### §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, 2018, 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 $200,000.

(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.—A person who, after signing an agreement under subsection (a), is not commissioned as an officer of the armed forces, does not become licensed as a dentist, or does not complete the period of active duty specified in the agreement shall be subject to the repayment provisions of section 303a(e) of this title.

(Added Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title VI, §615(c)(1), Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2545; amended Pub. L. 107–107, div. A, title VI, §618, Dec. 28, 2001, 115 Stat. 1137; Pub. L. 107–314, div. A, title VI, §612(f), Dec. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 2568; Pub. L. 108–136, div. A, title VI, §612(f), Nov. 24, 2003, 117 Stat. 1501; Pub. L. 108–375, div. A, title VI, §612(f), Oct. 28, 2004, 118 Stat. 1947; Pub. L. 109–163, div. A, title VI, §§622(f), 687(b)(11), Jan. 6, 2006, 119 Stat. 3294, 3329; Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title VI, §§612(f), 617(a), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2248, 2249; Pub. L. 110–181, div. A, title VI, §612(f), Jan. 28, 2008, 122 Stat. 148; Pub. L. 110–417, [div. A], title VI, §612(f), Oct. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 4484; Pub. L. 111–84, div. A, title VI, §612(b)(5), Oct. 28, 2009, 123 Stat. 2353; Pub. L. 111–383, div. A, title VI, §612(b)(5), Jan. 7, 2011, 124 Stat. 4236; Pub. L. 112–81, div. A, title VI, §612(b)(5), Dec. 31, 2011, 125 Stat. 1449; Pub. L. 112–239, div. A, title VI, §612(b)(5), Jan. 2, 2013, 126 Stat. 1776; Pub. L. 113–66, div. A, title VI, §612(b)(5), Dec. 26, 2013, 127 Stat. 780; Pub. L. 113–291, div. A, title VI, §612(b)(5), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3400; Pub. L. 114–92, div. A, title VI, §612(b)(5), Nov. 25, 2015, 129 Stat. 838; Pub. L. 114–328, div. A, title VI, §612(b)(5), Dec. 23, 2016, 130 Stat. 2158; Pub. L. 115–91, div. A, title VI, §612(b)(5), Dec. 12, 2017, 131 Stat. 1422.)

#### **Editorial Notes**

#### Amendments

2017—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 115–91 substituted "December 31, 2018" for "December 31, 2017".

2016—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 114–328 substituted "December 31, 2017" for "December 31, 2016".

2015—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 114–92 substituted "December 31, 2016" for "December 31, 2015".

2014—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 113–291 substituted "December 31, 2015" for "December 31, 2014".

2013—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 113–66 substituted "December 31, 2014" for "December 31, 2013".

Pub. L. 112–239 substituted "December 31, 2013" for "December 31, 2012".

2011—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 112–81 substituted "December 31, 2012" for "December 31, 2011".

Pub. L. 111–383 substituted "December 31, 2011" for "December 31, 2010".

2009—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 111–84 substituted "December 31, 2010" for "December 31, 2009".

2008—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 110–417 substituted "December 31, 2009" for "December 31, 2008".

Pub. L. 110–181 substituted "December 31, 2008" for "December 31, 2007".

2006—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 109–364, §612(f), substituted "December 31, 2007" for "December 31, 2006".

Pub. L. 109–163, §622(f), substituted "December 31, 2006" for "December 31, 2005".

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 109–364, §617(a), substituted "$200,000" for "$30,000".

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 109–163, §687(b)(11), amended heading and text of subsec. (d) generally, substituting provisions referring to repayment provisions of section 303a(e) for specific provisions relating to refunds required when officer fails to become and remain certified or licensed as dentist or fails to complete total period of active duty.

2004—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 108–375 substituted "December 31, 2005" for "December 31, 2004".

2003—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 108–136 substituted "December 31, 2004" for "December 31, 2003".

2002—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 107–314 substituted "December 31, 2003" for "December 31, 2002".

2001—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 107–107 substituted "September 23, 1996, and ending on December 31, 2002" for "the date of the enactment of this section, and ending on September 30, 2002".

#### **Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries**

#### Effective Date of 2008 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 110–181 effective as of Dec. 31, 2007, and subject to various special provisions, see section 610 of Pub. L. 110–181, set out as a Correction of Lapsed Authorities for Payment of Bonuses, Special Pays, and Similar Benefits for Members of the Uniformed Services note under section 2130a of Title 10, Armed Forces.

#### Effective Date of 2006 Amendment

Pub. L. 109–364, div. A, title VI, §617(e), Oct. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 2251, provided that: "The amendments made by this section [enacting sections 302k and 302l of this title and amending this section] shall take effect on October 1, 2006, and shall apply to agreements—

"(1) entered into or revised under section 302h of title 37, United States Code, on or after that date; or

"(2) entered into under section 302k or 302l of such title, as added by subsections (b) and (c), on or after that date."

#### Savings Provision

For savings provision relating to payment or repayment of any bonus, incentive pay, special pay, or similar pay obligated to be paid before Apr. 1, 2006, under a provision of this section amended by section 687(b) of Pub. L. 109–163, see section 687(f) of Pub. L. 109–163, set out as a note under section 510 of Title 10, Armed Forces.