[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 801 Referred in Senate (RFS)]
1st Session
H. R. 801
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 28, 2001
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve programs of
educational assistance, to expand programs of transition assistance and
outreach to departing servicemembers, veterans, and dependents, to
increase burial benefits, to provide for family coverage under
Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance, 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. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans
Opportunities Act of 2001''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. References to title 38, United States Code.
TITLE I--EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROVISIONS
Sec. 101. Increase in maximum allowable annual Senior ROTC educational
assistance for eligibility for benefits
under the Montgomery GI Bill.
Sec. 102. Expansion of work-study opportunities.
Sec. 103. Inclusion of certain private technology entities in the
definition of educational institution.
Sec. 104. Expansion of special restorative training benefit to certain
disabled spouses or surviving spouses.
Sec. 105. Distance education.
Sec. 106. Technical amendments to the Montgomery GI Bill.
TITLE II--TRANSITION AND OUTREACH PROVISIONS
Sec. 201. Authority to establish overseas veterans assistance offices
to expand transition assistance.
Sec. 202. Timing of preseparation counseling.
Sec. 203. Improvement in education and training outreach services for
separating servicemembers and veterans.
Sec. 204. Expansion of outreach efforts to eligible dependents.
Sec. 205. Improvement of veterans outreach programs.
TITLE III--MEMORIAL AFFAIRS, INSURANCE, AND OTHER PROVISIONS
Sec. 301. Increase in burial benefits.
Sec. 302. Family coverage under Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance.
Sec. 303. Retroactive applicability of increase in maximum SGLI benefit
for members dying in performance of duty on
or after October 1, 2000.
Sec. 304. Increase in amount of assistance for automobile and adaptive
equipment for certain disabled veterans.
Sec. 305. Increase in assistance amount for specially adapted housing.
Sec. 306. Revision of rules with respect to net worth limitation for
eligibility for pensions for veterans who
are permanently and totally disabled from a
non-service-connected disability.
Sec. 307. Technical amendments.
SEC. 2. REFERENCES TO TITLE 38, UNITED STATES CODE.
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--EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROVISIONS
SEC. 101. INCREASE IN MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE ANNUAL SENIOR ROTC EDUCATIONAL
ASSISTANCE FOR ELIGIBILITY FOR BENEFITS UNDER THE
MONTGOMERY GI BILL.
(a) In General.--Sections 3011(c)(3)(B) and 3012(d)(3)(B) are each
amended by striking ``$2,000'' and inserting ``$3,400''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall
take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act and shall apply
with respect to educational assistance allowances paid under chapter 30
of title 38, United States Code, for months beginning after such date.
SEC. 102. EXPANSION OF WORK-STUDY OPPORTUNITIES.
(a) Assisting in Outreach Services.--The second sentence of section
3485(a)(1) is amended in clause (A) by inserting before the comma the
following: ``or outreach services to servicemembers and veterans
furnished by employees of State approving agencies''.
(b) Working in Major Academic Discipline.--Such sentence is further
amended--
(1) by striking ``or (E)'' and inserting ``(E)''; and
(2) by inserting before the period the following: ``, or
(F) in the case of an individual who has declared a major
academic discipline, activities within the department of that
academic discipline approved by the Secretary that complement
and reinforce the program of education pursued by that
individual''.
(c) Working in State Veterans Home.--Such sentence is amended in
clause (C) by inserting after the comma ``including the provision of
such care to veterans in a State home for which payment is made under
section 1741 of this title,''.
(d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply with respect to agreements entered into under section 3485 of
title 38, United States Code, on or after the date of the enactment of
this Act.
SEC. 103. INCLUSION OF CERTAIN PRIVATE TECHNOLOGY ENTITIES IN THE
DEFINITION OF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION.
(a) In General.--Sections 3452(c) and 3501(a)(6) are each amended
by adding at the end the following new sentence: ``Such term also
includes any private entity (that meets such requirements as the
Secretary may establish) that offers, either directly or under an
agreement with another entity (that meets such requirements), a course
or courses to fulfill requirements for the attainment of a license or
certificate generally recognized as necessary to obtain, maintain, or
advance in employment in a profession or vocation in a technological
occupation (as determined by the Secretary).''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall
apply to enrollments in courses occurring on or after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
SEC. 104. EXPANSION OF SPECIAL RESTORATIVE TRAINING BENEFIT TO CERTAIN
DISABLED SPOUSES OR SURVIVING SPOUSES.
(a) In General.--Section 3540 is amended by striking ``section
3501(a)(1)(A) of this title'' and inserting ``subparagraphs (A), (B),
and (D) of section 3501(a)(1) of this title''.
(b) Conforming Amendments.--(1) Section 3541(a) is amended in the
matter preceding paragraph (1) by striking ``of the parent or
guardian''.
(2) Section 3542(a) is amended--
(A) by striking ``the parent or guardian shall be entitled
to receive on behalf of such person'' and inserting ``the
eligible person shall be entitled to receive''; and
(B) by striking ``upon election by the parent or guardian
of the eligible person'' and inserting ``upon election by the
eligible person''.
(3) Section 3543(a) is amended by striking ``the parent or guardian
for the training provided to an eligible person'' and inserting ``for
the training provided to the eligible person''.
(4) Section 3543 is amended by adding at the end the following new
subsection:
``(c) In a case in which the Secretary determines requires a parent
or guardian to make a request under section 3541(a) of this title on
behalf of an eligible person, the parent or guardian shall be
entitled--
``(1) to receive on behalf of the eligible person the
special training allowance provided for under section 3542(a)
of this title;
``(2) to elect an increase in the basic monthly allowance
provided for under such section; and
``(3) to agree with the Secretary on the fair and
reasonable amounts which may be charged under subsection
(a).''.
SEC. 105. DISTANCE EDUCATION.
(a) In General.--Subsection (a)(4) of section 3680A is amended--
(1) by inserting ``(A)'' after ``leading''; and
(2) by inserting before the period the following: ``, or
(B) to a certificate that reflects educational attainment
offered by an institution of higher learning''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsection (a) shall
apply to enrollments in independent study courses beginning on or after
the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 106. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS TO THE MONTGOMERY GI BILL.
(a) Clarification of Eligibility Requirement for MGIB Benefits.--
(1) In general.--Clause (i) of section 3011(a)(1)(A) is
amended to read as follows:
``(i) who (I) in the case of an individual
whose obligated period of active duty is three
years or more, serves at least three years of
continuous active duty in the Armed Forces, or
(II) in the case of an individual whose
obligated period of active duty is less than
three years, serves at least two years of
continuous active duty in the Armed Forces;
or''.
(2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1)
shall take effect as if included in the enactment of the
Veterans Benefits and Health Care Improvement Act of 2000
(Public Law 106-419).
(b) Entitlement Charge for Off-Duty Training and Education.--
(1) In general.--Section 3014(b)(2) is amended--
(A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``(without
regard to'' and all that follows through
``subsection''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following new
subparagraph:
``(C) The number of months of entitlement charged under this
chapter in the case of an individual who has been paid a basic
educational assistance allowance under this subsection shall be equal
to the number (including any fraction) determined by dividing the total
amount of such educational assistance allowance paid the individual by
the full-time monthly institutional rate of educational assistance
which such individual would otherwise be paid under subsection (a)(1),
(b)(1), (c)(1), or (e)(1) of section 3015 of this title, as the case
may be.''.
(2) Conforming amendments.--(A) Section 3015 is amended--
(i) in subsections (a)(1) and (b)(1), by inserting
``subsection (g)'' after ``from time to time under'';
(ii) by striking the first subsection (g), as
inserted by section 1602(b)(3)(C) of the Floyd D.
Spence National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2001 (enacted by Public Law 106-398; 114 Stat.
1654A-359); and
(iii) by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection
(g).
(B) Section 3032(b) is amended by inserting before the
period at the end the following: ``, or (3) the amount of the
charges of the educational institution elected by the
individual under section 3014(b)(1) of this title''.
(3) Effective date.--The amendments made by this subsection
shall take effect as if enacted on November 1, 2000.
(c) Incremental MGIB Increases for Contributing Active Duty
Members.--
(1) In general.--Section 3011(e), as added by section
105(a)(1) of the Veterans Benefits and Health Care Improvement
Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-419; 114 Stat. 1828), is amended--
(A) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``, but not more
frequently than monthly'' before the period;
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ``$4'' and
inserting ``$20''; and
(C) in paragraph (4)--
(i) by striking ``Secretary. The'' and
inserting ``Secretary of the military
department concerned. That''; and
(ii) by striking ``by the Secretary''.
(2) Conforming amendments.--(A) Section 3012(f), as added
by section 105(a)(2) of such Act, is amended--
(i) in paragraph (2), by inserting ``, but not more
frequently than monthly'' before the period;
(ii) in paragraph (3), by striking ``$4'' and
inserting ``$20''; and
(iii) in paragraph (4)--
(I) by striking ``Secretary. The'' and
inserting ``Secretary of the military
department concerned. That''; and
(II) by striking ``by the Secretary''.
(B) Section 3015(g), as added by section 105(b)(3) of such
Act, is amended--
(i) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by
inserting ``effective as of the first day of the
enrollment period following receipt of such
contribution by the Secretary concerned,'' after ``by
section 3011(e) or 3012(f) of this title,''; and
(ii) in paragraph (1)--
(I) by striking ``$1'' and inserting
``$5'';
(II) by striking ``$4'' and inserting
``$20''; and
(III) by inserting ``of this title'' after
``section 3011(e) or 3012(f)''.
(3) Effective date.--The amendments made by this subsection
shall take effect as if included in the enactment of section
105 of the Veterans Benefits and Health Care Improvement Act of
2000 (Public Law 106-419; 114 Stat. 1828).
(d) Conforming Amendment for Death Benefit.--
(1) In general.--Paragraph (1) of section 3017(b) is
amended to read as follows:
``(1) the sum of (A) the total amount reduced from the
individual's basic pay under section 3011(b), 3012(c), or
3018(c) of this title, and (B) the total amount of any
contributions made by the individual under section 3011(e) or
3012(f) of this title, less''.
(2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1)
shall take effect on May 1, 2001.
(e) Clarification of Time Period for Election of Beginning of
Chapter 35 Eligibility for Dependents.--
(1) In general.--(A) Section 3512(a)(3)(B), as amended by
section 112 of the Veterans Benefits and Health Care
Improvement Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-419; 114 Stat. 1831),
is amended to read as follows:
``(B) the eligible person elects that beginning
date by not later than the end of the 60-day period
beginning on the date on which the Secretary provides
written notice to that person of that person's
opportunity to make such election, such notice
including a statement of the deadline for the election
imposed under this subparagraph; and''.
(B) Section 3512(a)(3)(C), as so amended by such section,
is amended by striking ``between the dates described in'' and
inserting ``the date determined pursuant to''.
(2) Effective date.--The amendments made by paragraph (1)
shall take effect as if enacted on November 1, 2000.
TITLE II--TRANSITION AND OUTREACH PROVISIONS
SEC. 201. AUTHORITY TO ESTABLISH OVERSEAS VETERANS ASSISTANCE OFFICES
TO EXPAND TRANSITION ASSISTANCE.
Section 7723(a) is amended by inserting after the first sentence
the following new sentence: ``The Secretary may maintain such offices
on such military installations located elsewhere as the Secretary,
after consultation with the Secretary of Defense, determines to be
necessary to carry out such purposes.''.
SEC. 202. TIMING OF PRESEPARATION COUNSELING.
(a) In General.--(1) The first sentence of section 1142(a)(1) of
title 10, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: ``Within
the time periods specified in paragraph (3), the Secretary concerned
shall (except as provided in paragraph (4)) provide for individual
preseparation counseling of each member of the armed forces whose
discharge or release from active duty is anticipated as of a specific
date.''.
(2) Such section is further amended by adding at the end the
following new paragraphs:
``(3)(A) In the case of an anticipated retirement, preseparation
counseling shall commence as soon as possible during the 24-month
period preceding the anticipated retirement date. In the case of a
separation other than a retirement, preseparation counseling shall
commence as soon as possible during the 12-month period preceding the
anticipated date. Except as provided in subparagraph (B), in no event
shall preseparation counseling commence later than 90 days before the
date of discharge or release.
``(B) In the event that a retirement or other separation is
unanticipated until there are 90 or fewer days before the anticipated
retirement or separation date, preseparation counseling shall begin as
soon as possible within the remaining period of service.
``(4)(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), the Secretary concerned shall
not provide preseparation counseling to a member who is being
discharged or released before the completion of that member's first 180
days of active duty.
``(B) Subparagraph (A) shall not apply in the case of a member who
is being retired or separated for disability.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--The second sentence of section
1144(a)(1) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking
``during the 180-day period'' and all that follows and inserting
``within the time periods provided under paragraph (3) of section
1142(a) of this title, except that the Secretary concerned shall not
provide preseparation counseling to a member described in paragraph
(4)(A) of such section.''.
SEC. 203. IMPROVEMENT IN EDUCATION AND TRAINING OUTREACH SERVICES FOR
SEPARATING SERVICEMEMBERS AND VETERANS.
(a) Providing Outreach Through State Approving Agencies.--Section
3672(d) is amended by inserting ``and State approving agencies'' before
``shall actively promote the development of programs of training on the
job''.
(b) Additional Duty.--Such section is further amended--
(1) by inserting ``(1)'' after ``(d)''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(2) In conjunction with outreach services furnished by the
Secretary for education and training benefits under chapter 77 of this
title, each State approving agency shall conduct outreach programs and
provide outreach services to eligible persons and veterans about
education and training benefits available under applicable Federal and
State law.''.
SEC. 204. EXPANSION OF OUTREACH EFFORTS TO ELIGIBLE DEPENDENTS.
(a) Availability of Outreach Services for Children, Spouses,
Surviving Spouses, and Dependent Parents.--Paragraph (2) of section
7721(b) is amended to read as follows:
``(2) the term `eligible dependent' means a spouse,
surviving spouse, child, or dependent parent of a person who
served in the active military, naval, or air service.''.
(b) Improved Outreach Program.--(1) Subchapter II of chapter 77 is
amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 7727. Outreach for eligible dependents
``(a) In carrying out this subchapter, the Secretary shall ensure
that the needs of eligible dependents are fully addressed.
``(b) The Secretary shall ensure that the availability of outreach
services and assistance for eligible dependents under this subchapter
is made known through a variety of means, including the Internet,
announcements in veterans publications, and announcements to the
media.''.
(2) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is
amended by inserting after the item relating to section 7726 the
following new item:
``7727. Outreach for eligible dependents.''.
SEC. 205. IMPROVEMENT OF VETERANS OUTREACH PROGRAMS.
Section 7722(c) is amended--
(1) by inserting ``(1)'' after ``(c)''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(2) Whenever a veteran or dependent first applies for any benefit
under laws administered by the Secretary (including a request for
burial or related benefits or an application for life insurance
proceeds), the Secretary shall provide to the veteran or dependent
information concerning benefits and health care services under programs
administered by the Secretary.''.
TITLE III--MEMORIAL AFFAIRS, INSURANCE, AND OTHER PROVISIONS
SEC. 301. INCREASE IN BURIAL BENEFITS.
(a) Burial and Funeral Expenses.--(1) Section 2307 is amended by
striking ``$1,500'' and inserting ``$2,000 (as increased from time to
time under section 5312 of this title)''.
(2) Section 2302(a) is amended by striking ``$300'' and inserting
``$500 (as increased from time to time under section 5312 of this
title)''.
(3) Section 2303(a)(1)(A) is amended by striking ``$300'' and
inserting ``$500 (as increased from time to time under section 5312 of
this title)''.
(b) Plot Allowance.--Section 2303(b) is amended by striking
``$150'' each place it appears and inserting ``$300 (as increased from
time to time under section 5312 of this title)''.
(c) Indexing Payment Amounts.--Section 5312(a) is amended--
(1) by striking ``and each rate of monthly allowance'' and
inserting ``each rate of monthly allowance''; and
(2) by inserting ``and each rate of allowance paid under
sections 2302, 2303, and 2307 of this title,'' after ``under
section 1805 of this title,''.
(d) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall
apply to deaths occurring on or after the date of the enactment of this
Act.
SEC. 302. FAMILY COVERAGE UNDER SERVICEMEMBERS' GROUP LIFE INSURANCE.
(a) Insurable Dependents.--(1) Section 1965 is amended by adding at
the end the following new paragraph:
``(10) The term `insurable dependent', with respect to a
member, means the following:
``(A) The member's spouse.
``(B) The member's child, as defined in the first
sentence of section 101(4)(A) of this title.''.
(2) Section 101(4)(A) is amended in the matter preceding clause (i)
by inserting ``(other than with respect to a child who is an insurable
dependent under section 1965(10)(B) of such chapter)'' after ``except
for purposes of chapter 19 of this title''.
(b) Insurance Coverage.--(1) Subsection (a) of section 1967 is
amended to read as follows:
``(a)(1) Subject to an election under paragraph (2), any policy of
insurance purchased by the Secretary under section 1966 of this title
shall automatically insure the following persons against death:
``(A) In the case of any member of a uniformed service on
active duty (other than active duty for training)--
``(i) the member; and
``(ii) each insurable dependent of the member.
``(B) Any member of a uniformed service on active duty for
training or inactive duty training scheduled in advance by
competent authority.
``(C) In the case of any member of the Ready Reserve of a
uniformed service who meets the qualifications set forth in
section 1965(5)(B) of this title--
``(i) the member; and
``(ii) each insurable dependent of the member.
``(2)(A) A member may elect in writing not to be insured under this
subchapter.
``(B) A member may elect in writing not to insure the member's
spouse under this subchapter.
``(3)(A) Subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C), the amount for which
a person is insured under this subchapter is as follows:
``(i) In the case of a member, $250,000.
``(ii) In the case of a member's spouse, $100,000.
``(iii) In the case of a member's child, $10,000.
``(B) A member may elect in writing to be insured or to insure the
member's spouse in an amount less than the amount provided for under
subparagraph (A). The member may not elect to insure the member's child
in an amount less than $10,000. The amount of insurance so elected
shall, in the case of a member or spouse, be evenly divisible by
$10,000.
``(C) In no case may the amount of insurance coverage under this
subsection of a member's spouse exceed the amount of insurance coverage
of the member.
``(4)(A) An insurable dependent of a member is not insured under
this chapter unless the member is insured under this subchapter.
``(B) An insurable dependent who is a child may not be insured at
any time by the insurance coverage under this chapter of more than one
member. If an insurable dependent who is a child is otherwise eligible
to be insured by the coverage of more than one member under this
chapter, the child shall be insured by the coverage of the member whose
eligibility for insurance under this subchapter occurred first, except
that if that member does not have legal custody of the child, the child
shall be insured by the coverage of the member who has legal custody of
the child.
``(5) The insurance shall be effective with respect to a member and
the insurable dependents of the member on the latest of the following
dates:
``(A) The first day of active duty or active duty for
training.
``(B) The beginning of a period of inactive duty training
scheduled in advance by competent authority.
``(C) The first day a member of the Ready Reserve meets the
qualifications set forth in section 1965(5)(B) of this title.
``(D) The date certified by the Secretary to the Secretary
concerned as the date Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance
under this subchapter for the class or group concerned takes
effect.
``(E) In the case of an insurable dependent who is a
spouse, the date of marriage of the spouse to the member.
``(F) In the case of an insurable dependent who is a child,
the date of birth of such child or, if the child is not the
natural child of the member, the date on which the child
acquires status as an insurable dependent of the member.''.
(2) Subsection (c) of such section is amended by striking the first
sentence and inserting the following: ``If a person eligible for
insurance under this subchapter is not so insured, or is insured for
less than the maximum amount provided for the person under subparagraph
(A) of subsection (a)(3), by reason of an election made by a member
under subparagraph (B) of that subsection, the person may thereafter be
insured under this subchapter in the maximum amount or any lesser
amount elected as provided in such subparagraph (B) upon written
application by the member, proof of good health of each person (other
than a child) to be so insured, and compliance with such other terms
and conditions as may be prescribed by the Secretary.''.
(c) Termination of Coverage.--(1) Subsection (a) of section 1968 is
amended--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by inserting
``and any insurance thereunder on any insurable dependent of
such a member,'' after ``any insurance thereunder on any member
of the uniformed services,''; and
(B) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(5) With respect to an insurable dependent of the member,
insurance under this subchapter shall cease--
``(A) 120 days after the date of an election made
in writing by the member to terminate the coverage; or
``(B) on the earliest of--
``(i) 120 days after the date of the
member's death;
``(ii) 120 days after the date of
termination of the insurance on the member's
life under this subchapter; or
``(iii) 120 days after the termination of
the dependent's status as an insurable
dependent of the member.''.
(2) Such subsection is further amended--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking ``,
and such insurance shall cease--'' and inserting ``and such
insurance shall cease as follows:'';
(B) by striking ``with'' after the paragraph designation in
each of paragraphs (1), (2), (3), and (4) and inserting
``With'';
(C) in paragraph (1)--
(i) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), by
striking ``thirty-one days--'' and inserting ``31 days,
insurance under this subchapter shall cease--'';
(ii) in subparagraph (A)--
(I) by striking ``one hundred and twenty
days'' after ``(A)'' and inserting ``120
days''; and
(II) by striking ``prior to the expiration
of one hundred and twenty days'' and inserting
``before the end of 120 days''; and
(iii) by striking the semicolon at the end of
subparagraph (B) and inserting a period;
(D) in paragraph (2)--
(i) by striking ``thirty-one days'' and inserting
``31 days,'';
(ii) by striking ``one hundred and twenty days''
both places it appears and inserting ``120 days''; and
(iii) by striking the semicolon at the end and
inserting a period;
(E) in paragraph (3)--
(i) by inserting a comma after ``competent
authority'';
(ii) by striking ``one hundred and twenty days''
both places it appears and inserting ``120 days''; and
(iii) by striking ``; and'' at the end and
inserting a period; and
(F) in paragraph (4), by inserting ``insurance under this
subchapter shall cease'' before ``120 days after '' the first
place it appears.
(3) Subsection (b)(1)(A) of such section is amended by inserting
``(to insure against death of the member only)'' after ``converted to
Veterans' Group Life Insurance''.
(d) Premiums.--Section 1969 is amended by adding at the end the
following new subsections:
``(g)(1)(A) During any period in which a spouse of a member is
insured under this subchapter and the member is on active duty, there
shall be deducted each month from the member's basic or other pay until
separation or release from active duty an amount determined by the
Secretary as the premium allocable to the pay period for providing that
insurance coverage. No premium may be charged for providing insurance
coverage for a child.
``(B) During any month in which a member is assigned to the Ready
Reserve of a uniformed service under conditions which meet the
qualifications set forth in section 1965(5)(B) of this title and the
spouse of the member is insured under a policy of insurance purchased
by the Secretary under section 1966 of this title, there shall be
contributed from the appropriation made for active duty pay of the
uniformed service concerned an amount determined by the Secretary
(which shall be the same for all such members) as the share of the cost
attributable to insuring the spouse of such member under this policy,
less any costs traceable to the extra hazards of such duty in the
uniformed services. Any amounts so contributed on behalf of any
individual shall be collected by the Secretary concerned from such
individual (by deduction from pay or otherwise) and shall be credited
to the appropriation from which such contribution was made.
``(2)(A) The Secretary shall determine the premium amounts to be
charged for life insurance coverage for spouses of members under this
subchapter.
``(B) The premium amounts shall be determined on the basis of sound
actuarial principles and shall include an amount necessary to cover the
administrative costs to the insurer or insurers providing such
insurance.
``(C) Each premium rate for the first policy year shall be
continued for subsequent policy years, except that the rate may be
adjusted for any such subsequent policy year on the basis of the
experience under the policy, as determined by the Secretary in advance
of that policy year.
``(h) Any overpayment of a premium for insurance coverage for an
insurable dependent of a member that is terminated under section
1968(a)(5) of this title shall be refunded to the member.''.
(e) Payments of Insurance Proceeds.--Section 1970 is amended by
adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(i) Any amount of insurance in force on an insurable dependent of
a member under this subchapter on the date of the dependent's death
shall be paid, upon the establishment of a valid claim therefor, to the
member or, in the event of the member's death before payment to the
member can be made, then to the person or persons entitled to receive
payment of the proceeds of insurance on the member's life under this
subchapter.''.
(f) Conversion of SGLI to Private Life Insurance.--Section 1968(b)
is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(3)(A) In the case of a policy purchased under this subchapter
for an insurable dependent who is a spouse, upon election of the
spouse, the policy may be converted to an individual policy of
insurance under the same conditions as described in section 1977(e) of
this title (with respect to conversion of a Veterans' Group Life
Insurance policy to such an individual policy) upon written application
for conversion made to the participating company selected by the spouse
and payment of the required premiums. Conversion of such policy to
Veterans' Group Life Insurance is prohibited.
``(B) In the case of a policy purchased under this subchapter for
an insurable dependent who is a child, such policy may not be converted
under this subsection.''.
(g) Effective Date and Initial Implementation.--(1) The amendments
made by this section shall take effect on the first day of the first
month that begins more than 120 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act.
(2) Each Secretary concerned, acting in consultation with the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs, shall take such action as is necessary
to ensure that during the period between the date of the enactment of
this Act and the effective date determined under paragraph (1) each
eligible member--
(A) is furnished an explanation of the insurance benefits
available for dependents under the amendments made by this
section; and
(B) is afforded an opportunity before such effective date
to make elections that are authorized under those amendments to
be made with respect to dependents.
(3) For purposes of paragraph (2):
(A) The term ``Secretary concerned'' has the meaning given
that term in section 101 of title 38, United States Code.
(B) The term ``eligible member'' means a member of the
uniformed services described in subparagraph (A) or (C) of
section 1967(a)(1) of title 38, United States Code, as amended
by subsection (b)(1).
SEC. 303. RETROACTIVE APPLICABILITY OF INCREASE IN MAXIMUM SGLI BENEFIT
FOR MEMBERS DYING IN PERFORMANCE OF DUTY ON OR AFTER
OCTOBER 1, 2000.
(a) Applicability of Increase in Benefit.--Notwithstanding
subsection (c) of section 312 of the Veterans Benefits and Health Care
Improvement Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-419; 114 Stat. 1854), the
amendments made by subsection (a) of that section shall take effect on
October 1, 2000, with respect to any member of the Armed Forces who
died in the performance of duty (as determined by the Secretary
concerned) during the period beginning on October 1, 2000, and ending
at the close of March 31, 2001, and who on the date of death was
insured under the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance program under
subchapter III of chapter 19 of title 38, United States Code, for the
maximum coverage available under that program.
(b) Definition.--For purposes of this section, the term ``Secretary
concerned'' has the meaning given that term in section 101(25) of title
38, United States Code.
SEC. 304. INCREASE IN AMOUNT OF ASSISTANCE FOR AUTOMOBILE AND ADAPTIVE
EQUIPMENT FOR CERTAIN DISABLED VETERANS.
Section 3902(a) is amended by striking ``$8,000'' and inserting
``$9,000''.
SEC. 305. INCREASE IN ASSISTANCE AMOUNT FOR SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING.
Section 2102 is amended--
(1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1) of subsection
(a), by striking ``$43,000'' and inserting ``$48,000''; and
(2) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ``$8,250'' and
inserting ``$9,250''.
SEC. 306. REVISION OF RULES WITH RESPECT TO NET WORTH LIMITATION FOR
ELIGIBILITY FOR PENSIONS FOR VETERANS WHO ARE PERMANENTLY
AND TOTALLY DISABLED FROM A NON-SERVICE-CONNECTED
DISABILITY.
(a) In General.--Section 1522(a) is amended by adding at the end
the following new sentence: ``In determining the corpus of the estates
of the veteran and the veteran's spouse, if any, the value of the real
property of the veteran and the veteran's spouse and children shall be
excluded if such property is used for farming, ranching, or similar
agricultural purposes.''.
(b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall
apply to payment of pensions for months beginning on or after the date
of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 307. TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS.
(a) Title 38, United States Code.--Title 38, United States Code, is
amended as follows:
(1) Effective as of November 1, 2000, section 107 is
amended--
(A) in the second sentence of subsection (a), by
inserting ``or (d)'' after ``subsection (c)'';
(B) by redesignating the second subsection (c)
(added by section 332(a)(2) of the Veterans Benefits
and Health Care Improvement Act of 2000 (Public Law
106-419)) as subsection (d); and
(C) in subsection (d), as so redesignated, by
striking ``In'' in paragraph (1) and inserting ``With
respect to benefits under chapter 23 of this title,
in''.
(2) Section 3512 is amended--
(A) in subsection (a)(5), by striking ``clause (4)
of this subsection'' and inserting ``paragraph (4)'';
and
(B) in subsection (b)(2), by striking ``willfull''
and inserting ``willful''.
(3) Section 4303(13) is amended by striking the second
period at the end.
(b) Public Law 106-419.--Effective as of November 1, 2000, and as
if included therein as originally enacted, the Veterans Benefits and
Health Care Improvement Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-419) is amended as
follows:
(1) Section 111(f)(3) (114 Stat. 1831) is amended by
striking ``3654'' and inserting ``3564''.
(2) Section 323(a)(1) (114 Stat. 1855) is amended by
inserting a comma in the second quoted matter therein after
``duty''.
(3) Section 401(e)(1) (114 Stat. 1860) is amended by
striking ``this'' both places it appears in quoted matter and
inserting ``This''.
(4) Section 402(b) (114 Stat. 1861) is amended by striking
the close quotation marks and period at the end of the table in
paragraph (2) of the matter inserted by the amendment made that
section.
(c) Public Law 102-590.--Section 3(a)(1) of the Homeless Veterans
Comprehensive Service Programs Act of 1992 (38 U.S.C. 7721 note) is
amended by striking ``, during,''.
Passed the House of Representatives March 27, 2001.
Attest:
JEFF TRANDAHL,
Clerk.