Military Spouse Career Advancement Act - Requires (current law authorizes) the Secretary of Defense (DOD) to establish programs to provide education and training opportunities for military spouses to expand employment and portable career opportunities.
Directs the Secretary to continue to carry out the Military Spouse Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) program, under which the spouse of a member of the armed forces who is serving on active duty may receive up to the amount that the Secretary determines is equal to the average amount of in-state tuition at public four-year colleges and universities located in the state in which the spouse resides in tuition assistance for education and training courses and licensing and credentialing fees.
Requires financial assistance provided under the program to be available to cover the costs of:
Prohibits the Secretary from restricting participation in the program to spouses of members serving in particular grades.
[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4818 Introduced in House (IH)]
113th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4818
To amend title 10, United States Code, to codify the Military Spouse
Career Advancement Account program conducted by the Department of
Defense to assist spouses of members of the Armed Forces serving on
active duty to pursue educational opportunities and career training, to
ensure that such educational opportunities and training are available
to all military spouses, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 9, 2014
Mr. Murphy of Florida (for himself and Mr. Cramer) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title 10, United States Code, to codify the Military Spouse
Career Advancement Account program conducted by the Department of
Defense to assist spouses of members of the Armed Forces serving on
active duty to pursue educational opportunities and career training, to
ensure that such educational opportunities and training are available
to all military spouses, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Military Spouse Career Advancement
Act''.
SEC. 2. MILITARY SPOUSE CAREER ADVANCEMENT ACCOUNT PROGRAM.
(a) Codification of MyCAA Program.--Subsection (a) of section 1784a
of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the
following new paragraph:
``(3)(A) As one of the programs established under this section to
assist spouses of members of the armed forces, the Secretary shall
continue to carry out the Military Spouse Career Advancement Account
(MyCAA) program, under which an eligible spouse may receive up to the
amount that the Secretary determines is equal to the average amount of
in-state tuition at public four-year colleges and universities located
in the State in which the spouse resides in tuition assistance for
education and training courses and licensing and credentialing fees.
``(B) Financial assistance provided under the MyCAA program shall
be available to cover the costs of the following:
``(i) State certifications for teachers, medical
professionals, and other occupations requiring recognized
certifications.
``(ii) Licensing exams and related preparation courses.
``(iii) Continuing education classes, including classes
offered through professional associations.
``(iv) Degree programs, including programs at four-year
colleges and universities, leading to employment in portable
careers.
``(v) Secondary education completion courses, GED tests,
and English as a Second Language (ESL) classes.
``(C) Financial assistance provided under the MyCAA program may not
be used to pay for computers, application, graduation or membership
fees, student activity cards, child care, parking, transportation, or
medical services.
``(D) An eligible spouse must obtain an approved MyCAA Financial
Assistance document before incurring the tuition fees for which payment
under the program is sought. The MyCAA program does not provide
reimbursements of any kind to spouses for any reason. Once the eligible
spouse obtains the MyCAA Financial Assistance document, the spouse must
commence the education or training courses for which assistance is
sought under the program while the member of the armed forces who is
married to the spouse is serving on active duty.''.
(b) Guarantee of Education and Training Opportunities for Military
Spouses.--Subsection (a)(1) of such section is amended by striking
``may establish'' and inserting ``shall establish''.
(c) Eligible Military Spouses.--Subsection (b) of such section is
amended--
(1) by inserting ``(1)'' before ``Assistance''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
``(2) The Secretary of Defense may not restrict participation in
the MyCAA program required by subsection (a)(3) to the spouses of
members serving in particular grades. Instead, subject to the
availability of funds for the MyCAA program, the Secretary shall make
the MyCAA program available to all eligible spouses.''.
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Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Armed Services.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Military Personnel.
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