
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 37USC301e]

 
         TITLE 37--PAY AND ALLOWANCES OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES
 
                  CHAPTER 5--SPECIAL AND INCENTIVE PAYS
 
Sec. 301e. Multiyear retention bonus: dental officers of the 
        armed forces
        
    (a) Bonus Authorized.--(1) A dental officer described in subsection 
(b) who executes a written agreement to remain on active duty for two, 
three, or four years after completion of any other active-duty service 
commitment may, upon acceptance of the written agreement by the 
Secretary of the military department concerned, be paid a retention 
bonus as provided in this section.
    (2) The amount of a retention bonus under paragraph (1) may not 
exceed $14,000 for each year covered by a four-year agreement. The 
maximum yearly retention bonus for two-year and three-year agreements 
shall be reduced to reflect the shorter service commitment.
    (b) Officers Automatically Eligible.--Subsection (a) applies to an 
officer of the armed forces who--
        (1) is an officer of the Dental Corps of the Army or the Navy or 
    an officer of the Air Force designated as a dental officer;
        (2) has a dental specialty in oral and maxillofacial surgery;
        (3) is in a pay grade below pay grade O-7;
        (4) has at least eight years of creditable service (computed as 
    described in section 302b(g) of this title) or has completed any 
    active-duty service commitment incurred for dental education and 
    training; and
        (5) has completed initial residency training (or will complete 
    such training before September 30 of the fiscal year in which the 
    officer enters into an agreement under subsection (a)).

    (c) Extension of Bonus to Other Dental Officers.--At the discretion 
of the Secretary of the military department concerned, the Secretary may 
enter into a written agreement described in subsection (a)(1) with a 
dental officer who does not have the dental specialty specified in 
subsection (b)(2), and pay a retention bonus to such an officer as 
provided in this section, if the officer otherwise satisfies the 
eligibility requirements specified in subsection (b). The Secretaries 
shall exercise the authority provided in this section in a manner 
consistent with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense.
    (d) Refunds.--(1) Refunds shall be required, on a pro rata basis, of 
sums paid under this section if the officer who has received the payment 
fails to complete the total period of active duty specified in the 
agreement, as conditions and circumstances warrant.
    (2) An obligation to reimburse the United States imposed under 
paragraph (1) is for all purposes a debt owed to the United States.
    (3) A discharge in bankruptcy under title 11, United States Code, 
that is entered less than five years after the termination of an 
agreement under this section does not discharge the member signing such 
agreement from a debt arising under such agreement or under paragraph 
(1). This paragraph applies to any case commenced under title 11 after 
the date of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 1998.

(Added Pub. L. 105-85, div. A, title VI, Sec. 617(a), Nov. 18, 1997, 111 
Stat. 1788.)

                       References in Text

    The date of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 1998, referred to in subsec. (d)(3), is the date of 
enactment of Pub. L. 105-85, which was approved Nov. 18, 1997.
