IMPROVEMENT TO SPINA BIFIDA BENEFITS FOR CHILDREN OF VIETNAM VETERANS.

SEC. 404. IMPROVEMENT TO SPINA BIFIDA BENEFITS FOR CHILDREN OF VIETNAM VETERANS. (a) Definitions.—The text of section 1801 is amended to read as follows: “For the purposes of this chapter— “(1) The term ‘child’, with respect to a Vietnam veteran, means a natural child of a Vietnam veteran, regardless of age or marital status, who was conceived after the date on which the Vietnam veteran first entered the Republic of Vietnam during the period beginning on January 9, 1962, and ending on May 7, 1975. “(2) The term Vietnam veteran’ means an individual who performed active military, naval, or air service in the Republic of Vietnam during the period beginning on January 9, 1962, and ending on May 7, 1975, without regard to the characterization of the individual’s service.”. (b) Applicability of Certain Administrative Provisions.—(1) Section 1806 is amended to read as follows: “§ 1806. Applicability of certain administrative provisions “The provisions of sections 5101(c), 5110(a), (b)(2), (g), and (i), 5111, and 5112(a), (b)(1), (b)(6), (b)(9), and (b)(10) of this title 111 STAT. 2295shall be deemed to apply to benefits under this chapter in the same manner in which they apply to veterans’ disability compensation.”. (2) The item relating to section 1806 in the table of sections at the beginning of chapter 18 is amended to read as follows: “1806. Applicability of certain administrative provisions”. (c) Amendments to Vocational Rehabilitation Provisions.—Section 1804 is amended— (1) in subsection (b), by striking out “shall be designed” and all that follows and inserting in lieu thereof the following: “shall— “(1) be designed in consultation with the child in order to meet the child’s individual needs; “(2) be set forth in an individualized written plan of vocational rehabilitation; and “(3) be designed and developed before the date specified in subsection (d)(3) so as to permit the beginning of the program as of the date specified in that subsection.”; (2) in subsection (c)(1)(B), by striking out “institution of higher education” and inserting in lieu thereof “institution of higher learning”; and (3) by adding at the end of subsection (d) the following new paragraph: “(3) A vocational training program under this section may begin on the child’s 18th birthday, or on the successful completion of the child’s secondary schooling, whichever first occurs, except that, if the child is above the age of compulsory school attendance under applicable State law and the Secretary determines that the child’s best interests will be served thereby, the vocational training program may begin before the child’s 18th birthday”. (d) Effective Date.—The amendments made by this section shall take effect as of October 1, 1997.