
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 38USC7622]

 
                      TITLE 38--VETERANS' BENEFITS
 
              PART V--BOARDS, ADMINISTRATIONS, AND SERVICES
 
     CHAPTER 76--HEALTH PROFESSIONALS EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
 
              SUBCHAPTER III--TUITION REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM
 
Sec. 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 
permanently assigned to a Department health-care facility and must be 
enrolled in a course of training 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 Secretary (in addition to according 
priorities as set forth in section 7603(d) of this title) shall give 
special consideration and emphasis to individuals pursuing a course of 
study which will expedite an increase in the number of registered nurses 
employed by the Department. The Secretary 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 Reimbursement Program.

    (c) An agreement between the Secretary and a participant in the 
Tuition Reimbursement Program 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 following successful completion (as 
    determined, pursuant to regulations prescribed by the Secretary, by 
    the educational institution involved) 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 involved includes a statement specifying such 
    prerequisites.
        (2) The participant's agreement--
            (A) to maintain employment, while enrolled in the course of 
        training being pursued by such participant, as a full-time 
        Department employee in the Veterans Health Administration 
        permanently assigned to a Department health-care facility; and
            (B) to continue to serve as a full-time employee in the 
        Veterans Health Administration for one year (hereinafter in this 
        subchapter referred to as the ``period of obligated service'') 
        after completion of the course for which the participant 
        received tuition reimbursement.

    (d) Tuition reimbursement provided to a participant in the Tuition 
Reimbursement Program may not exceed $2,000 per year (adjusted in 
accordance with section 7631 of this title).
    (e) The Secretary may arrange with an educational institution 
pursuant to which such an institution would provide a course or courses 
at a Department health-care facility to participants in the Tuition 
Reimbursement Program. Under such an arrangement, the Secretary may 
agree to pay to the institution an amount not in excess of an amount 
determined by multiplying the number of participants in such a course by 
the amount of tuition reimbursement each participant would receive for 
enrolling and successfully completing such course.

(Added Pub. L. 100-322, title II, Sec. 216(b), May 20, 1988, 102 Stat. 
525, Sec. 4322; renumbered Sec. 7622 and amended Pub. L. 102-40, title 
IV, Sec. 402(b)(1), (d)(1), May 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 238, 239; Pub. L. 
102-54, Sec. 14(e)(9), June 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 287; Pub. L. 102-83, 
Sec. 4(a)(3), (4), (b)(1), (2)(E), Aug. 6, 1991, 105 Stat. 404, 405; 
Pub. L. 103-446, title XII, Sec. 1201(b), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4682.)


                               Amendments

    1994--Subsecs. (b)(1), (c)(2)(A). Pub. L. 103-446, Sec. 1201(b)(1), 
substituted ``Veterans Health Administration'' for ``Department of 
Medicine and Surgery''.
    Subsec. (c)(2)(B). Pub. L. 103-446, Sec. 1201(b)(2), substituted 
``the Veterans Health Administration'' for ``such Department''.
    1991--Pub. L. 102-40, Sec. 402(b)(1), renumbered section 4322 of 
this title as this section.
    Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102-83, Sec. 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted 
``Secretary'' for ``Administrator''.
    Pub. L. 102-83, Sec. 4(a)(3), (4), substituted ``Department'' for 
``Veterans' Administration'' in two places.
    Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102-83, Sec. 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted 
``Secretary'' for ``Administrator'' in two places in introductory 
provisions.
    Pub. L. 102-83, Sec. 4(a)(3), (4), substituted ``Department'' for 
``Veterans' Administration'' in introductory provisions.
    Pub. L. 102-40, Sec. 402(d)(1), substituted ``7603(d)'' for 
``4303(d)''.
    Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 102-83, Sec. 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted 
``Secretary'' for ``Administrator'' in introductory provisions and in 
par. (1) and ``Secretary's'' for ``Administrator's'' in par. (1).
    Pub. L. 102-40, Sec. 402(d)(1), substituted ``7604'' for ``4304'' in 
introductory provisions.
    Pub. L. 102-83, Sec. 4(a)(3), (4), substituted ``Department'' for 
``Veterans' Administration'' in two places in par. (2)(A).
    Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 102-54 amended subsec. (d) as in effect 
immediately before the enactment of Pub. L. 102-40 by inserting an open 
parenthesis before ``adjusted in''.
    Pub. L. 102-40, Sec. 402(d)(1), substituted ``7631'' for ``4331''.
    Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 102-83, Sec. 4(b)(1), (2)(E), substituted 
``Secretary'' for ``Administrator'' in two places.
    Pub. L. 102-83, Sec. 4(a)(3), (4), substituted ``Department'' for 
``Veterans' Administration''.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in sections 7623, 7631 of this title.
