text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; REFERENCES TO TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE.
  
      (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans' 
  Employment, Business Opportunity, and Training Act of 2002''.
      (b) References.--Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever 
  in this Act an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an 
  amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference 
  shall be considered to be made to a section or other provision of title 
  38, United States Code.
  
                        TITLE I--EMPLOYMENT SERVICES
  
  SEC. 101. DEFINITIONS.
  
      As used in this title:
              (1) The term ``veteran'' has the same meaning as ``eligible 
          veteran'' as defined in section 4211(4) of title 38, United 
          States Code.
              (2) The term ``eligible person'' means--
                      (A) the spouse of any person who died of a service-
                  connected disability;
                      (B) the spouse of any member of the Armed Forces 
                  serving on active duty who, at the time of application 
                  for assistance under this Act, is listed, pursuant to 
                  section 556 of title 37, United States Code, and 
                  regulations issued thereunder, by the Secretary 
                  concerned in one or more of the following categories 
                  and has been so listed for a total of more than ninety 
                  days--
                              (i) missing in action,
                              (ii) captured in line of duty by a hostile 
                          force, or
                              (iii) forcibly detained or interned in line 
                          of duty by a foreign government or power; or
                      (C) the spouse of any person who has a total 
                  disability permanent in nature resulting from a 
                  service-connected disability or the spouse of a veteran 
                  who died while a disability so evaluated was in 
                  existence.
              (3) The term ``State'' means each of the several States of 
          the United States, the District of Columbia, and the 
          Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and may include, to the extent 
          determined necessary by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and 
          feasible for all purposes of this title, Guam, American Samoa, 
          the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas 
          Islands, and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands.
              (4) The term ``servicemember'' has the same meaning as an 
          individual who is a member of the Armed Forces as defined in 
          section 101(10) of title 38, United States Code, and who is 
          being separated from the Armed Forces within the time periods 
          specified in section 1142(a)(3) of title 10, United States 
          Code.
  
  SEC. 102. PURPOSE.
  
      In furtherance of the Nation's responsibility toward alleviating 
  unemployment and underemployment among veterans, there shall be 
  established a national performance-based job-search assistance program 
  that--
              (1) will provide high-quality, job-search service to 
          veterans, servicemembers, and other eligible persons, focused 
          on assisting such individuals in obtaining and maintaining 
          employment, as well as reducing the duration of individual's 
          unemployment;
              (2) will assist employers in locating and hiring qualified 
          veterans, servicemembers, and other eligible persons; and
              (3) will be accessible to veterans, servicemembers, and 
          other eligible persons.
  The Department of Veterans Affairs would continue to aggressively use 
  web-based technology to provide better service to veterans around the 
  world.
  
  SEC. 103. ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW COMPETITIVE GRANTS PROGRAM.
  
      (a) Establishment of New Program.--Notwithstanding any other 
  provision of law, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish a 
  competitive grants program to be referred to as the ``Veterans' 
  Employment, Business Opportunity and Training Program'' (``VEBOT'') 
  through which State Governors or other entities, as may be appropriate, 
  would receive grants for the purpose of providing employment services 
  to veterans, servicemembers, and other eligible persons within each 
  State. The purpose of such program shall be to assist veterans, 
  servicemembers, and other eligible persons in obtaining employment by 
  providing for access to optimal employment opportunities.
      (b) Implementation of New Program.--The Secretary of Veterans 
  Affairs shall prescribe such regulations as the Secretary considers 
  appropriate to implement the VEBOT program required to be established 
  under this section. Such regulations shall address matters relating to 
  the development and implementation of the program, including--
              (1) the determination of eligibility criteria for affected 
          veterans, servicemembers, or other eligible persons, for 
          employment services and other related services that shall be 
          provided;
              (2) the nature and type of services to be provided;
              (3) the most appropriate and efficient means to provide 
          such services;
              (4) the most appropriate means to monitor and assess the 
          performance of entities providing employment services;
              (5) the manner in which the Department of Veterans Affairs 
          will cooperate with State employment agencies to ensure that 
          veterans continue to have access to the full range of workforce 
  services available through existing State and local one-stop 
  employment-service delivery systems;
              (6) the manner in which the Department of Veterans Affairs 
          will coordinate with the Department of Labor to ensure that 
          veterans continue to receive priority or other special 
          consideration in the provision of employment services through 
          existing State and local one-stop employment-service delivery 
          systems, as required by law or regulation; and
              (7) the entity or organization within the Department of 
          Veterans Affairs that will administer the program. In 
          developing the regulations, the Secretary shall take into 
          consideration the recommendations of the task force required to 
          be established under subsection (c) of this section and shall 
          consult with the Secretary of Defense with respect to 
          eligibility criteria affecting servicemembers.
      (c) Task Force To Be Established; Consultation With Designated 
  Parties.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall establish a task 
  force comprised of at least eleven (but not more than fifteen) members 
  which shall, not later than 180 days from the date of its 
  establishment, make recommendations to the Secretary regarding the 
  matters described in subsection (b) of this section. The task force 
  shall include representatives of veterans service organizations, 
  representatives of employers in private industry or employer 
  organizations, and representatives of State Governors. The Secretary of 
  Labor, the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Transportation 
  shall be ex officio members of the task force.
      (d) Grants, Program To Be Competitive; Grants To Include 
  Performance Requirements.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
  ensure that all services under the VEBOT program are provided through 
  grants awarded either directly or indirectly on a competitive basis and 
  that such grants include appropriate performance requirements with 
  clear outcome measures. States or other entities may join in consortia 
  to provide services to veterans.
      (e) Performance Measurement.--
              (1) Each Governor of a State or other entity receiving 
          funds under a grant authorized by this section shall achieve 
          the performance requirements as agreed in the established 
          provisions for such grant. If unanticipated circumstances 
          arising in a State would adversely affect a grantee's ability 
          to meet its performance requirements, the grantee may request 
          that the Secretary adjust the agreed-to levels of performance. 
          If a grantee fails to meet the agreed-to levels of performance, 
          the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may provide to the grantee 
          assistance in such form as the Secretary may consider 
          appropriate, including training, technical assistance, staff 
          development, and activities replicating those used by other 
          successful grants and projects with demonstrated effectiveness. 
          In the event of continued non-performance, the Secretary may, 
          pursuant to such regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, 
          remove the funds from a grantee and directly or indirectly 
          solicit through a competition a new grantee and service 
          provider.
              (2) Consistent with State law, the Secretary of Veterans 
          Affairs and States and other entities identified to deliver 
          services under the VEBOT program may utilize wage record 
  information for program performance measurement as prescribed by the 
  Secretary of Veterans Affairs. The Secretary of Labor shall provide 
  assistance to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs in gaining access to 
  wage information for this purpose.
      (f) Cost Principles.--
              (1)(A) Each Governor of a State or other entity receiving 
          funds under this section shall comply with the applicable 
          uniform-cost principles included in the appropriate circulars 
          or directives of the Office of Management and Budget for the 
          type of entity receiving the funds, as well as regulations 
          prescribed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. Each grantee 
          shall establish such fiscal controls and fund accounting 
          procedures as may be necessary to assure the proper disbursal 
          of, and accounting for, Federal funds allocated to any provider 
          receiving funds under this section and shall maintain 
          appropriate records in accordance with generally accepted 
          accounting principles applicable in each State. Each grantee 
          shall comply with the appropriate uniform administrative 
          requirements for grants, contracts and agreements applicable 
          for the type of entity receiving funds, as promulgated in 
          circulars or directives of the Office of Management and Budget.
              (B) If a grantee determines that a service provider acting 
          under a contract or sub-grant is not in compliance with the 
          requirements of this Act, the grantee shall take corrective 
          action either to secure the service provider's prompt 
          compliance or to remove the funds from the service provider for 
          failure to so comply. If the grantee fails to take such 
          corrective action, the Secretary may, pursuant to such 
          regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, remove funds from 
          the grantee and directly or indirectly solicit through a 
          competition a new grantee and service provider.
              (2) Unless approved by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 
          not more than 15 percent of the funds available under this 
          section to each State Governor or other entity may be expended 
          by a service provider and State Governor for costs of 
          administration. The Secretary shall prescribe regulations 
          governing the expenditure of funds for costs of administration 
          under this paragraph.
      (g) Pilot Projects Authorized.--In connection with the development 
  and implementation of the VEBOT program, the Secretary of Veterans 
  Affairs, during each fiscal year, may reserve up to 25 percent of the 
  total available funding for grants to finance national-level primary 
  services and to create pilot programs and demonstration projects to 
  establish the effectiveness and viability of specific proposed 
  innovative program designs and service delivery systems.
  
  SEC. 104. TRANSFER OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR ADMINISTRATION OF CERTAIN 
                EMPLOYMENT SERVICES TO SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
  
      Notwithstanding any other provision of law, during the period 
  beginning on October 1, 2002, and ending on the later of September 30, 
  2003, or the date upon which regulations prescribed by the Secretary of 
  Veterans Affairs under section 103(b) of this title become effective, 
  responsibilities assigned to the Secretary of Labor under sections 4101 
  through 4102A (other than responsibilities assigned under section 4102A 
  regarding the purposes of chapters 42 and 43 of title 38, United States 
  Code), sections 4103 through 4108, and section 4110 of title 38, United 
  States Code, shall be assumed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, and 
  the function of the Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans' 
  Employment and Training in the Department of Labor, as well as such 
  personnel of the Department of Labor as may be deemed necessary to 
  carry out such function, shall be transferred from the Department of 
  Labor to the Department of Veterans Affairs. During that period, the 
  Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall coordinate activities with the 
  Secretary of Labor to facilitate the transfer of functions associated 
  with the administration of employment services provided under chapter 
  41 of title 38, United States Code, that are conducted by disabled 
  veterans' outreach programs specialists and local veterans' employment 
  representatives.
  
  SEC. 105. REPEAL OR AMENDMENT OF EXISTING AUTHORITIES.
  
      (a) Repeal of Authorities.--Effective on the later of September 30, 
  2003, or the date upon which regulations prescribed by the Secretary of 
  Veterans Affairs under section 103(b) of this Act become effective, the 
  following sections are repealed: 4100 through 4104A, 4105(b), 4106 
  through 4109, and 4110A.
      (b) Conforming Amendment to Chapter 43 Provision.--Section 4321 is 
  amended by striking out ``(through the Veterans' Employment and 
  Training Service)''.
      (c) Advisory Committee.--Section 4110 is amended)--
              (1) in subsection (a)(1), by striking out ``Department of 
          Labor'' and by inserting in lieu thereof ``Department of 
          Veterans Affairs'';
              (2) in subsection (a)(2), by inserting ``Department of 
          Veterans Affairs and the'' before ``Department of Labor'';
              (3) in subsection (b), by striking out ``Secretary of 
          Labor'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``Secretary of Veterans 
          Affairs'';
              (4) in subsection (c), by striking out ``Labor'' each place 
          it appears and inserting in lieu thereof ``Veterans Affairs'';
              (5) in subsection (d)--
                      (A) by striking out ``Secretary of Veterans 
                  Affairs'' each place it appears and inserting in lieu 
                  thereof ``Secretary of Labor'';
                      (B) by striking out in paragraph (6) ``The 
                  Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans Employment 
                  and Training'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``The 
                  official designated by the Secretary of Veterans 
                  Affairs to administer the Veterans' Employment, 
                  Business Opportunity and Training Program'';
                      (C) by striking out in paragraph (11) ``The 
                  Director of the United States Employment Service.'' and 
                  inserting in lieu thereof ``A representative of State 
                  Governors.''; and
                      (D) by striking out in paragraph (12) ``Secretary 
                  of Labor'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``Secretary of 
                  Veterans Affairs'';
              (6) in subsection (e)--
                      (A) by striking out ``Secretary of Labor'' each 
                  place it appears and inserting in lieu thereof 
                  ``Secretary of Veterans Affairs''; and
                      (B) by striking out in paragraph (4) ``through the 
                  Veterans Employment and Training Service'';
              (7) in subsection (f)--
                      (A) by striking out ``Secretary of Labor'' each 
                  place it appears and inserting in lieu thereof 
                  ``Secretary of Veterans Affairs''; and
                      (B) by striking out ``Department of Labor'' and 
                  inserting in lieu thereof ``Department of Veterans 
                  Affairs''; and
              (8) in subsection (g), by striking out ``Secretary of 
          Labor'' and inserting in lieu thereof ``Secretary of Veterans 
          Affairs''.
  
                      TITLE II--TRANSITION ASSISTANCE
  
  SEC. 201. TRANSFER OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR ADMINISTRATION OF TRANSITION 
                ASSISTANCE PROGRAM TO THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
  
      Notwithstanding any other provision of law--
              (1) references to the ``Secretary of Labor'' in section 
          1144 of title 10, United States Code, shall be deemed to be 
          references to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs;
              (2) references to the ``Secretary of Veterans Affairs'' in 
          section 1144 of title 10, United States Code, shall be deemed 
          to be references to the Secretary of Labor; and
              (3) section 1144(d) of title 10, United States Code, is 
          amended by striking out paragraph (1) and inserting in lieu 
          thereof the following:
              ``(1) provide, as the case may be, for the use of personnel 
          of grant recipients under section 103(b) of the Veterans' 
          Employment, Business Opportunity, and Training Act of 2002 or 
          such other personnel as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs may 
          determine to be appropriate, to the extent that the Secretary 
          determines that such use will not significantly interfere with 
          the provision of services or other benefits to eligible 
          veterans and other eligible recipients of services or benefits 
          under programs administered by the Secretary.''.
  
            TITLE III--HOMELESS VETERANS' REINTEGRATION PROGRAMS
  
  SEC. 301. TRANSFER OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR ADMINISTRATION OF HOMELESS 
                VETERANS' REINTEGRATION PROGRAM TO THE SECRETARY OF 
                VETERANS AFFAIRS.
  
      Section 2021 is amended--
              (1) by striking out ``Secretary of Labor'' each place it 
          appears and inserting in lieu thereof ``Secretary of Veterans 
          Affairs''; and
              (2) by striking out subsection (c) and redesignating 
          subsection (d) as subsection (c).
  
                          TITLE IV--EFFECTIVE DATE
  
  SEC. 401. EFFECTIVE DATE.
  
      Except where provided otherwise, the provisions of this Act shall 
  become effective on October 1, 2002.
target: Veterans' Employment, Business Opportunity, and Training Act of 2002 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish the Veterans' Employment, Business Opportunity and Training Program through which State governors or other entities receive grants for providing employment services to veterans, servicemembers, and the spouses of certain veterans. Requires the Secretary to ensure that all services under the program are provided through grants awarded on a competitive basis and that such grants include appropriate performance requirements with clear outcome measures. Requires each governor or entity receiving grant funds to: (1) achieve the performance requirements; and (2) comply with applicable uniform-cost principles and regulations prescribed by the Secretary.Transfers from the Secretary of Labor to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs responsibility for the administration of: (1) certain employment services for veterans; (2) a program of furnishing counseling and employment and training assistance to members of the armed forces who are being separated from active duty and their spouses; and (3) the homeless veterans' reintegration program.
feat_title: To amend title 38, United States Code, to transfer from the Secretary of Labor to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs certain responsibilities relating to the provision of employment and other services to veterans and other eligible persons; to require the establishment of a new competitive grants program through which employment services shall be provided to veterans, servicemembers, and other eligible persons, and for other purposes.