
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document affected by Public Law 106-419 Section 404(a)(10)]
[CITE: 38USC7603]

 
                      TITLE 38--VETERANS' BENEFITS
 
              PART V--BOARDS, ADMINISTRATIONS, AND SERVICES
 
     CHAPTER 76--HEALTH PROFESSIONALS EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
 
                          SUBCHAPTER I--GENERAL
 
Sec. 7603. Application and acceptance

    (a)(1) To apply to participate in the Educational Assistance Program 
under subsection \1\ II, III, V, or VI of this chapter, an individual 
shall submit to the Secretary an application for such participation 
together with an agreement described in section 7604 of this title under 
which the participant agrees to serve a period of obligated service in 
the Veterans Health Administration as provided in the agreement in 
return for payment of educational assistance as provided in the 
agreement.
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    \1\ So in original. Probably should be ``subchapter''.
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    (2) To apply to participate in the Educational Assistance Program 
under subchapter VII of this chapter, an individual shall submit to the 
Secretary an application for such participation.
    (b)(1) An individual becomes a participant in the Educational 
Assistance Program upon the Secretary's approval of the individual's 
application and the Secretary's acceptance of the agreement (if 
required).
    (2) Upon the Secretary's approval of an individual's participation 
in the program, the Secretary shall promptly notify the individual of 
that approval. Such notice shall be in writing.
    (c)(1) In distributing application forms and agreement forms to 
individuals desiring to participate in the Educational Assistance 
Program, the Secretary shall include with such forms the following:
        (A) A fair summary of the rights and liabilities of an 
    individual whose application is approved (and whose agreement is 
    accepted) by the Secretary, including a clear explanation of the 
    damages to which the United States is entitled if the individual 
    breaches the agreement.
        (B) A full description of the terms and conditions that apply to 
    participation in the Educational Assistance Program and service in 
    the Veterans Health Administration.

    (2) The Secretary shall make such application forms and other 
information available to individuals desiring to participate in the 
Educational Assistance Program on a date sufficiently early to allow 
such individuals adequate time to prepare and submit such forms.
    (d) In selecting applicants for acceptance in the Educational 
Assistance Program, the Secretary shall give priority to the 
applications of individuals who have previously received educational 
assistance under the program and have not completed the course of 
education or training undertaken under such program.

(Added Pub. L. 100-322, title II, Sec. 216(b), May 20, 1988, 102 Stat. 
518, Sec. 4303; renumbered Sec. 7603 and amended Pub. L. 102-40, title 
IV, Sec. 402(b)(1), (d)(1), May 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 238, 239; Pub. L. 
102-83, Sec. 4(b)(1), (2)(E), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 404, 405; Pub. L. 
103-446, title XII, Sec. 1201(b)(1), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4682; Pub. 
L. 105-368, title VIII, Sec. 805(3), Nov. 11, 1998, 112 Stat. 3359.)


                               Amendments

    1998--Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105-368, Sec. 805(3)(A), designated 
existing provisions as par. (1), substituted ``To apply to participate 
in the Educational Assistance Program under subsection II, III, V, or VI 
of this chapter,'' for ``To apply to participate in the Educational 
Assistance Program,'', and added par. (2).
    Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 105-368, Sec. 805(3)(B), inserted ``(if 
required)'' before period at end.
    1994--Subsecs. (a), (c)(1)(B). Pub. L. 103-446 substituted 
``Veterans Health Administration'' for ``Department of Medicine and 
Surgery''.
    1991--Pub. L. 102-40, Sec. 402(b)(1), renumbered section 4303 of 
this title as this section.
    Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102-83 substituted ``Secretary'' for 
``Administrator''.
    Pub. L. 102-40, Sec. 402(d)(1), substituted ``7604'' for ``4304''.
    Subsecs. (b) to (d). Pub. L. 102-83 substituted ``Secretary'' for 
``Administrator'' and ``Secretary's'' for ``Administrator's'' wherever 
appearing.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in sections 7612, 7616, 7617, 7622, 
7623, 7652, 7653, 7654, 7672, 7674, 7675 of this title.
