ENHANCEMENT OF EDUCATION BENEFITS FOR CERTAIN MEMBERS OF RESERVE COMPONENTS.

SEC. 528. ENHANCEMENT OF EDUCATION BENEFITS FOR CERTAIN MEMBERS OF RESERVE COMPONENTS.(a) Accelerated Payment of Educational Assistance for Members of the Selected Reserve.—(1) In general.—Chapter 1606 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 16131 the following new section:“§ 16131a. Accelerated payment of educational assistance“(a) The educational assistance allowance payable under section 16131 of this title with respect to an eligible person described in subsection (b) may, upon the election of such eligible person, be paid on an accelerated basis in accordance with this section.“(b) An eligible person described in this subsection is a person entitled to educational assistance under this chapter who is—“(1) enrolled in an approved program of education not exceeding two years in duration and not leading to an associate, bachelors, masters, or other degree, subject to subsection (g); and“(2) charged tuition and fees for the program of education that, when divided by the number of months (and fractions thereof) in the enrollment period, exceeds the amount equal to 200 percent of the monthly rate of educational assistance allowance otherwise payable with respect to the person under section 16131 of this title.122 STAT. 106“(c)(1) The amount of the accelerated payment of educational assistance payable with respect to an eligible person making an election under subsection (a) for a program of education shall be the lesser of—“(A) the amount equal to 60 percent of the established charges for the program of education; or“(B) the aggregate amount of educational assistance allowance to which the person remains entitled under this chapter at the time of the payment.“(2)(A) In this subsection, except as provided in subparagraph (B), the term ‘established charges’, in the case of a program of education, means the actual charges (as determined pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs) for tuition and fees which similarly circumstanced individuals who are not eligible for benefits under this chapter and who are enrolled in the program of education would be required to pay. Established charges shall be determined on the following basis:“(i) In the case of an individual enrolled in a program of education offered on a term, quarter, or semester basis, the tuition and fees charged the individual for the term, quarter, or semester.“(ii) In the case of an individual enrolled in a program of education not offered on a term, quarter, or semester basis, the tuition and fees charged the individual for the entire program of education.“(B) In this subsection, the term ‘established charges’ does not include any fees or payments attributable to the purchase of a vehicle.“(3) The educational institution providing the program of education for which an accelerated payment of educational assistance allowance is elected by an eligible person under subsection (a) shall certify to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs the amount of the established charges for the program of education.“(d) An accelerated payment of educational assistance allowance made with respect to an eligible person under this section for a program of education shall be made not later than the last day of the month immediately following the month in which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs receives a certification from the educational institution regarding—“(1) the person’s enrollment in and pursuit of the program of education; and“(2) the amount of the established charges for the program of education.“(e)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), for each accelerated payment of educational assistance allowance made with respect to an eligible person under this section, the person’s entitlement to educational assistance under this chapter shall be charged the number of months (and any fraction thereof) determined by dividing the amount of the accelerated payment by the full-time monthly rate of educational assistance allowance otherwise payable with respect to the person under section 16131 of this title as of the beginning date of the enrollment period for the program of education for which the accelerated payment is made.“(2) If the monthly rate of educational assistance allowance otherwise payable with respect to an eligible person under section 16131 of this title increases during the enrollment period of a 122 STAT. 107 program of education for which an accelerated payment of educational assistance allowance is made under this section, the charge to the person’s entitlement to educational assistance under this chapter shall be determined by prorating the entitlement chargeable, in the manner provided for under paragraph (1), for the periods covered by the initial rate and increased rate, respectively, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.“(f) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section. The regulations shall include requirements, conditions, and methods for the request, issuance, delivery, certification of receipt and use, and recovery of overpayment of an accelerated payment of educational assistance allowance under this section. The regulations may include such elements of the regulations prescribed under section 3014A of title 38 as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs considers appropriate for purposes of this section.“(g) The aggregate amount of educational assistance payable under this section in any fiscal year for enrollments covered by subsection (b)(1) may not exceed $4,000,000.” .(2) Clerical amendment.—The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 1606 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 16131 the following new item: “16131a. Accelerated payment of educational assistance.”. (3) Effective date.—The amendments made by this subsection shall take effect on October 1, 2008, and shall only apply to initial enrollments in approved programs of education after such date.(b) Accelerated Payment of Educational Assistance for Reserve Component Members Supporting Contingency Operations and Other Operations.—(1) In general.—Chapter 1607 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 16162 the following new section:“§ 16162a. Accelerated payment of educational assistance“(a) Payment on Accelerated Basis.—The educational assistance allowance payable under section 16162 of this title with respect to an eligible member described in subsection (b) may, upon the election of such eligible member, be paid on an accelerated basis in accordance with this section.“(b) Eligible Members.—An eligible member described in this subsection is a member of a reserve component entitled to educational assistance under this chapter who is—“(1) enrolled in an approved program of education not exceeding two years in duration and not leading to an associate, bachelors, masters, or other degree, subject to subsection (g); and“(2) charged tuition and fees for the program of education that, when divided by the number of months (and fractions thereof) in the enrollment period, exceeds the amount equal to 200 percent of the monthly rate of educational assistance allowance otherwise payable with respect to the member under section 16162 of this title.“(c) Amount of Accelerated Payment.—(1) The amount of the accelerated payment of educational assistance payable with 122 STAT. 108 respect to an eligible member making an election under subsection (a) for a program of education shall be the lesser of—“(A) the amount equal to 60 percent of the established charges for the program of education; or“(B) the aggregate amount of educational assistance allowance to which the member remains entitled under this chapter at the time of the payment.“(2)(A) In this subsection, except as provided in subparagraph (B), the term ‘established charges’, in the case of a program of education, means the actual charges (as determined pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs) for tuition and fees which similarly circumstanced individuals who are not eligible for benefits under this chapter and who are enrolled in the program of education would be required to pay. Established charges shall be determined on the following basis:“(i) In the case of an individual enrolled in a program of education offered on a term, quarter, or semester basis, the tuition and fees charged the individual for the term, quarter, or semester.“(ii) In the case of an individual enrolled in a program of education not offered on a term, quarter, or semester basis, the tuition and fees charged the individual for the entire program of education.“(B) In this subsection, the term ‘established charges’ does not include any fees or payments attributable to the purchase of a vehicle.“(3) The educational institution providing the program of education for which an accelerated payment of educational assistance allowance is elected by an eligible member under subsection (a) shall certify to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs the amount of the established charges for the program of education.“(d) Time of Payment.—An accelerated payment of educational assistance allowance made with respect to an eligible member under this section for a program of education shall be made not later than the last day of the month immediately following the month in which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs receives a certification from the educational institution regarding—“(1) the member’s enrollment in and pursuit of the program of education; and“(2) the amount of the established charges for the program of education.“(e) Charge Against Entitlement.—(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), for each accelerated payment of educational assistance allowance made with respect to an eligible member under this section, the member’s entitlement to educational assistance under this chapter shall be charged the number of months (and any fraction thereof) determined by dividing the amount of the accelerated payment by the full-time monthly rate of educational assistance allowance otherwise payable with respect to the member under section 16162 of this title as of the beginning date of the enrollment period for the program of education for which the accelerated payment is made.“(2) If the monthly rate of educational assistance allowance otherwise payable with respect to an eligible member under section 16162 of this title increases during the enrollment period of a program of education for which an accelerated payment of educational assistance allowance is made under this section, the charge 122 STAT. 109 to the member’s entitlement to educational assistance under this chapter shall be determined by prorating the entitlement chargeable, in the manner provided for under paragraph (1), for the periods covered by the initial rate and increased rate, respectively, in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.“(f) Regulations.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall prescribe regulations to carry out this section. The regulations shall include requirements, conditions, and methods for the request, issuance, delivery, certification of receipt and use, and recovery of overpayment of an accelerated payment of educational assistance allowance under this section. The regulations may include such elements of the regulations prescribed under section 3014A of title 38 as the Secretary of Veterans Affairs considers appropriate for purposes of this section.“(g) Limitation.—The aggregate amount of educational assistance payable under this section in any fiscal year for enrollments covered by subsection (b)(1) may not exceed $3,000,000.” .(2) Clerical amendment.—The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 1607 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 16162 the following new item: “16162a. Accelerated payment of educational assistance.”. (3) Effective date.—The amendments made by this subsection shall take effect on October 1, 2008, and shall only apply to initial enrollments in approved programs of education after such date.(c) Enhancement of Educational Assistance for Reserve Component Members Supporting Contingency Operations and Other Operations.—(1) Assistance for three years cumulative service.—Subsection (c)(4)(C) of section 16162 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking “for two continuous years or more.” and inserting “for—“(i) two continuous years or more; or“(ii) an aggregate of three years or more.”.(2) Contributions for increased amount of educational assistance.—Such section is further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:“(f) Contributions for Increased Amount of Educational Assistance.—(1)(A) Any individual eligible for educational assistance under this section may contribute amounts for purposes of receiving an increased amount of educational assistance as provided for in paragraph (2).“(B) An individual covered by subparagraph (A) may make the contributions authorized by that subparagraph at any time while a member of a reserve component, but not more frequently than monthly.“(C) The total amount of the contributions made by an individual under subparagraph (A) may not exceed $600. Such contributions shall be made in multiples of $20.“(D) Contributions under this subsection shall be made to the Secretary concerned. Such Secretary shall deposit any amounts received as contributions under this subsection into the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts.122 STAT. 110“(2) Effective as of the first day of the enrollment period following the enrollment period in which an individual makes contributions under paragraph (1), the monthly amount of educational assistance allowance applicable to such individual under this section shall be the monthly rate otherwise provided for under subsection (c) increased by—“(A) an amount equal to $5 for each $20 contributed by such individual under paragraph (1) for an approved program of education pursued on a full-time basis; or“(B) an appropriately reduced amount based on the amount so contributed as determined under regulations that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall prescribe, for an approved program of education pursued on less than a full-time basis.”.