Pub. L. 93-508, tit. II, sec. 214

Sec. 214. Subchapter IV of chapter 3 of title 38, United States Code, is amended as follows: (1) by inserting in section 241 “in carrying out the purposes of this subchapter (including the provision, to the maximum feasible extent, of such services, in areas where a significant number of eligible veterans and eligible dependents speak a language other than English as their principal language, in the principal language of such persons)” after “outreach services”; (2) by inserting in clause (2) “to eligible veterans and eligible dependents” after “information” the first time it appears; (3) by striking out in section 242(b) “may implement such special telephone service” and inserting in lieu thereof “shall establish and carry out all possible programs and services, including special telephone facilities.”; (4) redesignating sections 243 and 244 as 244 and 245, respectively, and adding the following new section after section 242: “§ 243. Veterans’ representatives “(a) (1) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (4) of this subsection, the Administrator shall assign, with appropriate clerical/secretarial support, to each educational institution (as defined in section 1652(c) except for correspondence schools) where at least five hundred persons are enrolled under chapters 31, 34, 35, and 36 of this title such number of full-time veterans’ representatives as will provide at least one such veterans’ representative per each five hundred such persons so enrolled at each such institution; and the Administrator shall also assign to other such veterans’ representatives responsibility for carrying out the functions set forth in paragraph (3) of this subsection with respect to groups of institutions with less than five hundred such persons so enrolled, on the basis of such proportion of such veterans’ representatives’ time to such persons so enrolled as he deems appropriate to be adequate to perform such functions at such institutions. “(2) In selecting and appointing veterans' representatives under this subsection, preference shall be given to veterans of the Vietnam era with experience in veterans affairs’ counseling, outreach, and other related veterans’ services. “(3) The functions of such veterans’ representatives shall be to— “(A) answer all inquiries related to Veterans’ Administration educational assistance and other benefits, and take all necessary action to resolve such inquiries expeditiously, especially those relating to payments of educational assistance benefits; 88 Stat. 1588 “(B) assure correctness and proper handling of applications, completion of certifications of attendance, and submission of all necessary information (including changes in status or program affecting payments) in support of benefit claims submitted; “(C) maintain active liaison, communication, and cooperation with the officials of the educational institution to which assigned, in order to alert veterans to changes in law and Veterans’ Administration policies or procedures; “(D) supervise and expeditiously resolve all difficulties relating to the delivery of advance educational assistance payments authorized under this title.; “(E) coordinate Veterans’ Administration matters with, and provide appropriate briefings to, all on-campus veterans’ groups, working particularly closely with veterans’ coordinators at educational institutions receiving veterans’ cost-of-instruction payments under section 420 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (hereinafter referred to as ‘V.C.I. institutions’); “(F) provide necessary guidance and support to veteran-student services personnel assigned to the campus under section 1685 of this title; “(G) where such functions are not being adequately carried out by existing programs at such institutions (i) provide appropriate motivational and other counseling to veterans (informing them of all available benefits and services, as provided for under section 241 of this title) and (ii) carry out outreach activities under this subchapter; and “(H) carry out such other activities as may be assigned by the director of the Veterans’ Administration regional office, established under section 230 of this title. “(4) Based on the extent to which the functions set forth in paragraph (3) of this subsection are being adequately carried out at a particular educational institution or in consideration of other factors indicating the inappropriateness of assignment of veterans’ representatives to a particular educational institution, the director of the appropriate Veterans’ Administration regional office shall, notwithstanding the formula set forth in paragraph (1) of this subsection, either reallocate such veterans’ representatives to other educational institutions in such region where he determines that such additional veterans’ representatives are necessary, or, with the approval of the chief benefits officer of the Veterans’ Administration, assign such veterans’ representatives to carry out such functions or related activities at the regional office in question, with special responsibility for one or more than one particular educational institution. “(5) The functions of a veterans’ representative assigned under this subsection shall be carried out in such a way as to complement and not interfere with the statutory responsibilities and duties of persons carrying out veterans affairs’ functions at V.C.I. institutions. “(b) The Administrator shall establish rules and procedures to guide veterans’ representatives in carrying out their functions under this section. Such rules and procedures shall contain provisions directed especially to assuring that the activities of veterans’ representatives carried out under this section complement, and do not interfere with, the established responsibilities of representatives recognized by the Administrator under section 3402 of this title.”; and (5) amending section 244 (as redesignated by clause (4) of this subsection) of such title by— (A) striking out “may” and inserting in lieu thereof “shall”; and 88 Stat. 1589 (B) inserting “and provide for” after “conduct” in paragraph (5). (b) The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by striking out “243. Utilization of other agencies. “244. Report to Congress.” and inserting in lieu thereof “243. Veterans’ representatives. “244. Utilization of other agencies. “245. Report to Congress.”.