This bill authorizes approval of certain commercial driver education programs for purposes of Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) educational assistance if the programs meet specified requirements. Under current law, the VA may not approve enrollment of a veteran in courses for programs that do not lead to a standard degree that are offered at a new branch (i.e., a branch that has been operating for less than 2 years) of an educational institution.
Under the bill, a commercial driver education program offered at a new branch of an educational institution may be approved if it is appropriately licensed and uses the same curriculum as a commercial driver education program offered by the educational institution at another location that is already approved for purposes of VA educational assistance.
The educational institution must submit a report demonstrating the curriculum at the new branch is the same as the curriculum at the primary location in order to be exempt from the current prohibition against course approval at new branches.
To amend title 38, United States Code, to revise the rules for approval 
  by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of commercial driver education 
programs for purposes of veterans educational assistance, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. MODIFICATION OF RULES FOR APPROVAL OF COMMERCIAL DRIVER 
              EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR PURPOSES OF VETERANS EDUCATIONAL 
              ASSISTANCE.

    (a) In General.--Section 3680A(e) of title 38, United States Code, 
is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through (3) as 
        subparagraphs (A) though (C), respectively;
            (2) in the matter before subparagraph (A), as redesignated 
        by paragraph (1), by inserting ``(1)'' before ``The 
        Secretary'';
            (3) in paragraph (1)(B), as redesignated by paragraph (1), 
        by inserting ``except as provided in paragraph (2),'' before 
        ``the course''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following new paragraph (2):
    ``(2)(A) Subject to this paragraph, a commercial driver education 
program is exempt from paragraph (1)(B) for a branch of an educational 
institution if the commercial driver program offered at the branch by 
the educational institution--
            ``(i) is appropriately licensed; and
            ``(ii) uses the same curriculum as a commercial driver 
        education program offered by the educational institution at 
        another location that is approved for purposes of this chapter 
        by a State approving agency or the Secretary when acting in the 
        role of a State approving agency.
    ``(B)(i) In order for a commercial driver education program of an 
educational institution offered at a branch described in paragraph 
(1)(B) to be exempt under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, the 
educational institution shall submit to the Secretary each year that 
paragraph (1)(B) would otherwise apply a report that demonstrates that 
the curriculum at the new branch is the same as the curriculum at the 
primary location.
    ``(ii) Reporting under clause (i) shall be submitted in accordance 
with such requirements as the Secretary shall establish in consultation 
with the State approving agencies.
    ``(C)(i) The Secretary may withhold an exemption under subparagraph 
(A) for any educational institution or branch of an educational 
institution as the Secretary considers appropriate.
    ``(ii) In making any determination under clause (i), the Secretary 
may consult with the Secretary of Transportation on the performance of 
a provider of a commercial driver program, including the status of the 
provider within the Training Provider Registry of the Federal Motor 
Carrier Safety Administration when appropriate.''.
    (b) Implementation.--
            (1) Establishment of requirements.--Not later than 180 days 
        after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
        Veterans Affairs shall establish requirements under section 
        3680A(e)(2)(B)(ii) of such title, as added by subsection (a).
            (2) Applicability.--The amendments made by subsection (a) 
        shall apply to commercial driver education programs on and 
        after the date that is 180 days after the date on which the 
        Secretary establishes the requirements under paragraph (1) of 
        this subsection.
                                 <all>
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to revise the rules for approval by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of commercial driver education programs for purposes of veterans educational assistance, and for other purposes.
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to revise the rules for approval by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of commercial driver education programs for purposes of veterans educational assistance, and for other purposes.
Official Titles - Senate
Official Title as Introduced
A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to revise the rules for approval by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs of commercial driver education programs for purposes of veterans educational assistance, and for other purposes.
Sen. Fischer, Deb