for such          
employment1 is approved or licensed by  
such ,state board or agency2  7,b7 such 
course is accepted by the ,state        
department of education for credit for a
 teacher's certificate2 or  7,c7 such   
course is approved by the ,state as     
meeting the requirement of regulations  
prescribed by the ,secretary of ,health 
and ,human ,services under sections     
#ahai7;f77#b77;,a77i7 and               
#aiai7;f77#b77;,a77i7 of the ,social    
,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4           
#acie;i-#c7;f77#b77;,a77i7 and          
#acifr7f77#b77;,a77i774  7#b7 7,a7 ,an  
educational institution shall submit an 
application for approval of courses to  
the appropriate ,state approving agency4
 ,in making application for approval1   
the institution 7other than an          
elementary school or secondary school7  
shall transmit to the ,state approving  
agency copies of its catalog or bulletin

 which must be certified as true and    
correct in content and policy by an     
authorized representative of the        
institution4  7,b7 ,each catalog or     
bulletin transmitted by an institution  
under subparagraph 7,a7 of this         
paragraph shall-- 7i7 state with        
specificity the requirements of the     
institution with respect to graduation2 
7ii7 include the information required   
under paragraphs 7#f7 and 7#g7 of       
section #cfgf7;b7 of this title2 and    
7iii7 include any attendance standards  
of the institution1 if the institution  
has and enforces such standards4  4     
7#b7 ,conforming amendments ,such title 
is amended-- 7,a7 in section #cdeb7;g71 
by striking under the provisions of     
section #cfge of this title2  7,b7 in   
section #ceja7aa71 by striking under the
 provisions of section #cfge of this    
title2  7,c7 in section                 
#cfgb7;b77#b77;,a71 by striking         
#cfge7;b77#a7 and 7b77#b7 and inserting 
#cfge7;c77#a7 and 7c77#b72 and  7,d7 in 

the heading for section #cfge1 by       
striking accredited courses and         
inserting courses approved by ,secretary
 of ,education4  7#c7 ,clerical         
amendment ,the table of sections at the 
beginning of chapter #cf of such title  
is amended by striking the item relating
 to section #cfge and inserting the     
following new item3  #cfge4 ,approval of
 courses approved by ,secretary of      
,education4  4  7c7 ,approval by        
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs of     
non-,degree programs not approved by    
,secretary of ,education  7#a7 ,in      
general ,subsection 7a7 of section #cfgf
 of such title is amended to read as    
follows3  7a7 ,no course of education   
which has not been approved by the      
,secretary or a ,state approving agency 
under section #cfge of this title shall 
be approved for the purposes of this    
chapter unless-- 7#a7 the course-- 7,a7 
does not lead to an associate or higher 
degree2  7,b7 was not an eligible       
program 7as defined in section #dha of  

the ,higher ,education ,act of #aife    
7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajhh77 at any time      
during the most recent two-year period2 
and  7,c7 is a course that the          
,secretary or ,state approving agency   
determines1 in accordance with this     
section and such regulations as the     
,secretary shall prescribe and on a     
case-by-case basis1 that approval of    
which would further the purposes of this
 chapter or any of chapters #cj through 
#ce of this title2 and  7#b7 the        
educational institution offering such   
course submits to the appropriate ,state
 approving agency a written application 
for approval of such course in          
accordance with the provisions of this  
chapter4  4  7#b7 ,additional           
requirements ,subsection 7c7 of section 
#cfgf of such title is amended-- 7,a7 by
 redesignating paragraph 7#ad7 as       
paragraph 7#ah72 and  7,b7 by inserting 
after paragraph 7#ac7 the following new 
paragraphs3  7#ad7 ,courses that prepare
 individuals for licensure or           

certification have verified that the    
course's instructional curriculum       
appropriately includes the licensure or 
certification requirements in the ,state
 in which the institution deems such    
curriculum does4  7#ae7 ,courses for    
which a ,state board or agency in the   
,state in which the course is designed  
to prepare a student requires approval  
or licensure for employment in the      
recognized occupation in the ,state is  
approved or licensed by such ,state     
board or agency4  7#af7 ,in the case of 
an educational institution that         
advertises job placement rates as a     
means of attracting students to enroll  
in a course of education offered by the 
educational institution1 the application
 contains any other information         
necessary to substantiate the           
truthfulness of such advertisements4    
7#ag7 ,the educational institution does 
not make any misrepresentations 7as     
defined in section #ffh4ga of title #cd1
 ,code of ,federal ,regulations 7or any 

corresponding similar regulation or     
ruling77 regarding the nature of its    
educational program1 the nature of its  
financial charges1 or the employability 
of its graduates 7as defined in sections
 #ffh4gb through #ffh4gd of such title1 
respectively 7or any corresponding      
similar regulations or rulings774  4    
7#c7 ,conforming amendments ,section    
#cfgf of such title is amended-- 7,a7 in
 the heading for such section1 by       
striking nonaccredited courses and      
inserting courses not approved by       
,secretary of ,education2 and  7,b7 in  
subsection 7c71 in the matter before    
paragraph 7#a71 by striking             
non-accredited4  7#d7 ,clerical         
amendment ,the table of sections at the 
beginning of chapter #cf of such title  
is amended by striking the item relating
 to section #cfge and inserting the     
following new item3  #cfgf4 ,approval of
 courses not approved by ,secretary of  
,education4  4  7d7 ,additional         
requirements for approval of programs   

for educational assistance for persons  
enlisting for active duty ,section #badc
 of title #aj1 ,united ,states ,code1 is
 amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7a71 by   
striking to subsection 7b7 and inserting
 to subsections 7b7 and 7c72  7#b7 by   
redesignating subsection 7c7 as         
subsection 7d72 and  7#c7 by inserting  
after subsection 7b7 the following new  
subsection 7c73  7c7 7#a7 ,except as    
provided in paragraph 7#b71 a person    
entitled to assistance under this       
chapter may only use such assistance for
 educational expenses incurred for an   
eligible program 7as defined in section 
#dha of the ,higher ,education ,act of  
#aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajhh77 that-- 7,a7
 is offered by an institution of higher 
education 7as defined in section #ajb of
 such ,act 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajjb77 that  
has entered into1 and is complying with1
 a program participation agreement under
 section #dhg of such ,act 7#bj         
,u4,s4,c4 #ajid72  7,b7 in the case of a
 program designed to prepare individuals

 for licensure or certification1 meets  
the instructional curriculum licensure  
or certification requirements of the    
,state in which the institution is      
located2 and  7,c7 in the case of a     
program designed to prepare individuals 
for employment by a ,state board or     
agency in an occupation that requires   
approval or licensure for such          
employment1 is approved or licensed by  
such ,state board or agency4  7#b7 ,the 
,secretary may1 in accordance with      
regulations the ,secretary shall        
prescribe1 authorize the use of         
educational assistance awarded under    
this chapter for educational expenses   
incurred for a program of education that
 is not described in paragraph 7#a7 if  
such program-- 7,a7 is accredited and   
approved by a nationally recognized     
accrediting agency or association2  7,b7
 was not an eligible program described  
in paragraph 7#a7 at any time during the
 most recent two-year period2 and  7,c7 
is a program that the ,secretary        

determines1 on a case-by-case basis1    
that approval of which would further the
 purposes of the program established    
under section #bada of this title4  4   
7e7 ,effective date ,the amendments made
 by this section shall take effect on   
,august #a1 #bjad4  #c4 ,requirement    
that educational institutions furnish   
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs with   
information necessary to provide        
education information to veterans       
,section #cfih of title #ch1 ,united    
,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7        
redesignating subsection 7f7 as         
subsection 7g72 and  7#b7 by inserting  
after subsection 7e7 the following new  
subsection 7f73  7f7 ,authority ,to     
obtain information from educational     
institutions  7#a7 ,if the ,secretary   
determines that the ,secretary requires 
information from an educational         
institution to provide information      
pursuant to subsection 7b77#e71 the     
,secretary may request such information 
from such educational institution4  7#b7

 ,the ,secretary may not approve a      
course offered by an educational        
institution under this chapter if such  
educational institution fails to comply 
with a request made by the ,secretary   
under paragraph 7#a74  4  #d4           
,requirement that educational           
institutions provide academic or career 
counseling to veterans and members of   
,armed ,forces  7a7 ,academic and career
 counseling  7#a7 ,in general           
,subchapter ,i of chapter #cf of title  
#ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended  
by adding at the end the following new  
section3  #cfgi;,a4 ,provision of       
academic or career counseling  7a7 ,in  
general  7#a7 ,an educational           
institution with a covered individual   
enrolled in programs of education at the
 educational institution may not be     
approved under this chapter unless the  
educational institution provides        
academic or career counseling to each   
covered individual enrolled in a program
 of education at the educational        

institution4  7#b7 ,counseling provided 
under paragraph 7#a7 to a covered       
individual shall be provided before the 
educational institution receives any    
amount from the ,secretary for the      
individual's pursuit of a program of    
education4  7#c7 ,at a minimum1 the     
academic or career counseling provided  
under paragraph 7#a7 shall include the  
following3 7,a7 ,an overview of the     
educational assistance resources        
available to the individual at the      
educational institution4  7,b7          
,discussion of how enrollment in the    
individual's program of education will  
further the student's academic or career
 goals4  7#d7 ,the ,secretary shall     
encourage educational institutions to   
assist covered individuals in developing
 a personalized academic and career plan
 as part of individualized1 one-on-one  
educational counseling provided under   
paragraph 7#a74  7b7 ,waiver ,the       
,secretary may1 on a case-by-case basis1
 waive the requirement to provide       

academic or career counseling under     
paragraph 7#a7 for an educational       
institution for an academic year if--   
7#a7 the ,secretary determines that the 
educational institution has demonstrated
 that providing such counseling during  
such academic year would lead to severe 
financial hardship2 and  7#b7 the       
educational institution submits to the  
,secretary a plan to provide such       
counseling during the following academic
 year4  7c7 ,covered individual defined 
,in this section1 the term covered      
individual1 with respect to enrollment  
in a program of education1 means an     
individual who is receiving educational 
assistance under this chapter or any of 
chapters #cj through #ce of this title  
or under chapters #ajf;,a and #afjf of  
title #aj for such program of education4
  4  7#b7 ,clerical amendment ,the table
 of sections at the beginning of chapter
 #cf of such title is amended by        
inserting after the item relating to    
section #cfgi the following new item3   

#cfgi;,a4 ,provision of academic or     
career counseling4  4  7b7 ,conforming  
amendment ,section #cfgb7;b77#b77;,a7 of
 such title 7as amended by section      
#c7;a77#b77 is further amended by       
striking and #cfif and inserting #cfif1 
and #cfgi;,a4  7c7 ,effective date      
,section #cfgi;,a of such title1 as     
added by paragraph 7#a71 shall take     
effect on ,august #a1 #bjad4  #e4 ,state
 approving agencies  7a7 ,education and 
outreach  7#a7 ,in general ,subchapter  
,i of chapter #cf of title #ch1 ,united 
,states ,code1 is amended by inserting  
after section #cfgd;,a the following new
 section3  #cfgd;,b4 ,education and     
outreach  7a7 ,education and outreach   
required ,as a condition on receipt of  
reimbursement expenses under section    
#cfgd of this title1 each ,state        
approving agency shall conduct such     
education and outreach activities for   
individuals who are eligible to receive 
or are receiving educational assistance 
under this chapter or any of chapters   

#cj through #ce of this title as the    
,secretary considers appropriate to     
assist such individuals in making       
well-informed choices about their       
education and successfully transitioning
 into an educational environment4  7b7  
,coordination ,each ,state approving    
agency conducting outreach activities   
under subsection 7a7 shall coordinate   
with the ,secretary of ,defense to      
ensure1 as the ,secretary of ,defense   
considers appropriate1 that information 
on educational assistance available     
under this chapter and chapters #cj     
through #ce of this title is made       
readily available as part of the        
,transition ,assistance ,program 7,,tap7
 of the ,department of ,defense in the  
,state of the ,state approving agency4  
7c7 ,manner ,information made available 
as part of education and outreach       
activities under this section shall be  
made-- 7#a7 in language that can be     
easily understood by individuals        
described in paragraph 7#a72  7#b7 in a 

uniform and easily accessible manner2   
and  7#c7 through such means as may be  
appropriate and effective1 including    
through publications1 mailings1 and     
electronic media4  4  7#b7 ,clerical    
amendment ,the table of sections at the 
beginning of chapter #cf of such title  
is amended by inserting after the item  
relating to section #cfgd;,a the        
following new item3  #cfgd;,b4          
,education and outreach4  4  7b7 ,audits
 ,section #cfgc7;d7 of such title is    
amended-- 7#a7 by inserting 7#a7 before 
,the ,secretary2 and  7#b7 by adding at 
the end the following new paragraph3    
7#b7 ,each year1 each ,state approving  
agency1 as a condition of receiving     
reimbursement of expenses under section 
#cfgd of this title1 shall conduct such 
audits as the ,secretary considers      
appropriate1 including unannounced      
audits and audits using risk-based      
approaches1 of educational institutions 
in the ,state of the ,state approving   
agency that have students enrolled in   

programs of education at the educational
 institutions who are receiving         
educational assistance under this       
chapter or any of chapters #cj through  
#ce of this title 7without regard to    
whether the ,secretary or the ,state    
approving agency approved the courses   
offered7 in such ,state-- 7,a7 to detect
 misrepresentation1 fraud1 waste1 and   
abuse2  7,b7 to ensure full compliance  
with the provisions of this chapter2 and
  7,c7 for such other purposes as the   
,secretary considers appropriate4  4    
7c7 ,reports ,section #cfgd7;a77#c7 of  
such title is amended-- 7#a7 by         
inserting 7,a7 before ,each ,state2 and 
7#b7 by adding at the end the following 
new subparagraph3  7,b7 ,each report    
submitted under subparagraph 7,a7 shall 
include the following3 7i7 ,the number  
of visits made by the agency to         
educational institutions1 including the 
number of such visits that were made    
without the prior knowledge of such     
educational institution4  7ii7 ,a       

description of the audits carried out by
 the agency under section #cfgc7;d77#b7 
of this title and the findings of the   
agency1 including with respect to any   
substantiated findings of               
misrepresentation1 fraud1 waste1 abuse1 
or failure to comply with an applicable 
requirement of this chapter and the     
steps taken by the agency to address    
such fraud1 waste1 abuse1 or failure to 
comply4  7iii7 ,a description of the    
outreach and training activities        
conducted by the agency under section   
#cfgd;,b of this title4  4  7d7         
,effective date ,the amendments made by 
this section shall take effect on       
,august #a1 #bjad4  #f4 ,mandatory      
compliance reviews  7a7 ,in general     
,section #cfic of title #ch1 ,united    
,states ,code1 is amended by adding at  
the end the following new subsection3   
7c7 ,in addition to the annual          
compliance surveys conducted under      
subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall    
also conduct a compliance review1 in    

accordance with such regulations as the 
,secretary shall prescribe1 of an       
educational institution described in    
such subsection whenever the ,secretary 
finds any of the following3 7#a7 ,the   
student dropout rate of the institution 
has increased rapidly4  7#b7 ,the cohort
 default rate1 as defined in section    
#dce7m7 of the ,higher ,education ,act  
of #aife 7#bj ,u4,s4,c4 #ajhe7m771 of   
the educational institution has         
increased rapidly or is consistently    
higher than the average of cohort       
default rate of comparable educational  
institutions4  7#c7 ,the number of      
substantiated complaints filed with the 
centralized complaint system established
 under section #d of ,executive ,order  
#acfjg 7#gg ,fed4 ,reg4 #behfc7 with    
respect to the educational institution  
have increased rapidly or is            
consistently higher than the number of  
substantiated complaints filed with     
respect to other comparable educational 
institutions4  7#d7 ,the educational    

institution is the subject of a civil   
lawsuit in ,federal or ,state court1 is 
charged with a crime under ,federal or  
,state law1 or is the subject of an     
official investigation of a ,state or   
,federal agency for misconduct4  7#e7   
,the educational institution has        
significant growth in revenue resulting 
from tuition1 including tuition paid    
with assistance provided under this     
chapter1 chapters #cj through #ce of    
this title1 or chapters #ajf;,a or #afjf
 of title #aj1 which cannot be          
attributed to changes made to such      
chapters by ,acts of ,congress or       
changes to the administration of such   
chapters4  7#f7 ,such other findings as 
the ,secretary considers warrant        
conducting a compliance survey under    
subsection 7a74  4  7b7 ,effective date 
,subsection 7c7 of such section1 as     
added by subsection 7a71 shall take     
effect on ,august #a1 #bjad4  #g4 ,pilot
 program on facilitating pursuit of     
programs of apprenticeship and other    

on-job training with educational        
assistance under ,post-#i_/aa           
,educational ,assistance  7a7 ,pilot    
program required ,the ,secretary of     
,veterans ,affairs1 in cooperation with 
the ,secretary of ,defense1 the         
,secretary of ,education1 the ,secretary
 of ,labor1 and such ,state agencies as 
the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs    
considers appropriate1 shall commence a 
pilot program to assess the feasibility 
and advisability of developing policy1  
processes1 and best practices-- 7#a7 to 
ensure the availability of covered      
programs of education to veterans       
seeking to pursue such programs with    
educational assistance under chapter #cc
 of title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code2   
and  7#b7 to encourage veterans to      
pursue covered programs of education    
with educational assistance under such  
chapter4  7b7 ,covered programs of      
education ,for purposes of this section1
 a covered program of education is--    
7#a7 a program of apprenticeship or     

other on-job training2 or  7#b7 a       
program of vocational training that is  
developed with the intent and the       
ability to place veterans in positions  
of employment with identified companies 
in specific career fields4  7c7         
,locations ,the ,secretary of ,veterans 
,affairs shall carry out the pilot      
program in five ,states selected by the 
,secretary for purposes of the pilot    
program4  7d7 ,outreach ,under the pilot
 program1 the ,secretary of ,veterans   
,affairs shall conduct outreach as      
follows3 7#a7 ,to members of the ,armed 
,forces and veterans through the        
,transition ,assistance ,program        
7,,tap71 veterans service organizations1
 one-stop centers1 workforce investment 
boards and agencies1 the ,disabled      
,veterans' ,outreach ,program1 local    
employment representatives1 education   
and employment centers of the           
,department of ,veterans ,affairs1 and  
such other methods1 programs1 and venues
 as the ,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs

 considers appropriate on-- 7,a7 the    
availability of educational assistance  
under chapter #cc of title #ch1 ,united 
,states ,code1 for the pursuit of a     
covered program of education2  7,b7 the 
benefits of pursuing a covered program  
of education2 and  7,c7 the process for 
obtaining such assistance4  7#b7 ,to    
members of the business community and   
nonprofit organizations on any tax1     
financial1 or other incentives or       
benefits as may be available-- 7,a7 for 
providing programs of apprenticeship or 
other on-job training to individuals    
eligible for educational assistance     
under such chapter to pursue such       
programs2 or  7,b7 for cooperating with 
or supporting a program described in    
subsection 7b77#b74  7e7 ,definitions   
,in this section2 7#a7 ,one-stop center 
,the term one-stop center means a center
 described in section #acd7;c7 of the   
,workforce ,investment ,act of #aiih    
7#bi ,u4,s4,c4 #bhfd7;c774  7#b7        
,veterans service organization ,the term

 veterans service organization means an 
organization recognized by the          
,secretary of ,veterans ,affairs for the
 representation of veterans under       
section #eijb of title #ch1 ,united     
,states ,code4  #h4 ,expansion of       
reporting requirements ,section #ccbe of
 title #ch1 ,united ,states ,code1 is   
amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7a77#a71 by
 inserting and chapters #ajf;,a and     
#afjf of title #aj after this chapter2  
7#b7 in subsection 7b71 in the matter   
before paragraph 7#a71 by inserting 1   
disaggregated by for-profit and         
not-for-profit educational institutions 
after this section2  7#c7 in subsection 
7c71 in the matter before paragraph     
7#a71 by inserting 1 disaggregated by   
for-profit and not-for-profit           
educational institutions after this     
section2  7#d7 by redesignating         
subsection 7d7 as subsection 7e72 and   
7#e7 by inserting after subsection 7c7  
the following new subsection 7d73  7d7  
,contents of reports of both secretaries

 ,each secretary shall include in each  
report submitted under this section1 for
 the period covered by the report and   
disaggregated by for-profit and         
not-for-profit educational institutions1
 the following3 7#a7 ,all substantiated 
reports of misrepresentation1 waste1    
fraud1 abuse1 or other acts that are    
inconsistent with the requirements of   
chapter #cf of this title by an         
educational institution at which an     
individual is enrolled in a program of  
education for which the individual is   
receiving educational assistance under a
 law administered by the respective     
,secretary1 including complaints filed  
with the centralized complaint system   
established under section #d of         
,executive ,order #acfjg 7#gg ,fed4     
,reg4 #behfc74  7#b7 ,a list of         
educational institutions which had      
courses of education that were approved 
under chapter #cf of this title in the  
previous year but were found1 in the    
year covered by the report1 not in      

compliance with a requirement of such   
chapter4  4