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U.S. Code as of:
01/19/04
Section 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 September 23, 1996, and ending on December 31, 2004, 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.
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