VA Work-Study Improvement Act

This bill would expand the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) work-study program by allowing participants to perform qualifying activities for state and local governments or nonprofit organizations that benefit veterans and service members. It proposes to increase the program's hourly pay to the highest rate among applicable federal, state, or local minimum wages. Additionally, the bill would require the VA to implement electronic systems for recording and approving work hours and to publish annual reports on program demographics and activities.

This bill affects individuals participating in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) work-study program, as well as the supervisors who manage their hours. It also impacts state governments, local governments, and nonprofit organizations by expanding the list of qualifying work-study activities to include programs that benefit veterans or members of the Armed Forces. Additionally, the VA is affected by new requirements to implement electronic time-tracking systems and publish annual demographic and activity reports.

• Expansion of qualifying work-study activities. The bill adds activities conducted by state governments, local governments, or nonprofit organizations that benefit veterans or members of the Armed Forces to the list of eligible work-study tasks.
• Revised minimum wage requirements. The hourly pay for the program must be the highest of the minimum federal employee basic pay rate, the state minimum wage, or the local government minimum wage where the work is performed.
• Electronic timekeeping and approval systems. The Department of Veterans Affairs is required to provide electronic methods for participants to record their work hours and for supervisors to approve those records.
• Annual reporting on program activities. The VA must publish annual information regarding the work-study activities conducted during the year, including demographic data on the individuals participating in the program.

This bill modifies the existing Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) work-study program by expanding the list of qualifying activities and updating the minimum wage requirements for participants. It also establishes new administrative standards for the program regarding electronic timekeeping and annual reporting of program data.

This bill aims to modernize the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) work-study program by expanding eligible work activities to include state, local, and nonprofit roles that benefit veterans. It also seeks to increase participant compensation by requiring pay at the highest applicable federal, state, or local minimum wage and mandates the implementation of electronic timesheet systems.