une 27, 1918, 0 Stat. 617 20 [PUBLIC-NO. 178-65TH CONGRESS.] [S. 4557.] An Act To provide for vocational rehabilitation and return to civil employment of disabled persons discharged from the military or naval forces of the United States, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act shall be known as the Vocational Rehabilitation Act. That the word "board," as hereinafter used in this Act, shall mean the "Federal Board for Vocational Education." That the word "bureau," as hereinafter used in this Act, shall mean the "Bureau of War-Risk Insurance." SEC. 2. That every person who is disabled under circumstances entitling him, after discharge from the military or naval forces of the United States, to compensation under Article III of the Act entitled "An Act to amend an Act entitled 'An Act to authorize the establishment of a Bureau of War-Risk Insurance in the Treasury Department,'" approved October sixth, nineteen hundred and seventeen, hereinafter referred to as "said Act," and who, after his discharge, in the opinion of the board, is unable to carry on a gainful occupation, to resume his former occupation, or to enter upon some other occupation, or having resumed or entered upon such occupation is unable to continue the same successfully, shall be furnished by the said board, where vocational rehabilitation is feasible, such course of vocational rehabilitation as the board shall prescribe and provide. The board shall have power, and it shall be its duty, to furnish the persons included in this section suitable courses of vocational rehabilitation to be prescribed and provided by the board, and every person electing to follow such a course of vocational rehabilitation shall, while following the same, receive monthly compensation equal to the amount of his monthly pay for the last month of his active service, or equal to the amount to which he would be entitled under Article III of said Act, whichever amount is the greater. If such person was an enlisted man at the time of his discharge, for the period during which he is so afforded a course of rehabilitation, his family shall receive compulsory allotment and family allowance according to the terms of Article II of said Act in the same manner as if he were an enlisted man, and for the purpose of computing and paying compulsory allotment and family allowance his compensation shall be treated as his monthly pay: Provided, That if such person willfully fails or refuses to follow the prescribed course of vocational rehabilitation which he has elected to follow, in a manner satisfactory to the board, the said board in its discretion may certify to that effect to the bureau and the said bureau shall, during such period of failure or refusal, withhold any part or all of the monthly compensation due such person and not subject to compulsory allotment which the said board may have determined should be withheld: Provided, however, That no vocational teaching shall be carried on in any hospital until the medical authorities certify that the condition of the patient is such as to justify such teaching. The military and naval family allowance appropriation provided for in section eighteen of said Act shall be available for the payment Repealed June 7, 1924, 43 Stat. 630 of the family allowances provided by this section; and the military and naval compensation appropriation provided for in section nineteen of said Act shall be available for the payment of the monthly compensation herein provided. No compensation under Article III of said Act shall be paid for the period during which any such person is furnished by said board a course of vocational rehabilitation except as is hereinbefore provided. SEC. 3. That the courses of vocational rehabilitation provided for under this Act shall, as far as practicable and under such conditions as the board may prescribe, be made available without cost for instruction for the benefit of any person who is disabled under circumstances entitling him, after discharge from the military or naval forces of the United States, to compensation under Article III of said Act and who is not included in section two hereof. SEC. 4. That the board shall have the power and it shall be its duty to provide such facilities, instructors, and courses as may be necessary to insure proper training for such persons as are required to follow such courses as herein provided; to prescribe the courses to be followed by such persons; to pay, when in the discretion of the board such payment is necessary, the expense of travel, lodging, subsistence, and other necessary expenses of such persons while following the prescribed courses; to do all things necessary to insure vocational rehabilitation; to provide for the placement of rehabilitated persons in suitable or gainful occupations. The board shall have the power to make such rules and regulations as may be necessary for the proper performance of its duties as prescribed by this Act, and is hereby authorized and directed to utilize, with the approval of the Secretary of Labor, the facilities of the Department of Labor, in so far as may be practicable, in the placement of rehabilitated persons in suitable or gainful occupations. SEC. 5. That it shall also be the duty of the board to make or cause to have made studies, investigations, and reports regarding the vocational rehabilitation of disabled persons and their placement in suitable or gainful occupations. When the board deems it advisable, such studies, investigations, and reports may be made in cooperation with or through other departments and bureaus of the Government, and the board in its discretion may cooperate with such public or private agencies as it may deem advisable in performing the duties imposed upon it by this Act. SEC. 6. That all medical and surgical work or other treatment necessary to give functional and mental restoration to disabled persons prior to their discharge from the military or naval forces of the United States shall be under the control of the War Department and the Navy Department, respectively. Whenever training is employed as a therapeutic measure by the War Department or the Navy Department a plan may be established between these agencies and the board acting in an advisory capacity to insure, in so far as medical requirements permit, a proper process of training and the proper preparation of instructors for such training. A plan may also be established between the War and Navy Departments and the board whereby these departments shall act in an advisory capacity with the board in the care of the health of the soldier and sailor after his discharge. The board shall, in establishing its plans and rules and regulations for vocational training, cooperate with the War Department and the Navy Department in so far as may be necesary to effect a continuous process of vocational training. SEC. 7. That the board is hereby authorized and empowered :: receive such gifts and donations from either public or private sources as may be offered unconditionally. All moneys received as gifts. or donations shall be paid into the Treasury of the United States, and shall constitute a permanent fund, to be called the "Special fund for vocational rehabilitation," to be used under the direction of the said board, in connection with the appropriations hereby made or hereafter to be made, to defray the expenses of providing and maintaining courses of vocational rehabilitation; and a full report of all gifts and donations offered and accepted, and all disbursements therefrom, shall be submitted annually to Congress by said board. SEC. 8. That there is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury of the United States not otherwise appropriated, available immediately and until expended, the sum of $2,000,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary to be used by the Federal Board for Vocational Education for the purposes of this Act, to wit, for renting and remodeling buildings and quarters, repairing, maintaining, and equipping same, and for equipment and other facilities necessary for proper instruction of disabled persons, $250,000; for the preparation of instructors and salaries of instructors, supervisors, and other experts, including necessary traveling expenses, $545,000; for traveling expenses of disabled persons in connection with training and for lodging, subsistence, and other necessary expenses in special cases of persons following prescribed courses, $250,000; for tuition for disabled persons pursuing courses in existing institutions, public or private, $545,000; for the placement and supervision after placement of vocationally rehabilitated persons, $45,000; for studies, investigations, reports, and preparation of special courses of instruction, $55,000; for miscellaneous contingencies, including special mechanical appliances necessary in special cases for disabled men, $110,000; and for the administrative expenses of said board incident to performing the duties imposed by this Act, including salaries of such assistants, experts, clerks, and other employees in the District. of Columbia or elsewhere as the board may deem necessary, actual traveling and other necessary expenses incurred by the members of the board and by its employees under its orders, including attendance at meetings of educational associations and other organizations, rent and equipment of offices in the District of Columbia and elsewhere, purchase of books of reference, law books, and periodicals, stationery, typewriters and exchange thereof, miscellaneous supplies, postage on foreign mail, printing and binding to be done at the Government Printing Office, and all other necessary expenses, $200,000. SEC. 9. That said board shall file with the Clerk of the House and the Secretary of the Senate on July first and every three months thereafter, for the information of the Congress, an itemized account of all expenditures made under this Act, including names and salaries of employees. Said board shall also make an annual report to the Congress of its doings under this Act on or before December first of each year. |