96-664. Veterans Education: Implementation of the Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act and the Post-Vietnam Era Veterans' Educational Assistance Program  

  • [Federal Register Volume 61, Number 14 (Monday, January 22, 1996)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Pages 1525-1526]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 96-664]
    
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
    
    DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
    
    38 CFR Part 21
    
    RIN 2900-AH33
    
    
    Veterans Education: Implementation of the Veterans' Benefits 
    Improvement Act and the Post-Vietnam Era Veterans' Educational 
    Assistance Program
    
    AGENCIES: Defense and Veterans Affairs.
    
    ACTION: Final rule.
    
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    SUMMARY: This document amends regulations of the Department of Veterans 
    Affairs (VA) concerning the Post-Vietnam Era Veterans' Educational 
    Assistance Program (VEAP). It restates statutory requirements and sets 
    forth VA statutory interpretations regarding provisions of the 
    Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 1994. More specifically, the 
    regulations are amended by making flight training a permanent part of 
    VEAP; by providing for approval of courses leading to alternative 
    teacher certification; by defining ``alternative teacher 
    certification''; by reflecting that VA is prohibited from functionally 
    supervising State approving agencies that approve courses for VA 
    training; and by providing that, in order to be approved for VA 
    training, a correspondence course must be accredited and at least 50% 
    of the students completing the course must take at least six months to 
    complete it.
    
    DATES: Effective Date: This rule is effective January 22, 1996.
        Applicability Dates: The restatements of statute and VA's statutory 
    interpretations contained in this final rule will be applied 
    retroactively from the effective dates of the statutory provisions. For 
    more information concerning the application of statutes and statutory 
    interpretations, see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: June C. Schaeffer, Assistant Director 
    for Policy and Program Administration, Education Service, Veterans 
    Benefits Administration, (202) 273-7187.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Regulations concerning the Post-Vietnam Era 
    Veterans' Educational Assistance Program (VEAP) are contained in 38 CFR 
    Part 21. This document contains a number of changes to the regulations 
    based on the Veterans' Benefits Improvement Act of 1994 (Pub. L. 103-
    446).
        Before the enactment of Pub. L. 103-446, VEAP benefits for pursuit 
    of flight training were subject to a sunset provision under which no 
    benefits could be paid for training that occurred after September 30, 
    1994. Pub. L. 103-446 removed the sunset provision, thus making flight 
    training a permanent part of VEAP. The provisions of Sec. 21.5250(b) 
    are amended to reflect this statutory change.
        Public Law 103-446 contains a provision that requires any entity 
    offering an alternative teacher certification program to be considered 
    to be an educational institution for VA purposes during the period 
    beginning on November 2, 1994, and ending on September 30, 1996. The 
    provisions of Secs. 21.5021(d) and 21.5200 are amended to reflect this 
    statutory change.
        This document also defines ``alternative teacher certification 
    program'' as follows:
    
        The term alternative teacher certification program for the 
    purposes of determining whether an entity offering such a program is 
    a school, educational institution or institution, as defined in 
    paragraph (d)(3) of this section, means a program leading to a 
    teacher certificate that allows individuals with a bachelor's degree 
    or graduate degree to obtain teacher certification without enrolling 
    in an institution of higher learning.
    
        We believe this is consistent with the Congressional intent.
        Beginning in 1989, VA was permitted by statute to functionally 
    supervise the State approving agencies that approve courses for VA 
    training. Pub. L. 103-446 contains a provision that now prohibits VA 
    from doing this. The provisions of Sec. 21.5150 are amended to reflect 
    this statutory change.
        Public Law 103-446 requires that, in order to be approved for VA 
    training, a correspondence course must be accredited and at least 50% 
    of the students completing the course must take at least six months to 
    complete it. The provisions of Sec. 21.5250(a) are amended to reflect 
    this statutory change.
        The restatements of statute and statutory interpretations contained 
    in this final rule will be applied retroactively from the effective 
    dates of the statutory provisions. The dates of application for 
    provisions covered by this document are as follows:
    
    October 1, 1994: 38 CFR 21.5250(b).
    November 2, 1994: Secs. 21.5021(d), 21.5021(y), 21.5150, introductory 
    text, and 21.5200(a).
    January 31, 1995: Sec. 21.5250(a).
    
        The Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense 
    hereby certify that this final rule will not have a significant 
    economic impact on a substantial number of small entities as they are 
    defined in the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601-612. This final 
    rule merely restates statutory changes and sets forth statutory 
    interpretations. Accordingly, no proposed rulemaking was required in 
    connection with the adoption of this final rule. Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 
    605(b), this final rule is exempt from the initial and final regulatory 
    flexibility analyses requirements of sections 603 and 604.
        Under 5 U.S.C. 553 there is a basis for dispensing with prior 
    notice and comment and for dispensing with a 30-day delay of the 
    effective date since this final rule merely restates statutory 
    provisions and sets forth statutory interpretations. 
    
    [[Page 1526]]
    
        The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance number for the program 
    affected by this final rule is 64.120.
    
    List of Subjects in 38 CFR Part 21
    
        Civil rights, Claims, Education, Grant programs-education, Loan 
    programs-education, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Schools, 
    Veterans, Vocational education, Vocational rehabilitation.
    
        Approved: December 4, 1995.
    Jesse Brown,
    Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
    Samuel E. Ebbesen,
    Lieutenant General, USA, Deputy Assistant Secretary, (Military 
    Personnel Policy) Department of Defense.
    
        For the reasons set out in the preamble, 38 CFR part 21, subpart G 
    is amended as set forth below.
    
    PART 21--VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AND EDUCATION
    
    Subpart G--Post-Vietnam Era Veterans' Educational Assistance Under 
    38 U.S.C. Chapter 32
    
        1. The authority citation for part 21, subpart G is revised to read 
    as follows:
    
        Authority: 38 U.S.C. chapter 32, unless otherwise noted.
    
        2. In Sec. 21.5021, paragraph (d) and its authority citation are 
    revised and paragraph (y) and its authority citation are added to read 
    as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 21.5021  Definitions.
    
    * * * * *
        (d) School, educational institution, institution. The terms, 
    school, educational institution, and institution mean--
        (1) Any vocational school, business school, correspondence school, 
    junior college, teacher's college, college, normal school, professional 
    school, university or scientific or technical institution;
        (2) Any public or private elementary school or secondary school 
    which offers courses for adults; and
        (3) An entity, during the period beginning on November 2, 1994, and 
    ending on September 30, 1996, other than an institution of higher 
    learning, that provides training required for completion of a State-
    approved alternative teacher certification program.
    
    (Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3202(2), 3452(c))
    
    * * * * *
        (y) Alternative teacher certification program. The term alternative 
    teacher certification program for the purposes of determining whether 
    an entity offering such a program is a school, educational institution 
    or institution, as defined in paragraph (d)(3) of this section, means a 
    program leading to a teacher certificate that allows individuals with a 
    bachelor's degree or graduate degree to obtain teacher certification 
    without enrolling in an institution of higher learning.
    
    (Authority: 38 U.S.C. 3202(2), 3452(c))
    
        3. In Sec. 21.5150, the introductory text is revised to read as 
    follows:
    
    
    Sec. 21.5150  State approving agencies.
    
        In administering chapter 32, title 38, United States Code, VA will 
    apply the provisions of the following sections:
    * * * * *
        4. In Sec. 21.5200, paragraph (a) is revised to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 21.5200  Schools.
    
    * * * * *
        (a) Section 21.4200--Definitions (with the exception of paragraph 
    (a)).
    * * * * *
        5. In Sec. 21.5250, paragraph (a), introductory text, and paragraph 
    (b) are revised, to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 21.5250  Courses.
    
        (a) General. In administering benefits payable under chapter 32, 
    title 38, U.S.C. VA and, where appropriate, the State approving 
    agencies shall apply the following sections:
    * * * * *
        (b) Flight courses. In administering benefits payable for flight 
    training under chapter 32, title 38, U.S.C., VA and the State approving 
    agencies will apply the provisions of Sec. 21.4263 of this part. 
    Educational assistance allowance is payable only for flight training 
    undertaken by a veteran or serviceperson after March 31, 1991.
    * * * * *
    [FR Doc. 96-664 Filed 1-19-96; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 8320-01-P
    
    

Document Information

Published:
01/22/1996
Department:
Veterans Affairs Department
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Final rule.
Document Number:
96-664
Pages:
1525-1526 (2 pages)
RINs:
2900-AH33: Veterans Education: The Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 1994 and Post-Vietnam Era Veterans Educational Assistance Program
RIN Links:
https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/2900-AH33/veterans-education-the-veterans-benefits-improvement-act-of-1994-and-post-vietnam-era-veterans-educa
PDF File:
96-664.pdf
CFR: (4)
38 CFR 21.5021
38 CFR 21.5150
38 CFR 21.5200
38 CFR 21.5250