text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as the ``GI Bill Processing Improvement Act 
  of 2015''.
  
  SEC. 2. IMPROVEMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY OF THE VETERANS BENEFITS 
                ADMINISTRATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
  
      (a) Processing of Certain Educational Assistance Claims.--The 
  Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, to the maximum extent possible, 
  make such changes and improvements to the information technology system 
  of the Veterans Benefits Administration of the Department of Veterans 
  Affairs to ensure that--
              (1) to the maximum extent possible, all original and 
          supplemental claims for educational assistance under chapter 33 
          of title 38, United States Code, are adjudicated 
          electronically; and
              (2) rules-based processing is used to make decisions with 
          respect to such claims with little human intervention.
      (b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the 
  enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall submit 
  to Congress a report on the changes made pursuant to the requirements 
  of subsection (a).
      (c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
  appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs $30,000,000 to carry 
  out this section during fiscal years 2015 and 2016.
  
  SEC. 3. APPROVAL OF COURSES OF EDUCATION PROVIDED BY PUBLIC 
                INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING FOR PURPOSES OF ALL-
                VOLUNTEER FORCE EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND POST-
                9/11 EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE CONDITIONAL ON IN-STATE 
                TUITION RATE FOR VETERANS.
  
      (a) Extension of Effective Date.--Section 702(b) of the Veterans 
  Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-146) is 
  amended by striking ``July 1, 2015'' and inserting ``July 1, 2016''.
      (b) Technical Amendment.--Section 3679(c)(2)(B) of title 38, United 
  States Code, is amended by striking ``or 3319'' and all that follows 
  and inserting ``of this title or to whom educational assistance is 
  transferred under section 3319 of this title''.
  
  SEC. 4. RECODIFICATION AND IMPROVEMENT OF ELECTION PROCESS FOR POST-9/
                11 EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
  
      (a) In General.--Subchapter III of chapter 33 is amended by adding 
  at the end the following new section:
  ``Sec. 3326. Election to receive educational assistance
      ``(a) Individuals Eligible To Elect Participation in Post-9/11 
  Educational Assistance.--An individual may elect to receive educational 
  assistance under this chapter if such individual--
              ``(1) as of August 1, 2009--
                      ``(A) is entitled to basic educational assistance 
                  under chapter 30 of the title and has used, but retains 
                  unused, entitlement under that chapter;
                      ``(B) is entitled to educational assistance under 
                  chapter 107, 1606, or 1607 of title 10 and has used, 
                  but retains unused, entitlement under the applicable 
                  chapter;
                      ``(C) is entitled to basic educational assistance 
                  under chapter 30 of this title but has not used any 
                  entitlement under that chapter;
                      ``(D) is entitled to educational assistance under 
                  chapter 107, 1606, or 1607 of title 10 but has not used 
                  any entitlement under such chapter;
                      ``(E) is a member of the Armed Forces who is 
                  eligible for receipt of basic educational assistance 
                  under chapter 30 this title and is making contributions 
                  toward such assistance under section 3011(b) or 3012(c) 
                  of this title; or
                      ``(F) is a member of the Armed Forces who is not 
                  entitled to basic educational assistance under chapter 
                  30 of this title by reason of an election under section 
                  3011(c)(1) or 3012(d)(1) of this title; and
              ``(2) as of the date of the individual's election under 
          this paragraph, meets the requirements for entitlement to 
          educational assistance under this chapter.
      ``(b) Cessation of Contributions Toward GI Bill.--Effective as of 
  the first month beginning on or after the date of an election under 
  subsection (a) of an individual described by paragraph (1)(E) of that 
  subsection, the obligation of the individual to make contributions 
  under section 3011(b) or 3012(c) of this title, as applicable, shall 
  cease, and the requirements of such section shall be deemed to be no 
  longer applicable to the individual.
      ``(c) Revocation of Remaining Transferred Entitlement.--
              ``(1) Election to revoke.--If, on the date an individual 
          described in paragraph (1)(A) or (1)(C) of subsection (a) makes 
          an election under that subsection, a transfer of the 
          entitlement of the individual to basic educational assistance 
          under section 3020 of this title is in effect and a number of 
          months of the entitlement so transferred remain unutilized, the 
          individual may elect to revoke all or a portion of the 
          entitlement so transferred that remains unutilized.
              ``(2) Availability of revoked entitlement.--Any entitlement 
          revoked by an individual under this paragraph shall no longer 
          be available to the dependent to whom transferred, but shall be 
          available to the individual instead for educational assistance 
          under chapter 33 of this title in accordance with the 
          provisions of this section.
              ``(3) Availability of unrevoked entitlement.--Any 
          entitlement described in paragraph (1) that is not revoked by 
          an individual in accordance with that paragraph shall remain 
          available to the dependent or dependents concerned in 
          accordance with the current transfer of such entitlement under 
          section 3020 of this title.
      ``(d) Post-9/11 Educational Assistance.--
              ``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2) and except as 
          provided in subsection (e), an individual making an election 
          under subsection (a) shall be entitled to educational 
          assistance under this chapter in accordance with the provisions 
          of this chapter, instead of basic educational assistance under 
          chapter 30 this title, or educational assistance under chapter 
          107, 1606, or 1607 of title 10, as applicable.
              ``(2) Limitation on entitlement for certain individuals.--
          In the case of an individual making an election under 
          subsection (a) who is described by paragraph (1)(A) of that 
          subsection, the number of months of entitlement of the 
          individual to educational assistance under this chapter 33 
          shall be the number of months equal to--
                      ``(A) the number of months of unused entitlement of 
                  the individual under chapter 30 of this title, as of 
                  the date of the election, plus
                      ``(B) the number of months, if any, of entitlement 
                  revoked by the individual under subsection (c)(1).
      ``(e) Continuing Entitlement to Educational Assistance Not 
  Available Under 9/11 Assistance Program.--
              ``(1) In general.--In the event educational assistance to 
          which an individual making an election under subsection (a) 
          would be entitled under chapter 30 of this title, or chapter 
          107, 1606, or 1607 of title 10, as applicable, is not 
          authorized to be available to the individual under the 
          provisions of this chapter the individual shall remain entitled 
          to such educational assistance in accordance with the 
          provisions of the applicable chapter.
              ``(2) Charge for use of entitlement.--The utilization by an 
          individual of entitlement under paragraph (1) shall be 
          chargeable against the entitlement of the individual to 
          educational assistance under this chapter at the rate of one 
          month of entitlement under this chapter for each month of 
          entitlement utilized by the individual under paragraph (1) (as 
          determined as if such entitlement were utilized under the 
          provisions of chapter 30 of this title, or chapter 107, 1606, 
          or 1607 of title 10, as applicable).
      ``(f) Additional Post-9/11 Assistance for Members Having Made 
  Contributions Toward GI Bill.--
              ``(1) Additional assistance.--In the case of an individual 
          making an election under subsection (a) who is described by 
          subparagraph (A), (C), or (E) of paragraph (1) of that 
          subsection, the amount of educational assistance payable to the 
          individual under this chapter 33 as a monthly stipend payable 
          under paragraph (1)(B) of section 3313(c) of this title, or 
          under paragraphs (2) through (7) of that section (as 
          applicable), shall be the amount otherwise payable as a monthly 
          stipend under the applicable paragraph increased by the amount 
          equal to--
                      ``(A) the total amount of contributions toward 
                  basic educational assistance made by the individual 
                  under section 3011(b) or 3012(c) of this title, as of 
                  the date of the election, multiplied by
                      ``(B) the fraction--
                              ``(i) the numerator of which is--
                                      ``(I) the number of months of 
                                  entitlement to basic educational 
                                  assistance under chapter 30 of this 
                                  title remaining to the individual at 
                                  the time of the election; plus
                                      ``(II) the number of months, if 
                                  any, of entitlement under such chapter 
                                  30 revoked by the individual under 
                                  subsection (c)(1); and
                              ``(ii) the denominator of which is 36 
                          months.
              ``(2) Months of remaining entitlement for certain 
          individuals.--In the case of an individual covered by paragraph 
          (1) who is described by subsection (a)(1)(E), the number of 
          months of entitlement to basic educational assistance remaining 
          to the individual for purposes of paragraph (1)(B)(i)(II) shall 
          be 36 months.
              ``(3) Timing of payment.--The amount payable with respect 
          to an individual under paragraph (1) shall be paid to the 
          individual together with the last payment of the monthly 
          stipend payable to the individual under paragraph (1)(B) of 
          section 3313(c) of this title, or under subsections (b) through 
          (g) of that section (as applicable), before the exhaustion of 
          the individual's entitlement to educational assistance under 
          this chapter.
      ``(g) Continuing Entitlement to Additional Assistance for Critical 
  Skills or Speciality and Additional Service.--An individual making an 
  election under subsection (a)(1) who, at the time of the election, is 
  entitled to increased educational assistance under section 3015(d) of 
  this title, or section 16131(i) of title 10, or supplemental 
  educational assistance under subchapter III of chapter 30 of this 
  title, shall remain entitled to such increased educational assistance 
  or supplemental educational assistance in the utilization of 
  entitlement to educational assistance under this chapter, in an amount 
  equal to the quarter, semester, or term, as applicable, equivalent of 
  the monthly amount of such increased educational assistance or 
  supplemental educational assistance payable with respect to the 
  individual at the time of the election.
      ``(h) Alternative Election by Secretary.--
              ``(1) In general.--In the case of an individual who, on or 
          after January 1, 2016, submits to the Secretary an election 
          under this section that the Secretary determines is clearly 
          against the interests of the individual, the Secretary may make 
          an alternative election on behalf of the individual that the 
          Secretary determines is in the best interests of the 
          individual.
              ``(2) Notice.--If the Secretary makes an election on behalf 
          of an individual under this subsection, the Secretary shall 
          notify the individual by not later than seven days after making 
          such election and shall provide the individual with a 30-day 
          period, beginning on the date of the individual's receipt of 
          such notice, during which the individual may modify or revoke 
          the election made by the Secretary on the individual's behalf. 
          The Secretary shall include, as part of such notice, a clear 
          statement of why the alternative election made by the Secretary 
          is in the best interests of the individual as compared to the 
          election submitted by the individual. The Secretary shall 
          provide the notice required under this paragraph by electronic 
          means whenever possible.
      ``(i) Irrevocability of Elections.--An election under subsection 
  (a) or (c)(1) is irrevocable.''.
      (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
  such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item:
  
  ``3326. Election to receive educational assistance.''.
      (c) Conforming Repeal.--Subsection (c) of section 5003 of the Post-
  9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-252; 
  38 U.S.C. 3301 note) is hereby repealed.
  
  SEC. 5. CENTRALIZED REPORTING OF VETERAN ENROLLMENT BY CERTAIN GROUPS, 
                DISTRICTS, AND CONSORTIUMS OF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.
  
      (a) In General.--Section 3684(a) of title 38, United States Code, 
  is amended--
              (1) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``32, 33,'' after 
          ``31,''; and
              (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
      ``(4) For purposes of this subsection, the term `educational 
  institution' may include a group, district, or consortium of separately 
  accredited educational institutions located in the same State that are 
  organized in a manner that facilitates the centralized reporting of the 
  enrollments in such group, district, or consortium of institutions.''.
      (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall 
  apply with respect to reports submitted on or after the date of the 
  enactment of this Act.
  
  SEC. 6. PROVISION OF INFORMATION REGARDING VETERAN ENTITLEMENT TO 
                EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE.
  
      (a) In General.--Subchapter II of chapter 36 of title 38, United 
  States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
  ``Sec. 3699. Provision of certain information to educational 
                institutions
      ``For each veteran or other individual pursuing a course of 
  education that has been approved under this chapter using educational 
  assistance to which the veteran or other individual is entitled under 
  chapter 30, 32, 33, or 35 of this title, the Secretary shall make 
  available to the educational institution offering the course 
  information about the amount of such educational assistance to which 
  the veteran or other individual is entitled. Such information shall be 
  provided to such educational institution through an Internet website 
  and shall be regularly updated to reflect any amounts used by the 
  veteran or other individual.''.
      (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
  such chapter is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 
  3698 the following new item:
  
  ``3699. Provision of certain information to educational 
                              institutions.''.
target: GI Bill Processing Improvement Act of 2015 Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) to alter the information technology system of the Veterans Benefits Administration to ensure that: (1) all claims for post-9/11 educational assistance are electronically adjudicated, to the maximum extent possible; and (2) rule-based processing is used to decide such claims with little human intervention. Changes from July 1, 2015, to July 1, 2016, the effective date of the requirement that the Secretary disapprove, for purposes of the All-Volunteer Force and the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance programs, courses of education provided by a public educational institution of higher education that charges veterans living in the state higher tuition and fees than it charges in-state residents, regardless of the veterans' state of residence. Allows individuals to elect to convert their educational assistance to the post-9/11 veterans' educational assistance program if, as of August 1, 2009, they meet specified conditions with respect to their entitlements and elections under the all-volunteer force educational assistance program or certain other educational programs for professional military, selected reserve, or reserve component members. Conditions such post-9/11 program eligibility on the individual meeting the requirements for the post-9/11 program as of the date of election.   Sets forth transitional rules with respect to the transfer or revocation of entitlements from a previous assistance program after an election to convert to the post-9/11 program. Requires certain assistance to remain available to individuals under their previous program if it is not available under the post-9/11 program. Authorizes the Secretary, if an individual submits an election that the Secretary determines is against the interests of the individual, to make an alternative election on the individual's behalf. Allows such individual, during a specified period, to modify or revoke the Secretary's alternative selection.  Requires individuals and educational institutions participating in the post-Vietnam era and post-9/11 veterans' educational assistance programs, in addition to those participating in the VA's other educational assistance programs, to report to the Secretary such enrollment and any updates on interruption or termination of the education (thereby making the enrollment reporting requirements for the post-Vietnam and post-9/11 programs consistent with other veterans' educational programs). Defines &quot;educational institution&quot; to permit the inclusion of groups, districts, or consortiums of separately accredited educational institutions in the same state that are organized in a manner facilitating the centralized reporting of enrollments. Directs the Secretary to make available to educational institutions, through an Internet website, information on the amount of educational assistance to which their students are entitled under the all-volunteer force, post-Vietnam era, post-9/11, and survivors' and dependents' educational assistance programs.
feat_title: GI Bill Processing Improvement Act of 2015