text: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
  
      This Act may be cited as ``The VA Vision Scholars Act of 2007''.
  
  SEC. 2. VISUAL IMPAIRMENT AND ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY PROFESSIONALS 
                EDUCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
  
      (a) Establishment of Program.--Part V of title 38, United States 
  Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new chapter:
  
       ``CHAPTER 80--VISUAL IMPAIRMENT AND ORIENTATION AND MOBILITY 
                 PROFESSIONALS EDUCATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
  
  ``Sec.
  ``8001. Establishment of scholarship program; purpose.
  ``8002. Application and acceptance.
  ``8003. Amount of assistance; duration.
  ``8004. Agreement.
  ``8005. Repayment for failure to satisfy requirements of agreement.
  ``Sec. 8001. Establishment of scholarship program; purpose
      ``(a) Establishment.--Subject to the availability of 
  appropriations, the Secretary shall establish and carry out a 
  scholarship program to provide financial assistance in accordance with 
  this chapter to an individual--
              ``(1) who is accepted for enrollment or currently enrolled 
          in a program of study leading to a degree or certificate in 
          visual impairment or orientation and mobility, or a dual degree 
          or certification in both such areas, at an accredited (as 
          determined by the Secretary) educational institution that is in 
          a State; and
              ``(2) who enters into an agreement with the Secretary as 
          described in section 8004 of this title.
      ``(b) Purpose.--The purpose of the scholarship program established 
  under this chapter is to increase the supply of qualified blind 
  rehabilitation specialists for the Department and the Nation.
      ``(c) Outreach.--The Secretary shall publicize the scholarship 
  program established under this chapter to educational institutions 
  throughout the United States, with an emphasis on disseminating 
  information to such institutions with high numbers of Hispanic students 
  and to Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
  ``Sec. 8002. Application and acceptance
      ``(a) Application.--(1) To apply and participate in the scholarship 
  program under this chapter, an individual shall submit to the Secretary 
  an application for such participation together with an agreement 
  described in section 8004 of this title under which the participant 
  agrees to serve a period of obligated service in the Department as 
  provided in the agreement in return for payment of educational 
  assistance as provided in the agreement.
      ``(2) In distributing application forms and agreement forms to 
  individuals desiring to participate in the scholarship program, the 
  Secretary shall include with such forms the following:
              ``(A) A fair summary of the rights and liabilities of an 
          individual whose application is approved (and whose agreement 
          is accepted) by the Secretary.
              ``(B) A full description of the terms and conditions that 
          apply to participation in the scholarship program and service 
          in the Department.
      ``(b) Approval.--(1) Upon the Secretary's approval of an 
  individual's participation in the scholarship program, the Secretary 
  shall, in writing, promptly notify the individual of that acceptance.
      ``(2) An individual becomes a participant in the scholarship 
  program upon such approval by the Secretary.
  ``Sec. 8003. Amount of assistance; duration
      ``(a) Amount of Assistance.--The amount of the financial assistance 
  provided for an individual under this chapter shall be the amount 
  determined by the Secretary as being necessary to pay the tuition and 
  fees of the individual. In the case of an individual enrolled in a 
  program of study leading to a dual degree or certification in both the 
  areas of study described in section 8001(a)(1) of this title, the 
  tuition and fees shall not exceed the amounts necessary for the minimum 
  number of credit hours to achieve such dual certification or degree.
      ``(b) Relationship to Other Assistance.--Financial assistance may 
  be provided to an individual under this chapter to supplement other 
  educational assistance to the extent that the total amount of 
  educational assistance received by the individual during an academic 
  year does not exceed the total tuition and fees for such academic year.
      ``(c) Maximum Amount of Assistance.--(1) In no case may the total 
  amount of assistance provided under this chapter for an academic year 
  to an individual who is a full-time student exceed $15,000.
      ``(2) In the case of an individual who is a part-time student, the 
  total amount of assistance provided under this chapter shall bear the 
  same ratio to the amount that would be paid under paragraph (1) if the 
  participant were a full-time student in the program of study being 
  pursued by the individual as the coursework carried by the individual 
  to full-time coursework in that program of study.
      ``(3) In no case may the total amount of assistance provided to an 
  individual under this chapter exceed $45,000.
      ``(d) Maximum Duration of Assistance.--The Secretary may provide 
  financial assistance to an individual under this chapter for not more 
  than six years.
  ``Sec. 8004. Agreement
      ``An agreement between the Secretary and a participant in the 
  scholarship program under this chapter shall be in writing, shall be 
  signed by the participant, and shall include the following:
              ``(1) The Secretary's agreement to provide the participant 
          with financial assistance as authorized under this chapter.
              ``(2) The participant's agreement--
                      ``(A) to accept such financial assistance;
                      ``(B) to maintain enrollment and attendance in the 
                  program of study described in section 8001(a)(1) of 
                  this chapter;
                      ``(C) while enrolled in such program, to maintain 
                  an acceptable level of academic standing (as determined 
                  by the educational institution offering such program 
                  under regulations prescribed by the Secretary); and
                      ``(D) after completion of the program, to serve as 
                  a full-time employee in the Department for a period of 
                  three years, to be served within the first six years 
                  after the participant has completed such program and 
                  received a degree or certificate described in section 
                  8001(a)(1) of this chapter.
              ``(3) Such other terms and conditions that the Secretary 
          determines appropriate for carrying out this chapter.
  ``Sec. 8005. Repayment for failure to satisfy requirements of agreement
      ``(a) In General.--An individual who receives educational 
  assistance under this chapter shall repay to the Secretary an amount 
  equal to the unearned portion of such assistance if the individual 
  fails to satisfy the requirements of the agreement entered into under 
  section 8004 of this title, except in circumstances authorized by the 
  Secretary.
      ``(b) Amount of Repayment.--The Secretary shall establish, by 
  regulations, procedures for determining the amount of the repayment 
  required under this section and the circumstances under which an 
  exception to the required repayment may be granted.
      ``(c) Waiver or Suspension of Compliance.--The Secretary shall 
  prescribe regulations providing for the waiver or suspension of any 
  obligation of an individual for service or payment under this chapter 
  (or an agreement under this chapter) whenever noncompliance by the 
  individual is due to circumstances beyond the control of the individual 
  or whenever the Secretary determines that the waiver or suspension of 
  compliance is in the best interest of the United States.
      ``(d) Obligation as Debt to United States.--An obligation to repay 
  the Secretary under this section is, for all purposes, a debt owed the 
  United States. A discharge in bankruptcy under title 11 does not 
  discharge a person from such debt if the discharge order is entered 
  less than five years after the date of the termination of the agreement 
  or contract on which the debt is based.''.
      (b) Clerical Amendments.--The tables of chapters at the beginning 
  of title 38, and of part V of title 38, are each amended by inserting 
  after the item relating to chapter 79 the following new item:
  
  ``80. Visual Impairment and Orientation and Mobility           8001.''.
                              Professionals Education 
                              Assistance Program.
      (c) Effective Date.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
  implement chapter 80 of title 38, United States Code, as added by 
  subsection (a), not later than six months after the date of the 
  enactment of this Act.
target: VA Vision Scholars Act of 2007 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish and carry out a scholarship program of financial assistance for individuals who: (1) are accepted for, or currently enrolled in, a program of study leading to a degree or certificate in visual impairment or orientation and mobility, or both; and (2) enter into an agreement to serve, after program completion, as a full-time Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employee for three years within the first six years after program completion. Sets maximum assistance amounts of $15,000 per academic year and $45,000 total. Requires pro rate repayment for failure to satisfy education or service requirements, while allowing the Secretary to waive or suspend such repayment whenever noncompliance is due to circumstances beyond the control of the participant, or when waiver or suspension is in the best interests of the United States.
feat_title: A bill to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a scholarship program for students seeking a degree or certificate in the areas of visual impairment and orientation and mobility.