
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 620(a)]
[Document affected by Public Law 107-107 Section 620(b)]
[CITE: 37USC322]

 
         TITLE 37--PAY AND ALLOWANCES OF THE UNIFORMED SERVICES
 
                  CHAPTER 5--SPECIAL AND INCENTIVE PAYS
 
Sec. 322. Special pay: 15-year career status bonus for members 
        entering service on or after August 1, 1986
        
    (a) Availability of Bonus.--The Secretary concerned shall pay a 
bonus under this section to an eligible career bonus member if the 
member--
        (1) elects to receive the bonus under this section; and
        (2) executes a written agreement (prescribed by the Secretary 
    concerned) to remain continuously on active duty until the member 
    has completed 20 years of active-duty service creditable under 
    section 1405 of title 10.

    (b) Eligible Career Bonus Member Defined.--In this section, the term 
``eligible career bonus member'' means a member of a uniformed service 
serving on active duty who--
        (1) first became a member on or after August 1, 1986; and
        (2) has completed 15 years of active duty in the uniformed 
    services (or has received notification under subsection (e) that the 
    member is about to complete that duty).

    (c) Election Method.--An election under subsection (a)(1) shall be 
made in such form and within such period as the Secretary concerned may 
prescribe. An election under that subsection is irrevocable.
    (d) Amount of Bonus; Payment.--(1) A bonus under this section shall 
be paid in a single lump sum of $30,000.
    (2) The bonus shall be paid to an eligible career bonus member not 
later than the first month that begins on or after the date that is 60 
days after the date on which the Secretary concerned receives from the 
member the election required under subsection (a)(1) and the written 
agreement required under subsection (a)(2), if applicable.
    (e) Notification of Eligibility.--(1) The Secretary concerned shall 
transmit to each member who meets the definition of eligible career 
bonus member a written notification of the opportunity of the member to 
elect to receive a bonus under this section. The Secretary shall provide 
the notification not later than 180 days before the date on which the 
member will complete 15 years of active duty.
    (2) The notification shall include the following:
        (A) The procedures for electing to receive the bonus.
        (B) An explanation of the effects under sections 1401a, 1409, 
    and 1410 of title 10 that such an election has on the computation of 
    any retired or retainer pay that the member may become eligible to 
    receive.

    (f) Repayment of Bonus.--(1) If a person paid a bonus under this 
section fails to complete a period of active duty beginning on the date 
on which the election of the person under subsection (a)(1) is received 
and ending on the date on which the person completes 20 years of active-
duty service as described in subsection (a)(2), the person shall refund 
to the United States the amount that bears the same ratio to the amount 
of the bonus payment as the uncompleted part of that period of active-
duty service bears to the total period of such service.
    (2) Subject to paragraph (3), an obligation to reimburse the United 
States imposed under paragraph (1) is for all purposes a debt owed to 
the United States.
    (3) The Secretary concerned may waive, in whole or in part, a refund 
required under paragraph (1) if the Secretary concerned determines that 
recovery would be against equity and good conscience or would be 
contrary to the best interests of 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 member signing such agreement from a debt arising 
under the agreement or this subsection.

(Added Pub. L. 106-65, div. A, title VI, Sec. 642(a), Oct. 5, 1999, 113 
Stat. 662.)


                             Effective Date

    Section effective Oct. 1, 1999, see section 644 of Pub. L. 106-65, 
set out as an Effective Date of 1999 Amendment note under section 1401a 
of Title 10, Armed Forces.

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in title 10 sections 1401a, 1409, 1410.
