Veteran Improvement Commercial Driver License Act of 2023
Public Law 118–95, as amended
Veteran Improvement Commercial Driver License Act of 2023
95
118–210
Statute Compilation
United States House of Representatives
Office of the Legislative Counsel
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Veteran Improvement Commercial Driver License Act of 2023
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Veteran Improvement Commercial Driver License Act of 2023
[(Public Law 118–95)]
[As Amended Through P.L. 118–210, Enacted January 2, 2025]
[Currency: This publication is a compilation of the text of Public Law 118–95. It was last amended by the public law listed in the As Amended Through note above and below at the bottom of each page of the pdf version and reflects current law through the date of the enactment of the public law listed at https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/comps/]
[Note: While this publication does not represent an official version of any Federal statute, substantial efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of its contents. The official version of Federal law is found in the United States Statutes at Large and in the United States Code. The legal effect to be given to the Statutes at Large and the United States Code is established by statute (1 U.S.C. 112, 204).]

AN ACT
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.
[38 U.S.C. 101 note]

SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the “Veteran Improvement Commercial Driver License Act of 2023”.
SEC. 2.

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—
“(i)1
the commercial driver education program offered at the branch by the educational institution 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); and
^1
The margin of clauses (i) and (ii) (including subclause (II) of clause (ii)), as amended by section 209(a)(1)(B) of Public Law 118–210, are so in law. Also, the margins of subparagraphs (B) through (D)
“(ii)
(I)
such branch is located in a State in which such educational institution offers such commercial driver education program at another branch of such educational institution; or
“(II)1
such branch—
- “(aa)
has been operating for at least one year; and
- “(bb)
offers such commercial driver education program, using the same curriculum as another branch of such educational institution.
“(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.
“(D)
The Secretary shall submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a notification not later than 30 days after the Secretary grants an exemption under subparagraph (A). Such notification shall identify the educational institution, and the branch thereof, granted such exemption.”
.
(b)

Implementation.—
(1)
[38 U.S.C. 3680A note]

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)
[38 U.S.C. 3680A note]

Applicability.—
The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply to commercial driver education programs on and after the date that is 365 days after the date on which the Secretary establishes the requirements under paragraph (1) of this subsection.
(3)
[38 U.S.C. 3680A note]

Regulations.—
In prescribing any regulation to carry out the amendments made by subsection (a), the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall consult with State approving agencies designated under section 3671 of such title.
(4)

GAO study.—
Not later than 365 days after the applicability date under paragraph (2), the Comptroller General of the United States shall—
(A)
conduct a study to—
(i)
determine the effects of the amendments made by subsection (a); and
(ii)
the feasibility and advisability of similarly amending the rules for approval of programs of education for other vocational programs of education; and
(B)
submit to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs of the Senate and House of Representatives a report on the findings of the Comptroller General with respect to such study.