text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``Troop Talent Act of 2013''.
  
  SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
  
      Congress makes the following findings:
              (1) According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 
          unemployment rate for recent veterans of military operations in 
          Iraq and Afghanistan was 9.4 percent in February 2013, compared 
          with 7.6 percent in February 2012.
              (2) With the unemployment rate among such veterans higher 
          than the national average and the number of veterans receiving 
          unemployment benefits doubling since 2002, there is a 
          significant need to assist members of the Armed Forces as they 
          transition to the civilian workforce.
              (3) In order to remain competitive in the civilian 
          employment market, members of the Armed Forces and veterans 
          require information about how their military skill sets 
          translate to the requirements of the civilian workforce. 
          Members of the Armed Forces currently receive insufficient or 
          inadequate information during their training for military 
          occupational specialties on translating skills obtained during 
          such training to civilian occupations and credentials.
              (4) In addition, there is a need for enhanced access by 
          accredited credentialing agencies to military training 
          curricula in order to facilitate and enhance the correlation 
          between military training and applicable civilian credentialing 
          courses and exams.
              (5) The information technology sector is one of the fastest 
          growing industries, with tremendous job growth and demand for 
          talented, qualified individuals. The information technology 
          sector has an unemployment rate of 3.5 percent according to a 
          Bureau of Labor Statistics report from February 2013.
              (6) The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a need for 
          110,000 computer support specialists over the next decade. 
          Currently, the size of the information technology workforce in 
          the Armed Forces is about 160,000 members.
  
  SEC. 3. ENHANCEMENT OF MECHANISMS TO CORRELATE SKILLS AND TRAINING FOR 
                MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTIES WITH SKILLS AND 
                TRAINING REQUIRED FOR CIVILIAN CERTIFICATIONS AND 
                LICENSES.
  
      (a) Improvement of Information Available to Members of the Armed 
  Forces About Correlation.--
              (1) In general.--The Secretaries of the military 
          departments, in coordination with the Under Secretary of 
          Defense for Personnel and Readiness, shall, to the maximum 
          extent practicable, make information on civilian credentialing 
          opportunities available to members of the Armed Forces 
          beginning with, and at every stage of, training of members for 
          military occupational specialties, in order to permit members--
                      (A) to evaluate the extent to which such training 
                  correlates with the skills and training required in 
                  connection with various civilian certifications and 
                  licenses; and
                      (B) to assess the suitability of such training for 
                  obtaining or pursuing such civilian certifications and 
                  licenses.
              (2) Coordination with transition goals plans success 
          program.--Information shall be made available under paragraph 
          (1) in a manner consistent with the Transition Goals Plans 
          Success (GPS) program.
              (3) Types of information.--The information made available 
          under paragraph (1) shall include, but not be limited to, the 
          following:
                      (A) Information on the civilian occupational 
                  equivalents of military occupational specialties (MOS).
                      (B) Information on civilian license or 
                  certification requirements, including examination 
                  requirements.
                      (C) Information on the availability and 
                  opportunities for use of educational benefits available 
                  to members of the Armed Forces, as appropriate, 
                  corresponding training, or continuing education that 
                  leads to a certification exam in order to provide a 
                  pathway to credentialing opportunities.
              (4) Use and adaptation of certain programs.--In making 
          information available under paragraph (1), the Secretaries of 
          the military departments may use and adapt appropriate portions 
          of the Credentialing Opportunities On-Line (COOL) programs of 
          the Army and the Navy and the Credentialing and Educational 
          Research Tool (CERT) of the Air Force.
      (b) Improvement of Access of Accredited Civilian Credentialing 
  Agencies to Military Training Content.--
              (1) In general.--The Secretaries of the military 
          departments, in coordination with the Under Secretary of 
          Defense for Personnel and Readiness, shall, to the maximum 
          extent practicable consistent with national security 
          requirements, make available to accredited civilian 
          credentialing agencies that issue certifications or licenses, 
          upon request of such agencies, information such as military 
          course training curricula, syllabi, and materials, levels of 
          military advancement attained, and professional skills 
          developed.
              (2) Central repository.--The actions taken pursuant to 
          paragraph (1) may include the establishment of a central 
          repository of information on training and training materials 
          provided members in connection with military occupational 
          specialties that is readily accessible by accredited civilian 
          credentialing agencies described in that paragraph in order to 
          meet requests described in that paragraph.
  
  SEC. 4. USE OF EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR COURSES IN PURSUIT OF 
                CIVILIAN CERTIFICATIONS OR LICENSES.
  
      (a) Courses Under Department of Defense Educational Assistance 
  Authorities.--
              (1) In general.--Chapter 101 of title 10, United States 
          Code, is amended by inserting after section 2015 the following 
          new section:
  ``Sec. 2015a. Civilian certifications and licenses: use of educational 
                assistance for courses in pursuit of civilian 
                certifications or licenses
      ``(a) Limitation on Use of Assistance.--In the case of a member of 
  the armed forces who is enrolled in an educational institution in a 
  State for purposes of obtaining employment in an occupation or 
  profession requiring the approval or licensure of a board or agency of 
  that State, educational assistance specified in subsection (b) may be 
  used by the member for a course offered by the educational institution 
  that is a required element of the curriculum to be satisfied to obtain 
  employment in that occupation or profession only if--
              ``(1) the successful completion of the curriculum fully 
          qualifies a student to--
                      ``(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
                      ``(B) be certified or licensed or meet any other 
                  academically related pre-conditions that are required 
                  for entry into the occupation or profession; and
              ``(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.
      ``(b) Covered Educational Assistance.--The educational assistance 
  specified in this subsection is educational assistance as follows:
              ``(1) Educational assistance for members of the armed 
          forces under section 2007 and 2015 of this title.
              ``(2) Educational assistance for persons enlisting for 
          active duty under chapter 106A of this title.
              ``(3) Educational assistance for members of the armed 
          forces held as captives under section 2183 of this title.
              ``(4) Educational assistance for members of the Selected 
          Reserve under chapter 1606 of this title.
              ``(5) Educational assistance for reserve component members 
          supporting contingency operations and other operations under 
          chapter 1607 of this title.
              ``(6) Such other educational assistance provided members of 
          the armed forces under the laws administered by the Secretary 
          of Defense or the Secretaries of the military departments as 
          the Secretary of Defense shall designate for purposes of this 
          section.''.
              (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
          beginning of chapter 101 of such title is amended by inserting 
          after the item relating to section 2015 the following new item:
  
  ``2015a. Civilian certifications and licenses: use of educational 
                              assistance for courses in pursuit of 
                              civilian certifications or licenses.''.
      (b) Courses Under Educational Assistance Authorities Administered 
  by Secretary of Veterans Affairs.--Section 3679 of title 38, United 
  States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new 
  subsection:
      ``(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--
              ``(1) the successful completion of the curriculum fully 
          qualifies a student to--
                      ``(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
                      ``(B) be certified or licensed or meet any other 
                  academically related pre-conditions that are required 
                  for entry into the occupation or profession; and
              ``(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.''.
      (c) 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.
  
  SEC. 5. COVERAGE OF MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTIES RELATING TO 
                MILITARY INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY UNDER PILOT PROGRAM ON 
                RECEIPT OF CIVILIAN CREDENTIALS FOR SKILLS REQUIRED FOR 
                MILITARY OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTIES.
  
      The military occupational specialties designated for purposes of 
  the pilot program on receipt of civilian credentials for skills 
  required for military occupational specialties under section 558 of the 
  National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (10 U.S.C. 2015 
  note) shall include military occupational specialties relating to the 
  military information technology workforce.
  
  SEC. 6. REVIVAL OF PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION AND LICENSURE ADVISORY 
                COMMITTEE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
  
      (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.
      (b) Modification of Authorities and Requirements.--Section 3689(e) 
  of title 38, United States Code, is amended--
              (1) in paragraph (2)--
                      (A) by inserting ``(A)'' after ``(2)''; and
                      (B) by adding at the end the following new 
                  subparagraph:
      ``(B) In addition to the duties under subparagraph (A), the 
  Committee shall--
              ``(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
              ``(ii) develop, in coordination with the Department of 
          Defense, appropriate certification agencies, and other 
          appropriate non-profit 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.'';
              (2) in paragraph (3)(B), by striking ``and the Secretary of 
          Defense'' and inserting ``the Secretary of Defense, and the 
          Secretary of Education'';
              (3) in paragraph (4), by striking subparagraph (B) and 
          inserting the following new subparagraph:
      ``(B) The Committee shall meet with such frequency as the Committee 
  determines appropriate.''; and
              (4) in paragraph (5), by striking ``December 31, 2006'' and 
          inserting ``December 31, 2019''.
      (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.
target: Troop Talent Act of 2013 - Directs the Secretaries of the military departments, to the maximum extent practicable, to make information on civilian credentialing opportunities available to members of the Armed Forces (members) beginning with, and at every stage of, their training for military occupational specialities, in order to permit such members to: (1) evaluate the extent to which such training correlates with skills and training required for various civilian certifications and licenses, and (2) assess the suitability of such training for obtaining and pursuing such certifications and licenses. Requires the information made available to: (1) be consistent with the Transition Goals Plans Success program, and (2) include information on the civilian occupational equivalents of military occupational specialties. Requires such Secretaries to make available to civilian credentialing agencies specified information on the content of military training provided to members. Allows members or veterans to use educational assistance provided through the Department of Defense (DOD) or the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in pursuit of a civilian certification or license only if the successful completion of a curriculum fully qualifies such student to take the appropriate examination and be certified or licensed to meet any other academic conditions required for entry into that occupation or profession. Requires the military occupational specialties designated for a military skills to civilian credentialing pilot program under the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 to include those specialties relating to the military information technology workforce. Directs the VA Secretary to reestablish the Professional Certification and Licensure Advisory Committee (under current law, terminated on December 31, 2006). Provides additional Committee duties, including the development of: (1) guidance for audits of licensure and certification programs in order to ensure high-quality education to members and veterans, and (2) a plan to improve outreach to members and veterans on the importance of licensing and certification and the availability of educational benefits.
feat_title: Troop Talent Act of 2013