(a) Eligible employees An employee who elects to receive a separation allowance under an employee protection agreement entered into or a benefit schedule prescribed under section 1005 of this title may, if so provided under such agreement or benefit schedule, receive from the Board reasonable expenses for training in qualified institutions for new career opportunities. (b) Conditions for assistance To be eligible for assistance under this section, an employee — (1) must first exhaust any Federal educational benefits available to such employee under any existing program; and (2) must begin his course of training within 2 years following the date of such employee ’s separation from employment with the Rock Island Railroad . (c) Determination of reasonable expenses by Board Reasonable expenses for assistance under this section shall be determined by the Board on the basis of an application therefor filed by an employee with the Board. (d) Assistance prohibited after April 1, 1984 No assistance may be provided under this section after April 1, 1984 . (e) Definitions As used in this section— (1) the term “ expenses ” means actual, reasonable expenses paid for room, board, tuition, fees, or educational material in an amount not to exceed $3,000; and (2) the term “ qualified institution ” means an educational institution accredited for payment by the Veterans’ Administration under chapter 36 of title 38, or a State-accredited institution which has been in existence for not less than 2 years. ( Pub. L. 96–254, title I, § 119(a) –(e), May 30, 1980 , 94 Stat. 408 ; Pub. L. 97–468, title II, § 233 , Jan. 14, 1983 , 96 Stat. 2547 .) Editorial Notes Codification Section is comprised of subsecs. (a) to (e) of section 119 of Pub. L. 96–254 . Subsec. (f) of section 119 amended section 911 of this title . Amendments 1983—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 97–468 substituted “under an employee protection agreement entered into or a benefit schedule prescribed under section 1005 of this title may, if so provided under such agreement or benefit schedule,” for “from the Rock Island Railroad under an employee protection agreement or arrangement entered into under section 1005 of this title may”. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries Change of Name Reference to Veterans’ Administration deemed to refer to Department of Veterans Affairs pursuant to section 10 of Pub. L. 100–527 , set out as a Department of Veterans Affairs Act note under section 301 of Title 38 , Veterans’ Benefits.