Sec. 552. Improvements to Transition Assistance Program
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Section 1142 of title 10, United States Code, is amended— in the section heading by striking and inserting medical ; certain in subsection (a)— in paragraph (1), by inserting (regardless of character of discharge) after discharge ; in paragraph (3)(A)— by striking as soon as possible during the 12-month period preceding and inserting not later than 365 days before ; by striking 90 days and inserting 365 days ; and by striking discharge or release and inserting retirement or other separation ; and in paragraph (3)(B)— by striking 90 and inserting 365 ; and by striking 90-day and inserting 365-day ; by redesignating subsection
(c)as subsection (d); by inserting after subsection
(b)the following new subsection (c): Each Secretary concerned, in consultation with the Secretaries of Labor and Veterans Affairs, shall establish at least three pathways for members of the military department concerned receiving individualized counseling under this section. The Secretaries shall design the pathways to address the needs of members, based on the following factors: Rank. Term of service. Gender. Whether the member was a member of a regular or reserve component of an armed force. Disability. Character of discharge (including expedited discharge and discharge under conditions other than honorable). Health (including mental health). Military occupational specialty. Whether the member intends, after separation, retirement, or discharge, to— seek employment; enroll in a program of higher education; enroll in a program of vocational training; or become an entrepreneur. The educational history of the member. The employment history of the member. Whether the member has secured— employment; enrollment in a program of education; or enrollment in a program of vocational training. Other factors the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretaries of Labor and Veterans Affairs, determine appropriate. Each member described in subsection
(a)shall meet in person or by video conference with a counselor before beginning counseling under this section to— take a self-assessment designed by the Secretary concerned (in consultation with the Secretaries of Labor and Veterans Affairs) to ensure that the Secretary concerned places the member in the appropriate pathway under this subsection; receive information from the counselor regarding reenlistment in the armed forces; and receive information from the counselor regarding resources (including resources regarding military sexual trauma)— for members of the armed forces separated, retired, or discharged; located in the community in which the member will reside after separation, retirement, or discharge. At the meeting under paragraph (2), the member may elect to have the Secretary concerned (in consultation with the Secretaries of Labor and Veterans Affairs) provide the contact information of the member to the resources described in paragraph (2)(B). ; and by adding at the end the following new subsection: The Secretary concerned shall provide a copy of the joint service transcript of a member described in subsection
(a)to— that member— at the meeting with a counselor under subsection (c)(2); and on the day the member separates, retires, or is discharged. the Secretary of Veterans Affairs on the day the member separates, retires, or is discharged. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall ensure that a member who has separated, retired, or is discharged may access the joint service transcript of that member from a website of the Department of Veterans Affairs not later than one year after the day the member separates, retires, or is discharged. . Each Secretary concerned shall carry out subsection
(c)of such section, as amended by paragraph (1), not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act. Not later than 1 year after the Secretaries concerned carry out subsection
(c)of such section, as amended by paragraph (1), the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress a review of the pathways for the Transition Assistance Program established under such subsection (c). Section 1144 of title 10, United States Code, is amended— in subsection (a), by striking Such services and inserting Subject to subsection (f)(2), such services ; and by amending subsection
(f)to read as follows: The program carried out under this section shall consist of instruction as follows: One day of preseparation training specific to the armed force concerned, as determined by the Secretary concerned. One day of instruction regarding— benefits under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; and other subjects determined by the Secretary concerned. One day of instruction regarding preparation for employment. Two days of instruction regarding a topic selected by the member from the following subjects: Preparation for employment. Preparation for education. Preparation for vocational training. Preparation for entrepreneurship. Other options determined by the Secretary concerned. The Secretary concerned may permit a member to attend training and instruction under the program established under this section— before the time periods established under section 1142(a)(3) of this title; in addition to such training and instruction required during such time periods. . The Transition Assistance Program shall comply with the requirements of section 1144(f) of title 10, United States Code, as amended by paragraph (1), not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act. Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall submit an action plan to the congressional defense committees that— details how the Secretary shall implement the requirements of section 1144(f) of title 10, United States Code, as amended by paragraph (1); and details how the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretaries of Veterans Affairs and Labor, shall establish standardized performance metrics to measure Transition Assistance Program participation and outcome-based objective benchmarks in order to— provide feedback to the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Labor; improve the curriculum of the Transition Assistance Program; share best practices; facilitate effective oversight of the Transition Assistance Program; and ensure members obtain sufficient financial literacy to effectively leverage conferred benefits and opportunities for employment, education, vocational training, and entrepreneurship. On the date that is 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act and annually thereafter for the subsequent 4 years, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the Committees on Armed Services and Veterans' Affairs of the Senate and the House of Representatives, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives, a report regarding members of the Armed Forces who have attended Transition Assistance Program counseling during the preceding year. The report shall detail the following: The total number of members who attended Transition Assistance Program counseling. The number of members who attended Transition Assistance Program counseling under paragraph
(1)of section 1144(f) of title 10, as amended by paragraph (1). The number of members who attended Transition Assistance Program counseling under paragraph
(2)of such section. The number of members who elected to attend each two-day instruction under paragraph (1)(D) of such section.