ability claims of, and giving aid and advice to, members of the Armed Forces who are about to be discharged or released from active military, naval, or air service.

233. Employees' apparel; school transportation; recreational equipment; visual exhibits; personal property; emergency transportation of employees

(a) The Administrator, subject to such limitations as he may preScribe, may

(1) furnish and launder such wearing apparel as may be prescribed for employees in the performance of their official duties;

(2) transport children of Veterans' Administration employees located at isolated stations to and from school in available Government-owned automotive equipment;

(3) provide recreational facilities, supplies, and equipment for the use of patients in hospitals, and employees in isolated installations;

(4) provide for the preparation, shipment, installation, and display of exhibits, photographic displays, moving pictures and other visual educational information and descriptive material; and

(5) reimburse employees for the cost of repairing or replacing their personal property damaged or destroyed by patients or domiciliary members while such employees are engaged in the performance of their official duties.

For the purposes of subparagraph (4), the Administrator may purhase or rent equipment. (Amended P.L. 87-574, § 1.)

(b) The Administrator, when he determines that an emergency ituation exists and that such action is necessary for the effective conluct of the affairs of the Veterans' Administration, may utilize Govrnment-owned, or leased, vehicles to transport employees to and from heir place of employment and the nearest adequate public transporation, or, if such public transportation is either unavailable or not easible to use, to and from their place of employment and their home. The Administrator shall establish reasonable rates to cover the cost f the service rendered, and all proceeds collected therefrom shall be pplied to the applicable appropriation. (Added P.L. 89-785, § 303 a).)

234. Telephone service for medical officers and facility directors The Administrator may pay for official telephone service and rental n the field whenever incurred in case of official telephones for nonmedical directors of centers, hospitals, independent clinics, domiciliries, and medical officers of the Veterans' Administration where such elephones are installed in private residences or private apartments or uarters, when authorized under regulations established by the Adinistrator. (Amended P.L. 93-82, § 402 (a), (c).)

235. Benefits to employees at oversea offices who are United States citizens

The Administrator may, under such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the President or his designee, provide to peronnel of the Veterans' Administration who are United States citizens nd are assigned by the Administrator to the Veterans' Administraion offices in the Republic of the Philippines or to the Veterans' Ad

ministration office in Europe, established pursuant to section 230 (c) of this title, allowances and benefits similar to those provided by the following provisions of law:

(1) Section 1131 of title 22 (relating to allowances to pro vide for the proper representation of the United States). (2) Section 1136 (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), and (7) of title 22 (relating to travel expenses).

(3) Section 1138 of title 22 (relating to transportation of automobiles).

(4) Section 1148 of title 22 (relating to the return of personne to the United States on leave of absence).

(5) Section 1156 of title 22 (relating to payments by the Unite States of expenses for treating illness or injury of officers 0: employees and dependents requiring hospitalization).

The foregoing authority supplements, but is not in lieu of, other allow ances and benefits for overseas employees of the Veterans' Administra tion provided by titles 5 and 22. (Added P.L. 86-116; amended P.L 87-815, § 6; P.L. 89–300, § 1 (c).)

§ 236. Administrative settlement of tort claims arising in foreign countries

The Administrator may pay tort claims, in the manner authorized in the first paragraph of section 2672 of title 28, when such claims arisc in foreign countries in connection with Veterans' Administratio operations abroad. A claim may not be allowed under this section unless it is presented in writing to the Administrator or his designe within two years after the claim accrues. (Added P.L. 89-300, § 1(a).

Subchapter IV-Veterans Outreach Services Program

§ 240. Purpose; definitions

(a) The Congress declares that the outreach services program au thorized by this subchapter is for the purpose of insuring that al veterans, especially those who have been recently discharged or re leased from active military, naval, or air service and those who are eligible for readjustment or other benefits and services under laws administered by the Veterans' Administration are provided timely and appropriate assistance to aid and encourage them in applying for and obtaining such benefits and services in order that they may achieve a rapid social and economic readjustment to civilian life and obtain a higher standard of living for themselves and their dependents. The Congress further declares that the outreach services program authorized by this subchapter is for the purpose of charging the Veterans Administration with the affirmative duty of seeking out eligible vet erans and eligible dependents and providing them with such services. (Added P.L. 91-219, § 214 (a); amended P.L. 92-540, § 410 (a).)

(b) For the purposes of this subchapter, (1) the term "other gov ernmental programs" shall include all programs under State or locs' laws as well as all programs under Federal law other than those authorized by this title, and (2) the term "eligible dependent" means ar "eligible person" as defined in section 1701 (a) (1) of this title. (Added P.L. 91-219, § 214(a).)

7

241. Outreach services

The Administrator shall provide the following outreach services in arrying out the purposes of this subchapter (including the provision, the maximum feasible extent, of such services, in areas where a ignificant number of eligible veterans and eligible dependents speak language other than English as their principal language, in the rincipal language of such persons):

(1) by letter advise each veteran at the time of his discharge or release from active military, naval, or air service, or as soon as possible thereafter, of all benefits and services under laws administered by the Veterans' Administration for which the veteran may be eligible and, in carrying out this paragraph, the Administrator shall insure, through the utilization of veteran-student services under section 1685 of this title, that contact, in person or by telephone, is made with those veterans who, on the basis of their military service records, do not have a high school education or equivalent at the time of discharge or release;

(2) distribute full information to eligible veterans and eligible dependents regarding all benefits and services to which they may be entitled under laws administered by the Veterans' Administration and may, to the extent feasible, distribute information on other governmental programs (including manpower and training programs) which he determines would be beneficial to veterans; and

(3) provide, to the maximum extent possible, aid and assistance (including personal interviews) to members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and eligible dependents in respect to clauses (1) and (2) above and in the preparation and presentation of claims under laws administered by the Veterans' Administration. Added P.L. 91-219, § 214 (a); amended P.L. 92-540, § 410 (b); L. 93-508, §214(1), (2).)

(a) The Administrator shall establish and maintain veterans sistance offices at such places throughout the United States and s territories and possessions, and the Commonwealth of Puerto co, as he determines to be necessary to carry out the purposes of is subchapter, with due regard for the geographical distribution veterans recently discharged or released from active military, val, or air service, the special needs of educationally disadntaged veterans (including their need for accessibility of outach services), and the necessity of providing appropriate outach services in less populated areas. (Added P.L. 91-219, § 214 (a).) (b) The Administrator shall establish and carry out all possible ograms and services, including special telephone facilities, as may necessary to make the outreach services provided for under this bchapter as widely available as possible. (Added P.L. 91-219, 214 (a); amended P.L. 93-508, § 214 (3).)

43. Veterans' representatives

(a) (1) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (4) of this subtion, the Administrator shall assign, with appropriate clerical/secarial support, to each educational institution (as defined in section 52 (c) except for correspondence schools) where at least five hundred

persons are enrolled under chapters 31, 34, 35, and 36 of this title such number of full-time veterans' representatives as will provide at least one such veterans' representative per each five hundred such persons so enrolled at each such institution; and the Administrator shall als assign to other such veterans' representatives responsibility for carry ing out the functions set forth in paragraph (3) of this subsection with respect to groups of institutions with less than five hundred such persons so enrolled, on the basis of such proportion of such veterans representatives' time to such persons so enrolled as he deems appropriate to be adequate to perform such functions at such institutions

(2) In selecting and appointing veterans' representatives under this subsection, preference shall be given to veterans of the Vietnam era with experience in veterans affairs' counseling, outreach, and other related veterans' services.

(3) The functions of such veterans' representatives shall be to(A) answer all inquiries related to Veterans' Administration educational assistance and other benefits, and take all necessary action to resolve such inquiries expeditiously, especially thos relating to payments of educational assistance benefits;

(B) assure correctness and proper handling of applications completion of certifications of attendance, and submission of all necessary information (including changes in status or progra affecting payments) in support of benefit claims submitted;

(C) maintain active liaison, communication, and cooperation with the officials of the educational institution to which assigned in order to alert veterans to changes in law and Veterans Administration policies or procedures;

(D) supervise and expeditiously resolve all difficulties relating to the delivery of advance educational assistance payments authorized under this title;

(E) coordinate Veterans' Administration matters with, and provide appropriate briefings to, all on-campus veterans' groups working particularly closely with veterans' coordinators at educational institutions receiving veterans' cost-of-instruction pay ments under section 420 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (hereinafter referred to as "V.C.I. institutions");

(F) provide necessary guidance and support to veteran-student services personnel assigned to the campus under section 1685 of this title;

(G) where such functions are not being adequately carried out by existing programs at such institutions (i) provide appropriate motivational and other counseling to veterans (informing them of all available benefits and services, as provided for under section 241 of this title) and (ii) carry out outreach activities under this subchapter; and

(H) carry out such other activities as may be assigned by the director of the Veterans' Administration regional office, estab lished under section 230 of this title.

(4) Based on the extent to which the functions set forth in paragraph (3) of this subsection are being adequately carried out at a particular educational institution or in consideration of other factors indicating the inappropriateness of assignment of veterans' representatives to a particular educational institution, the director of the appropriate Veterans' Administration regional office shall, notwith

standing the formula set forth in paragraph (1) of this subsection, either reallocate such veterans' representatives to other educational institutions in such region where he determines that such additional veterans' representatives are necessary, or, with the approval of the chief benefits officer of the Veterans' Administration, assign such veterans' representatives to carry out such functions or related activities. at the regional office in question, with special responsibility for one or more than one particular educational institution.

(5) The functions of a veterans' representative assigned under this subsection shall be carried out in such a way as to complement and not interfere with the statutory responsibilities and duties of persons carrying out veteran affairs' functions at V.C.I. institutions. (Added P.L. 93-508, § 214 (4).)

(b) The Administrator shall establish rules and procedures to guide veterans' representatives in carrying out their functions under this section. Such rules and procedures shall contain provisions directed especially to assuring that the activities of veterans' representatives carried out under this section complement, and do not interfere with, the established responsibilities of representatives recognized by the Administrator under section 3402 of this title. (Added P.L. 93-508, § 214 (4).)

§ 244. Utilization of other agencies

In carrying out the purposes of this subchapter, the Administrator shall

(1) arrange with the Secretary of Labor for the State employment service to match the particular qualifications of an eligible veteran or eligible dependent with an appropriate job or job training opportunity, to include where possible, arrangements for outstationing the State employment personnel who provide such assistance at appropriate facilities of the Veterans' Administration;

(2) cooperate with and use the services of any Federal department or agency or any State or local governmental agency or recognized national or other organization;

(3) where appropriate, make referrals to any Federal department or agency or State or local governmental unit or recognized national or other organization;

(4) at his discretion, furnish available space and office facilities for the use of authorized representatives of such governmental unit or other organization providing services;

and

(5) conduct and provide for studies in consultation with appropriate Federal departments and agencies to determine the most effective program design to carry out the purposes of this subchapter. (Added P.L. 91-219, §214(a); amended P.L. 93-508, § 214 (5).)

§ 245. Report to Congress

The Administrator shall include in the annual report to the Congress required by section 214 of this title a report on the activities carried out under this subchapter, each report to include an appraisal of the effectiveness of the programs authorized herein and recommendations for the improvement or more effective administration of such programs. (Added P.L. 91-219, § 214 (a).)

37-945 - 79-5