[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1365 Introduced in House (IH)]

103d CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 1365

    To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize accelerated 
 payments for short-term, high-cost courses taken by veterans pursuing 
           post secondary education, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 16, 1993

  Mr. Rahall introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize accelerated 
 payments for short-term, high-cost courses taken by veterans pursuing 
           post secondary education, 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. ACCELERATED PAYMENTS FOR SHORT-TERM, HIGH-COST COURSES IN 
              POST SECONDARY EDUCATION PROGRAMS.

    Section 3680 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding 
at the end thereof the following new subsection:
    ``(h) Accelerated Payments of Educational Assistance for Short-
Term, High-Cost Courses.--(1) In the case of a short-term, high-cost 
course taken under a program of education at an educational 
institution, a veteran or person entitled to educational assistance 
under chapter 30 of this title may be paid an educational assistance 
allowance accelerated payment, subject to the provisions of this 
subsection. Such accelerated payment shall be in a lump sum but may not 
exceed the total cost of the course to the veteran or person. In no 
event shall an accelerated payment be made under this subsection to a 
veteran or person intending to pursue a program of education on less 
than a half-time basis. An accelerated payment may not be made under 
this subsection to any veteran or person unless the veteran or person 
requests such payment and the Secretary finds that the educational 
institution at which such veteran or person is accepted or enrolled has 
agreed to, and can satisfactorily, carry out the provisions of 
paragraphs (4) (B) and (C) and (5) of this subsection.
    ``(2) The application for accelerated payment shall be made on a 
form prescribed by the Secretary.
    ``(3) For purposes of the Secretary's determination whether any 
veteran or person is eligible for an accelerated payment under this 
section, the information submitted by the institution, the veteran or 
person, shall establish such veteran's or person's eligibility unless 
there is evidence in such veteran's or person's file in the processing 
office establishing that the veteran or person is not eligible for such 
accelerated payment.
    ``(4) The accelerated payment authorized by this subsection shall, 
in the case of an eligible veteran or eligible person, be (A) drawn in 
favor of the veteran or person; (B) mailed to the educational 
institution listed on the application form for temporary care and 
delivery to the veteran or person by such institution; and (C) 
delivered to the veteran or person upon such veteran's or person's 
registration at such institution, but in no event shall such delivery 
be made earlier than thirty days before the program of education is to 
commence.
    ``(5) Upon delivery of the accelerated payment pursuant to 
paragraph (4) of this subsection, the institution shall submit to the 
Secretary a certification of such delivery. If such delivery is not 
effected within thirty days after commencement of the program of 
education in question, such institution shall return such payment to 
the Secretary forthwith.
    ``(6) Payment may not be made under this subsection for a short-
term, high-cost course that exceeds six months in duration or that is 
not approved under and for the purposes of this chapter.''.

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