38 U.S.C. § 7621 — Authority for program

Page 1272 TITLE 38—VETERANS’ BENEFITS § 7619 § 7619. Expiration of program The Secretary may not furnish scholarships to new participants in the Scholarship Program after December 31, 2033. (Added Pub. L. 100–322, title II, § 216(b), May 20, 1988, 102 Stat. 525, § 4318; renumbered § 7618, Pub. L. 102–40, title IV, § 402(b)(1), May 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 238; amended Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(b)(1), (2)(E), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 404, 405; Pub. L. 102–585, title V, § 523(a), Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 4959; Pub. L. 104–110, title I, § 101(j), Feb. 13, 1996, 110 Stat. 769; Pub. L. 105–114, title II, § 207(a), Nov. 21, 1997, 111 Stat. 2289; renumbered § 7619 and amended Pub. L. 111–163, title VI, § 603(a), (c)(1), May 5, 2010, 124 Stat. 1173; Pub. L. 113–146, title III, § 302(a), Aug. 7, 2014, 128 Stat. 1788; Pub. L. 115–182, title III, § 301(c), June 6, 2018, 132 Stat. 1463.) Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2018—Pub. L. 115–182 substituted ‘‘December 31, 2033’’ for ‘‘December 31, 2019’’. 2014—Pub. L. 113–146 substituted ‘‘December 31, 2019’’ for ‘‘December 31, 2014’’. 2010—Pub. L. 111–163, § 603(c)(1), renumbered section 7618 of this title as this section. Pub. L. 111–163, § 603(a), substituted ‘‘December 31, 2014’’ for ‘‘December 31, 1998’’. 1997—Pub. L. 105–114 substituted ‘‘December 31, 1998’’ for ‘‘December 31, 1997’’. 1996—Pub. L. 104–110 substituted ‘‘December 31, 1997’’ for ‘‘December 31, 1995’’. 1992—Pub. L. 102–585 substituted ‘‘December 31, 1995’’ for ‘‘September 30, 1992’’. 1991—Pub. L. 102–40 renumbered section 4318 of this title as this section. Pub. L. 102–83 substituted ‘‘Secretary’’ for ‘‘Adminis- trator’’. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries RATIFICATION OF ACTIONS DURING PERIOD OF EXPIRED AUTHORITY Any action taken by Secretary of Veterans Affairs before Feb. 13, 1996, under provision of law amended by title I of Pub. L. 104–110 that was taken during period beginning on date on which authority of Secretary under such provision of law expired and ending on Feb. 13, 1996, considered to have same force and effect as if such amendment had been in effect at time of that ac- tion, see section 103 of Pub. L. 104–110, set out as a note under section 1710 of this title. SUBCHAPTER III—TUITION REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM § 7621. Authority for program As part of the Educational Assistance Pro- gram, the Secretary shall carry out a tuition re- imbursement program under this subchapter. The program shall be known as the Department of Veterans Affairs Nurse Education Tuition Re- imbursement Program (hereinafter in this chap- ter referred to as the ‘‘Tuition Reimbursement Program’’). (Added Pub. L. 100–322, title II, § 216(b), May 20, 1988, 102 Stat. 525, § 4321; renumbered § 7621, Pub. L. 102–40, title IV, § 402(b)(1), May 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 238; amended Pub. L. 102–83, § 4(a)(2)(B)(vi), (b)(1), (2)(E), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 403–405.) Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 1991—Pub. L. 102–40 renumbered section 4321 of this title as this section. Pub. L. 102–83 substituted ‘‘Secretary’’ for ‘‘Adminis- trator’’ and ‘‘Department of Veterans Affairs’’ for ‘‘Veterans’ Administration’’. § 7622. Eligibility; application; agreement (a) To be eligible to participate in the Tuition Reimbursement Program, an individual must be a full-time employee in the Department perma- nently assigned to a Department health-care fa- cility and must be enrolled in a course of train- ing offered by an institution approved by the Secretary leading toward completion of (1) an associate or higher degree in nursing, or (2) a masters degree or doctoral degree in nursing. (b) In selecting applicants for acceptance in the Tuition Reimbursement Program, the Sec- retary (in addition to according priorities as set forth in section 7603(d) of this title) shall give special consideration and emphasis to individ- uals pursuing a course of study which will expe- dite an increase in the number of registered nurses employed by the Department. The Sec- retary shall then give priority, in the following order, to— (1) individuals who have been employed as full-time employees in the Nursing Service in the Veterans Health Administration; and (2) individuals who have previously received tuition reimbursement under the Tuition Re- imbursement Program. (c) An agreement between the Secretary and a participant in the Tuition Reimbursement Pro- gram shall (in addition to the requirements set forth in section 7604 of this title) contain the following: (1) The Secretary’s agreement to provide the participant with tuition reimbursement fol- lowing successful completion (as determined, pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Sec- retary, by the educational institution in- volved) of (A) a course or courses required for the course of study described in subsection (a) of this section, or (B) a course or courses taken as necessary prerequisites for degree program enrollment if a letter regarding the potential enrollment of the participant from an appropriate official of the institution in- volved includes a statement specifying such prerequisites. (2) The participant’s agreement— (A) to maintain employment, while en- rolled in the course of training being pur- sued by such participant, as a full-time De- partment employee in the Veterans Health Administration permanently assigned to a Department health-care facility; and (B) to continue to serve as a full-time em- ployee in the Veterans Health Administra- tion for one year (hereinafter in this sub- chapter referred to as the ‘‘period of obli- gated service’’) after completion of the course for which the participant received tuition reimbursement. (d) Tuition reimbursement provided to a par- ticipant in the Tuition Reimbursement Program