
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document affected by Public Law 107-107 Section 618]
[CITE: 37USC302h]

 
         TITLE 37--PAY AND ALLOWANCES OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES
 
                  CHAPTER 5--SPECIAL AND INCENTIVE PAYS
 
Sec. 302h. Special pay: accession bonus for dental officers

    (a) Accession Bonus Authorized.--(1) A person who is a graduate of 
an accredited dental school and who, during the period beginning on the 
date of the enactment of this section, and ending on September 30, 2002, 
executes a written agreement described in subsection (c) to accept a 
commission as an officer of the armed forces and remain on active duty 
for a period of not less than four years may, upon the acceptance of the 
agreement by the Secretary concerned, be paid an accession bonus in an 
amount determined by the Secretary concerned.
    (2) The amount of an accession bonus under paragraph (1) may not 
exceed $30,000.
    (b) Limitation on Eligibility for Bonus.--A person may not be paid a 
bonus under subsection (a) if--
        (1) the person, in exchange for an agreement to accept an 
    appointment as an officer, received financial assistance from the 
    Department of Defense to pursue a course of study in dentistry; or
        (2) the Secretary concerned determines that the person is not 
    qualified to become and remain certified and licensed as a dentist.

    (c) Agreement.--The agreement referred to in subsection (a) shall 
provide that, consistent with the needs of the armed service concerned, 
the person executing the agreement will be assigned to duty, for the 
period of obligated service covered by the agreement, as an officer of 
the Dental Corps of the Army or the Navy or an officer of the Air Force 
designated as a dental officer.
    (d) Repayment.--(1) An officer who receives a payment under 
subsection (a) and who fails to become and remain certified or licensed 
as a dentist during the period for which the payment is made shall 
refund to the United States an amount equal to the full amount of such 
payment.
    (2) An officer who voluntarily terminates service on active duty 
before the end of the period agreed to be served under subsection (a) 
shall refund to the United States an amount that bears the same ratio to 
the amount paid to the officer as the unserved part of such period bears 
to the total period agreed to be served.
    (3) An obligation to reimburse the United States imposed under 
paragraph (1) or (2) is for all purposes a debt owed to the United 
States.
    (4) A discharge in bankruptcy under title 11 that is entered less 
than five years after the termination of an agreement under this section 
does not discharge the person signing such agreement from a debt arising 
under such agreement or this subsection. This paragraph applies to any 
case commenced under title 11 after the date of the enactment of this 
section.

(Added Pub. L. 104-201, div. A, title VI, Sec. 615(c)(1), Sept. 23, 
1996, 110 Stat. 2545.)

                       References in Text

    The date of the enactment of this section, referred to in subsecs. 
(a)(1) and (d)(4), is the date of enactment of Pub. L. 104-201, which 
was approved Sept. 23, 1996.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in section 303a of this title.
