MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS REGARDING PHS COMMISSIONED OFFICERS.

SEC. 402. MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS REGARDING PHS COMMISSIONED OFFICERS. (a) Anti-Discrimination Laws.— Amend section 212 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 213) by adding the following new subsection at the end thereof:112 STAT. 3588 “(f) Active service of commissioned officers of the Service shall be deemed to be active military service in the Armed Forces of the United States for purposes of all laws related to discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, ethnicity, age, religion, and disability.”. (b) Training in Leave Without Pay Status.— Section 218 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 218a) is amended by adding at the end the following: “(c) A commissioned officer may be placed in leave without pay status while attending an educational institution or training program whenever the Secretary determines that such status is in the best interest of the Service. For purposes of computation of basic pay, promotion, retirement, compensation for injury or death, and the benefits provided by sections 212 and 224, an officer in such status pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be considered as performing service in the Service and shall have an active service obligation as set forth in subsection (b) of this section.”. “(c) Utilization of Alcohol and Drug Abuse Records That Apply to the Armed Forces.— Section 543(e) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 290dd–2(e)) is amended by striking “Armed Forces” each place that such term appears and inserting “Uniformed Services”.