[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5630 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 5630


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 29, 2010

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT


 
 To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for qualifications 
for vocational rehabilitation counselors and vocational rehabilitation 
employment coordinators employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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

SECTION 1. QUALIFICATIONS FOR VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION COUNSELORS AND 
              VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION EMPLOYMENT COORDINATORS 
              EMPLOYED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.

    (a) In General.--Chapter 31 of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``Sec. 3123. Qualifications for vocational rehabilitation counselors 
              and vocational rehabilitation employment coordinators
    ``(a) Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors.--Each individual 
employed by the Department as a vocational rehabilitation counselor 
shall--
            ``(1) have completed a masters degree in vocational 
        rehabilitation counseling before being so employed;
            ``(2) by not later than five years after the individual is 
        first so employed, obtain certification by an accredited 
        certifying body recognized by the National Commission for 
        Certifying Agencies; and
            ``(3) as a condition of continued employment, maintain such 
        certification.
    ``(b) Vocational Rehabilitation Employment Coordinators.--Each 
individual employed by the Department as a vocational rehabilitation 
employment coordinator shall--
            ``(1) have completed a bachelors degree in the relevant 
        field, as designated by the Secretary, before being so 
        employed;
            ``(2) by not later than five years after the individual is 
        first so employed, obtain certification by an accredited 
        certifying body recognized by the National Commission for 
        Certifying Agencies; and
            ``(3) as a condition of continued employment, maintain such 
        certification.
    ``(c) Remediation Plan.--If an individual employed by the 
Department as a vocational rehabilitation counselor or a vocational 
rehabilitation employment coordinator fails to meet a condition of 
employment applicable to such individual under subsection (a) or (b), 
the Director of the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Service 
shall develop a remediation plan for such individual. If the individual 
fails to complete the remediation plan, such failure shall be cause for 
termination.''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of 
such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

``3123. Qualifications for vocational rehabilitation counselors and 
                            vocational rehabilitation employment 
                            coordinators.''.
    (c) Applicability.--
            (1) Individuals hired after date of enactment.--Section 
        3123 of title 38, United States Code, as added by subsection 
        (a), shall apply with respect to an individual hired by the 
        Department of Veterans Affairs after the date of the enactment 
        of this Act.
            (2) Individuals hired before date of enactment.--In the 
        case of an individual hired as a vocational rehabilitation 
        counselor or a vocational rehabilitation employment coordinator 
        by the Department of Veterans Affairs before the date of the 
        enactment of this Act, such individual is required to have the 
        qualifications described in section 3123 of title 38, United 
        States Code, as added by subsection (a), for the position held 
        by the individual by not later than 5 years after the date of 
        the enactment of this Act.

            Passed the House of Representatives September 28, 2010.

            Attest:

                                            LORRAINE C. MILLER,

                                                                 Clerk.