This bill renames the Troops-to-Teachers Program as the Veterans-to-Classrooms Program, expands the program to include recruitment of veterans to non-teaching positions such as positions for nurses, counselors, and school resource officers, and generally modifies the program's scope and related requirements.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5067 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5067
To transition military veterans into new careers in education, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 13, 2019
Mr. Meadows introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committees on
Education and Labor, the Judiciary, and Veterans' Affairs, for a period
to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To transition military veterans into new careers in education, 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 ``Troops Educating And Managing
Schools Act'' or the ``TEAMS Act''.
SEC. 2. VETERANS-TO-CLASSROOMS PROGRAM.
(a) Modification and Redesignation of Program.--Section 1154 of
title 10, United States Code, is amended--
(1) in the section heading, by striking: ``employment as
teachers: Troops-to-Teachers Program'' and inserting
``employment in schools: Veterans-to-Classrooms Program'';
(2) in subsection (a)--
(A) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through (8) as
paragraphs (4) through (10), respectively;
(B) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following
new paragraphs:
``(2) Secretary.--The term `Secretary' means the Secretary
of Defense.
``(3) Covered position.--
``(A) The term `covered position' means a full-time
position in an eligible school as--
``(i) a teacher, including an elementary
school teacher, a secondary school teacher, and
a career and technical education teacher;
``(ii) a school leader;
``(iii) a school administrator;
``(iv) a nurse;
``(v) a principal;
``(vi) a counselor;
``(vii) a teaching aide;
``(viii) specialized instructional support
personnel;
``(ix) a school resource officer; or
``(x) a contractor who performs the
functions of a position described in any of
clauses (i) through (viii).'';
(C) by amending paragraph (4), as so redesignated,
to read as follows:
``(4) Eligible school.--The term `eligible school' means--
``(A) a public elementary school, including a
public elementary charter school;
``(B) a public secondary school, including a public
secondary charter school; or
``(C) a Bureau-funded school as defined in section
1141(3) of the Education Amendments of 1978 (25 U.S.C.
2021(3)).'';
(D) in paragraph (8), as so redesignated, by
striking ``Troops-to-Teachers'' and inserting
``Veterans-to-Classrooms'';
(E) by striking paragraph (9), as so redesignated,
and inserting the following new paragraph (9):
``(9) School resource officer.--The term `school resource
officer' has the meaning given that term in section 1709(4) of
the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34
U.S.C. 10389(4)).''; and
(F) in paragraph (10), as so redesignated, by
striking ``and `State''' and inserting ```specialized
instructional support personnel', and `State''';
(3) in subsection (b)--
(A) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by
striking ``Secretary of Defense may carry out a Troops-
to-Teachers Program'' and inserting ``The Secretary of
Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of
Education, may carry out a Veterans-to-Classrooms
Program'';
(B) in paragraph (1), by striking ``become a
teacher'' and inserting ``obtain a covered position'';
and
(C) by amending subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2)
to read as follows:
``(A) by local educational agencies or charter
schools in States with a shortage of individuals to
fill covered positions, as determined by the Secretary
of Education.'';
(4) in subsection (d)(4)(A)--
(A) in clause (i), by striking ``or career or
technical subjects'' and inserting ``career and
technical education, or subjects relating to a covered
position''; and
(B) in clause (ii), by inserting ``in a covered
position or'' after ``seek employment'';
(5) in subsection (e)--
(A) in paragraph (1)(A)--
(i) in clause (i), by striking ``become a
teacher'' and inserting ``obtain a covered
position''; and
(ii) in clause (ii), by striking ``as an
elementary school teacher'' and all that
follows through the period at the end and
inserting ``in a covered position for not less
than three school years in an eligible school
to begin the school year after the member
obtains the professional credentials required
for the position involved'';
(B) in paragraph (2)(E), by striking ``as a teacher
in an eligible elementary school or secondary school or
as a career or technical teacher'' and inserting ``in a
covered position''; and
(C) in paragraph (3)--
(i) in subparagraph (A)--
(I) in the first sentence, by
striking ``educational level,
certification, or licensing'' and
inserting ``educational level,
certification, licensing, or other
professional credentials''; and
(II) in the second sentence, by
striking ``$5,000'' and inserting
``$9,000 (except as adjusted by the
Secretary in accordance with
subparagraph (D))'';
(ii) in subparagraph (B)--
(I) in clause (i), by striking ``as
an elementary school teacher, secondary
school teacher, or career or technical
teacher'' and inserting ``in a covered
position''; and
(II) in clause (ii), by striking
``may not exceed $5,000, unless the
eligible school is a high-need school,
in which case the amount of the bonus
may not exceed $10,000'' and inserting
``may not exceed $9,000 (except as
adjusted by the Secretary in accordance
with subparagraph (D)), unless the
eligible school is a high-need school,
in which case the amount of the bonus
may not exceed $18,000 (except as so
adjusted)'';
(iii) in subparagraph (C)--
(I) in clause (i), by striking
``5,000'' and inserting ``20,000'';
(II) in clause (ii), by striking
``3,000'' and inserting ``5,000''; and
(III) in clause (iv), by striking
``$10,000'' and inserting ``$18,000
(except as adjusted by the Secretary in
accordance with subparagraph (D))'';
and
(iv) by adding at the end the following:
``(D)(i) The Secretary may adjust the dollar amounts set
forth in subparagraphs (A), (B)(ii), and (C)(iv) to reflect
changes in the Consumer Price Index over the applicable period.
``(ii) In this subparagraph, the term `applicable period'
means--
``(I) with respect to an initial adjustment under
clause (i), the period that has elapsed since the date
of the enactment of the TEAMS Act; or
``(II) with respect to any adjustment after the
initial adjustment, the period that has elapsed since
the date of the most recent adjustment under clause
(i).'';
(6) in subsection (f)(1)--
(A) in subparagraph (A)--
(i) by striking ``become a teacher'' and
inserting ``obtain a covered position''; and
(ii) by striking ``as an elementary school
teacher, secondary school teacher, or career or
technical teacher'' and insert ``in a covered
position''; and
(B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``, employment
as an elementary school teacher, secondary school
teacher, or career or technical teacher'' and inserting
``employment in a covered position'';
(7) in subsection (h)(2)(A), by striking ``as elementary
school teachers, secondary school teachers, and career or
technical teachers'' and inserting ``in covered positions'';
and
(8) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
``(j) Partnerships.--
``(1) In general.--The Secretary may enter into one or more
partnerships with States, local educational agencies, or
covered entities--
``(A) to help sustain and expand the reach of the
Veterans-to-Classrooms Program to promote careers in
education among current and future veterans under this
section;
``(B) to provide information on the Program in
accordance with subsection (k)(2) in widely available,
user-friendly formats;
``(C) to help recruit more veterans, including
veterans who are retired law enforcement officers, and
service members who are within 6 months of
transitioning out of the military into new careers in
education;
``(D) to promote careers in education among current
and future veterans by providing veterans with
information on other employment transition programs,
including--
``(i) the Veterans' Employment & Training
Service and the National Veterans' Training
Institute of the Department of Labor;
``(ii) the transition assistance programs
established under section 1144 of this title;
``(iii) the SkillBridge and Career Skills
Programs of the Department of Defense;
``(iv) the AmeriCorps program carried out
under subtitle C of title I of the National and
Community Service Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12571
et seq.); and
``(v) other transitional or educational
programs; and
``(E) to promote careers in education by helping
veterans learn about educational benefits available to
them, including Post-9/11 Educational Assistance,
certification programs, and applicable on-the-job
training and apprenticeship programs, to help veterans
get into an educational career field.
``(2) Covered entity defined.--In this subsection, the term
`covered entity' means--
``(A) an entity qualifying as an exempt
organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986; or
``(B) a veterans service organization recognized by
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for the
representation of veterans under section 5902 of title
38.
``(k) Program Information.--
``(1) Information from the secretary.--The Secretary shall
make available, on a publicly accessible website of the
Department of Defense, the information described in paragraph
(3).
``(2) Information from covered entities.--Each State, local
educational agency, and covered entity that enters into a
partnership with the Secretary under paragraph (1) shall make
available, on a publicly accessible website, the information
described in paragraph (3).
``(3) Information described.--The information described in
this subparagraph is information on the Veterans-to-Classrooms
program authorized under this section, including a description
of the application process for the program and the potential
benefits of participating in the program.
``(l) Biennial Review.--Not less frequently than once every two
years, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the Veterans-
to-Classrooms Program. At minimum, the report shall include a
comparison of the number of participants in the Program during the
period covered by the report relative to the number of stipends
authorized under the Program during such period.
``(m) Process To Streamline Applications.--Not later than one year
after the date of the enactment of the TEAMS Act, the Secretary shall
implement a process to simplify the submission of applications under
subsection (d)(2).''.
(b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the beginning of
chapter 58 of such title is amended by striking the item relating to
section 1154 and inserting the following new item:
``1154. Assistance to eligible members and former members to obtain
employment in schools: Veterans-to-
Classrooms Program.''.
(c) Effective Date.--The amendments made by subsections (a) and (b)
shall take effect on July 1, 2020.
(d) References.--Beginning on July 1, 2020, any reference in
Federal law (other than this Act), regulations, guidance, instructions,
or other documents of the Federal Government to the Troops-to-Teachers
Program shall be deemed to be a reference to the Veterans-to-Classrooms
Program.
SEC. 3. VETERANS EMPLOYABLE AS SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS.
Section 1709(4) of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act
of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10389(4)) is amended by inserting after ``a career
law enforcement officer, with sworn authority,'' the following: ``or a
veteran (as such term is defined in section 101(2) of title 38, United
States Code) who is hired by a State or local public agency as a law
enforcement officer for purposes of serving as a school resource
officer, who is''.
SEC. 4. TASK FORCE ON EDUCATION CAREERS FOR VETERANS.
(a) Task Force.--Not later than 120 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the President shall convene a task force to
identify strategies that may be used to assist veterans in obtaining
employment in the field of education.
(b) Responsibilities.--The task force convened under subsection (a)
shall--
(1) consult regularly with veterans service organizations
in performing the duties of the task force; and
(2) coordinate administrative and regulatory activities and
develop proposals to--
(A) identify State licensing and certification
requirements that are excessive and unnecessarily
burdensome for veterans seeking to transition into
careers in education;
(B) identify potential compensation structures for
educational employment that include salary credit for
prior military and law enforcement experience;
(C) recommend incentives to encourage educational
employers to hire veterans;
(D) assess the feasibility of establishing
dedicated military veteran liaison positions in school
districts;
(E) examine how funds made available for the
Veterans-to-Classrooms Program under section 1154 of
title 10, United States Code, may be used to conduct
outreach, provide certification support, and help
States establish outreach centers for veterans; and
(F) explore how partnerships entered by the
Secretary under subsection (j) of such section may be
used to promote careers in education among veterans
through collaboration with relevant employment
transition programs, including the Transition
Assistance Program, the SkillBridge and Career Skills
Programs of the Department of Defense, and the
AmeriCorps program.
(c) Membership.--The task force shall consist of--
(1) the Secretary of Defense, or the designee of the
Secretary, who shall be the head of the task force;
(2) the Secretary of Education, or the designee of the
Secretary;
(3) the Attorney General, or the designee of the Attorney
General;
(4) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, or the designee of
the Secretary;
(5) the Secretary of Labor, or the designee of the
Secretary;
(6) the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, or
the designee of the Director;
(7) four representatives from a veterans service
organization, selected by the President;
(8) a representative of the Administrative Conference of
the United States; and
(9) representatives of State and local governments selected
by the President, which may include representatives of State
boards of education and relevant State licensing agencies.
(d) Report.--
(1) In general.--Not later than one year after the date on
which the task force is convened under subsection (a), the task
force shall submit to Congress a report that includes--
(A) a description of actions that may be carried
out by State and local governments to reduce barriers
that interfere with the ability of veterans to
transition into careers in education; and
(B) recommendations for specific legislative and
regulatory actions that may be carried out to reduce
such barriers.
(2) Public availability.--The report under paragraph (1)
shall be made available on a publicly accessible website of the
Department of Defense.
(e) Definitions.--In this section, the term ``veterans service
organization'' means any organization recognized by the Secretary of
Veterans Affairs for the representation of veterans under section 5902
of title 38, United States Code.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, the Judiciary, and Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, the Judiciary, and Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, the Judiciary, and Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, the Judiciary, and Veterans' Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
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