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US HR476

US HR476
GI Bill Education Quality Enhancement Act of 2015

summary

Introduced
01/22/2015
In Committee
02/06/2015
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/03/2017

Introduced Session

114th Congress

Bill Summary

GI Bill Education Quality Enhancement Act of 2015 Deems specified education programs to be approved for veterans' education benefit purposes if a state approving agency determines that they qualify. Authorizes a state approving agency, or the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) acting in the role of a state approving agency, to approve other accredited programs for such purposes. Continues to allow state approving agencies to establish additional criteria (other than those set forth in current law) for the approval of nonaccredited courses, but requires VA to determine that such criteria are necessary and treat public, private, and proprietary for-profit educational institutions equitably. Prohibits VA from including flight training fees in the in-state tuition and fees at public institutions of higher education (IHEs) that are covered by post-9/11 veterans' educational assistance. Requires post-9/11 veterans' educational assistance for flight training programs at public IHEs to be determined in the same manner as such assistance for education programs pursued at non-public or foreign IHEs is determined. Directs VA to conduct an annual compliance survey of educational institutions and training establishments offering courses approved for veterans' education benefits if at least 20 individuals who are eligible for such benefits are enrolled in any such course. (Currently, an annual compliance survey of each institution offering such courses must be conducted if at least 300 beneficiaries are enrolled or if any such course does not lead to a standard college degree.) Authorizes VA to waive the annual survey for institutions or establishments that have a record of compliance. Requires VA to conduct a biennial survey of each educational institution and training establishment that offers courses approved for veterans' education benefits.

AI Summary

This bill, the GI Bill Education Quality Enhancement Act of 2015, aims to improve the process for approving educational programs for veterans' benefits administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). It clarifies that certain education programs are automatically approved if a state approving agency, which is a state entity responsible for approving programs for GI Bill benefits, deems them qualified. The bill also allows these state agencies, or the VA acting in their place, to approve other accredited programs. For non-accredited courses, state agencies can still set additional criteria, but the VA must confirm these criteria are necessary and applied fairly to all types of educational institutions, including public, private, and for-profit ones. A significant change is that the VA will no longer include flight training fees in the calculation of in-state tuition and fees for public colleges and universities when determining post-9/11 veterans' educational assistance; instead, flight training at public institutions will be funded similarly to programs at private or foreign institutions. The bill also modifies the VA's compliance survey requirements for educational institutions and training establishments, reducing the enrollment threshold from 300 beneficiaries to 20 for an annual survey of specific courses and requiring a biennial survey of all approved institutions, while allowing the VA to waive the annual survey for those with a good compliance history.

Committee Categories

Business and Industry, Military Affairs and Security

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote . (on 04/16/2015)
(1 Companion Bills)

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