1.The table of contents
for this Act is as follows:
Sec. 1. Table of contents.
TITLE I—Benefit matters
Sec. 101. Repeal of sunset on 2-year extension of
Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance coverage for members of Armed Forces
separating from service while totally disabled.
Sec. 102. Authorization for increases by individuals of
Veterans’ Group Life Insurance coverage upon renewal.
Sec. 103. Modification of month of death benefit for surviving
spouses of veterans who die while entitled to compensation or
pension.
Sec. 104. Eligibility for presidential memorial certificates of
individuals who die while serving in the active military, naval, or air
service.
TITLE II—Loan guaranty matters
Sec. 201. Occupancy of property by dependent child of a
veteran.
Sec. 202. Covenants and liens created by public entities in
response to disaster-relief assistance.
TITLE III—Other matters
Sec. 301. Processing of applications for relief from
adjudication of mental incompetence for certain purposes.
<enum>I</enum><header>Benefit
matters</header>
<section id="IDae7a6e0a5ec940c295f17b6535da5ce3" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>101.</enum><header>Repeal of sunset on
2-year extension of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance coverage for members
of Armed Forces separating from service while totally disabled</header>
<subsection id="ID74dca486c6174f99b4c2a271f9c7409f"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Separation or
release</header><text>Paragraph (1)(A) of section 1968(a) of title 38, United
States Code, is amended by striking clause (ii) and inserting the following new
clause (ii):</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id215D9CC2562E4EE189315CC370F6D764" style="OLC">
<clause id="idC20540163C0B44A28F00D84A7FB667DD"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>The date that is
2 years after the date of separation or release from such active duty or active
duty for training, in the case of such a separation or release occurring on or
after June 15,
2005.</text>
</clause><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="ID879223cfd2ab483da3f834f44bed629a"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Separation or
release from certain reserve assignments</header><text>Paragraph (4) of such
section is amended by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following new
subparagraph (B):</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD2954EFD911C40DDA8B491A1348CD0C9" style="OLC">
<subparagraph id="ID38b1dacf42424ff5967c2172d4bda7dc"><enum>(B)</enum><text>The date that is
2 years after the date of separation or release from such assignment, in the
case of such a separation or release occurring on or after June 15,
2005.</text>
</subparagraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section><section id="ID9f82e3cc672244939a5f52ca78545c7c"><enum>102.</enum><header>Authorization
for increases by individuals of Veterans’ Group Life Insurance coverage upon
renewal</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 1977(a) of
title 38, United States Code, is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="ID7564526e5b6c4b3986114e5375dccbd7"><enum>(1)</enum><text>in paragraph (1),
by striking the second sentence; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="ID65dbe3bcca404c8eb560ea53923028b0"><enum>(2)</enum><text>by adding at the
end the following new paragraph:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idB5658FB1AC054098A90A778F532A894D" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="ID98845140859e4b508b545fb875b6a398"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Subject to the
second sentence of paragraph (1), a veteran who has not attained the age of 60
years and is insured under Veterans' Group Life Insurance for an amount less
than the maximum amount of Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance in effect under
section 1967(a)(3)(A)(i) of this title at the time of renewal of Veterans'
Group Life Insurance under this section may increase the amount of the
veteran's coverage under Veterans' Group Life Insurance by not more than
$25,000 at the time of
renewal.</text>
</paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><section id="ID276692766bab4ef5a77ff767ebada8bb"><enum>103.</enum><header>Modification
of month of death benefit for surviving spouses of veterans who die while
entitled to compensation or pension</header>
<subsection id="IDfb450b943060471f83bdcb5b8494a248"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Surviving
spouse benefit for month of veteran's death</header><text>Subsections (a) and
(b) of section 5310 of title 38, United States Code, are amended to read as
follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE36560161D8C4522A4A9983BCD6847C1" style="OLC">
<subsection id="ID2acc7f34dac44d3b926df4b977f205d9"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="idDA90B6A0568D454C834B535DBD4AE283"><enum>(1)</enum><text>A
surviving spouse of a veteran is entitled to a benefit for the month of the
veteran's death if at the time of the veteran's death—</text>
<subparagraph id="id67B0F29AFE474A9E933C5B1551321C9E" indent="up1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the veteran was receiving compensation
or pension under chapter 11 or 15 of this title; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="idB69B284AB5C74E058C62B206D0E47BB0" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the veteran was not receiving
compensation or pension under chapter 11 or 15 of this title but the veteran
had a claim pending for the month of the veteran's death for which benefits
would have been payable under chapter 11 or 15 of this title had the veteran
not died.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="id40A3B95389E546DEA2FFA3669B52A263" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The amount of benefit under paragraph
(1) is the amount that the veteran would have received under chapter 11 or 15
of this title for the month of the veteran's death had the veteran not
died.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id35E3064B61DB408FB2C669F3FEAF32F4" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Any benefits payable under this
section on behalf of a veteran who was not in receipt of such benefits as of
the month of the veteran's death shall be paid to the surviving spouse as
accrued benefits.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="ID3143cb7e52c24366a5852e0550beaccb"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Claims pending
adjudication</header><text>If a claim for entitlement to compensation or
additional compensation under chapter 11 of this title or pension or additional
pension under chapter 15 of this title is pending at the time of a veteran's
death and the check or other payment issued to the veteran's surviving spouse
under subsection (a) is less than the amount of the benefit the veteran would
have been entitled to for the month of death pursuant to the adjudication of
the pending claim, an amount equal to the difference between the amount to
which the veteran would have been entitled to receive under chapter 11 or 15 of
this title for the month of the veteran's death had the veteran not died and
the amount of the check or other payment issued to the surviving spouse shall
be treated in the same manner as an accrued benefit under section 5121 of this
title.</text>
</subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="IDcdafc80cb0d0486c96bb7238ec9b47b5"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Month of death
benefit exempt from delayed commencement of payment</header><text>Section
5111(c)(1) of such title is amended by striking <quote>apply to</quote> and all
that follows through <quote>death occurred</quote> and inserting the following:
<quote>not apply to payments made pursuant to section 5310 of this
title</quote>.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="id94D617BC6D934AA0B605620E2DCCC86E"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Prohibition on
requests for return of certain checks and payments</header><text>In the case of
a surviving spouse who was a dependent with respect to whom additional
compensation for dependents was payable under section 1115 of title 38, United
States Code, or additional pension as a married veteran under chapter 15 of
such title, as of the date of the veteran’s death, if a check or other payment
issued to the veteran as a benefit payment under chapter 11 or 15 of title 38,
United States Code, for the month in which death occurs is negotiated,
deposited, or otherwise accessed by the surviving spouse—</text>
<paragraph id="id8E407D75A78A4195A177B7665795DE7D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>the check or
payment shall be considered to be the benefit payable to the surviving spouse
under section 5310(a)(1) of title 38, United States Code (as amended by
subsection (a)), to the extent that the check or payment equals the amount
which would otherwise be payable under such section; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id08F1D28FD8EC4CB0B10B0659B1B79E89"><enum>(2)</enum><text>the Secretary may
not require the surviving spouse to return the check or payment.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="IDa2dadabecff749cba043c434ee57182a"><enum>(d)</enum><header>Effective
date</header><text>The amendments made by this section shall take effect on the
date of the enactment of this Act, and shall apply with respect to deaths that
occur on or after that date.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="ID00a484a11361429090e6e5c80a2fb246"><enum>104.</enum><header>Eligibility
for presidential memorial certificates of individuals who die while serving in
the active military, naval, or air service</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Section 112 of title 38, United States Code,
is amended—</text>
<paragraph id="idDDC0C158EA5043E2B8143DAD93B699E8"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by amending subsection (a) to read as
follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id78401E29B5A24F93B2D237ACD38666FD" style="OLC">
<subsection id="id936832E9408B4A93BF30149BBF8C9F99"><enum>(a)</enum><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id056F4DC4C6DE45D599C609C520EC2904"><enum>(1)</enum><text>At the request of the
President, the Secretary may conduct a program for honoring the memory of
covered individuals by preparing and sending to eligible recipients a
certificate bearing the signature of the President and expressing the country's
recognition of the covered individual's service in the Armed Forces.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id4EE742C51F4E4D52B3584D89379E48AA" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>The award of a certificate to one
eligible recipient shall not preclude authorization of another certificate if a
request is received from some other eligible
recipient.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>;</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id13201A4F86FE437B8FCC4B5D91917445"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">by redesignating subsections (b) and (c) as
subsections (c) and (d), respectively; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="id353B6F332E8046A4A3B41A2825A9EEDD"><enum>(3)</enum><text>by inserting
after subsection (a) the following new subsection (b):</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0CAC2322084F4386A79564837937DE70" style="OLC">
<subsection id="id11492E98DF6E4A9B9555C33311D95F4B"><enum>(b)</enum><text>For purposes of
this section, a covered individual is any of the following:</text>
<paragraph id="id3DC9B08F699A4CD6820A3C1EF2F8EEB8"><enum>(1)</enum><text>A deceased
veteran discharged under honorable conditions.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="idEE0FAF8751AE4C27AEB1FCDD51440F28"><enum>(2)</enum><text>An individual who
dies while serving in the active military, naval, or air
service.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</paragraph></section><enum>II</enum><header>Loan guaranty
matters</header>
<section id="idCE4F59161EE6431E9E2EC6C1D5318A6A"><enum>201.</enum><header>Occupancy of
property by dependent child of a veteran</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Paragraph (2) of section 3704(c) of title
38, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id11C05E708DD24BEC84647E8DA503A48B" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="ID4973b3eec8fd4ac995852e275e205234" indent="up1"><enum>(2)</enum><text>In any case in which a veteran is in
active duty status as a member of the Armed Forces and is unable to occupy a
property because of such status, the occupancy requirements of this chapter
shall be considered to be satisfied if—</text>
<subparagraph id="ID2fcee8c8516c4cd5860dcf12be83cbe1"><enum>(A)</enum><text>the veteran's spouse occupies or
intends to occupy the property as a home and the spouse makes the certification
required by paragraph (1) of this subsection; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="ID1a0db1f1ea684a32b3242949ddb0c9b1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>the veteran's dependent child occupies
or will occupy the property as a home and the veteran's attorney-in-fact or a
legal guardian of the veteran's dependent child makes the certification
required by paragraph (1) of this
subsection.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><section id="IDf1da7c29f2854199bad7e26115df18e7"><enum>202.</enum><header>Covenants and
liens created by public entities in response to disaster-relief
assistance</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Paragraph (3) of
section 3703(d) of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as
follows:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id69C318AD32D64FF9B31E9A88D9257C84" style="OLC">
<paragraph id="IDe32d6be04b6844ccadd98522492bc69c" indent="up1"><enum>(3)</enum><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="yes-display-inline" id="id7FE7FEDBC5E54483ABFD6234B7D0DA44"><enum>(A)</enum><text>Any real estate housing
loan (other than for repairs, alterations, or improvements) shall be secured by
a first lien on the realty. In determining whether a loan is so secured, the
Secretary may either disregard or allow for subordination to a superior lien
created by a duly recorded covenant running with the realty in favor of—</text>
<clause id="IDcef36f01dae244e4aa0338e0d13a32d0" indent="up1"><enum>(i)</enum><text>a public entity that has provided or
will provide assistance in response to a major disaster as declared by the
President under section 401 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and
Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170); or</text>
</clause><clause id="ID9c12989435e44092bf39540f58357b10" indent="up1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text>a private entity to secure an
obligation to such entity for the homeowner's share of the costs of the
management, operation, or maintenance of property, services, or programs within
and for the benefit of the development or community in which the veteran's
realty is located, if the Secretary determines that the interests of the
veteran borrower and of the Government will not be prejudiced by the operation
of such covenant.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph id="id8268EB79CA154F94928B93992FACCFA3" indent="up1"><enum>(B)</enum><text>With respect to any superior lien
described in subparagraph (A) created after June 6, 1969, the Secretary's
determination under clause (ii) of such subparagraph shall have been made prior
to the recordation of the
covenant.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</section><enum>III</enum><header>Other
matters</header>
<section id="id102CDAA7C3364CE8832870101B47624F"><enum>301.</enum><header>Processing of
applications for relief from adjudication of mental incompetence for certain
purposes</header>
<subsection id="id3CAA500DCE3B45F8919E5DB5C458559C"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Chapter 55 of title
38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
section:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id52F24EE028844A918295DAF8FC40F1F6" style="USC">
<section id="id3EC4EC8BCDDC471DBC6FAD981CE84753"><enum>5511.</enum><header>Processing of
applications for relief from adjudication of mental incompetence for certain
purposes</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Notwithstanding
clause (ii) of section 101(c)(2)(A) of the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of
2007 (Public Law 110–180; 18 U.S.C. 922 note), each application for relief
submitted to the Secretary under the program required by clause (i) of such
section shall be processed by the Secretary not later than 180 days after the
receipt of the application. If the Secretary fails to resolve such application
for relief within 180 days for any reason, including a lack of appropriated
funds, the Secretary shall be deemed to have granted such application for
relief.</text>
</section><after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection><subsection id="idEAF77983733143C180F9F130195CA28C"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Clerical
amendment</header><text>The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 55 of
such title is amended by adding at the end the following new item:</text>
<quoted-block display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idDDDE3418B3C74F558AC014A88D5CD780" style="OLC">
<toc>
<toc-entry bold="off" level="section">5511. Processing of
applications for relief from adjudication of mental incompetence for certain
purposes.</toc-entry>
</toc>
<after-quoted-block>.</after-quoted-block></quoted-block>
</subsection></section>
September 2, 2010
Read twice and placed on the calendar