ADDITIONAL SPECIAL PAY FOR BOARD CERTIFIED VETERINARIANS IN THE ARMED FORCES AND PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE.

SEC. 616. ADDITIONAL SPECIAL PAY FOR BOARD CERTIFIED VETERINARIANS IN THE ARMED FORCES AND PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE. (a) Authority.—Section 303 of title 37, United States Code, is amended— (1) by inserting “(a) Monthly Special Pay.—” before “Each”; and (2) by adding at the end the following: “(b) Additional Special Pay for Board Certification.—A commissioned officer entitled to special pay under subsection (a) who has been certified as a Diplomate in a specialty recognized by the American Veterinarian Medical Association is entitled to special pay (in addition to the special pay under subsection (a)) at the same rate as is provided under section 302c(b) of this title for an officer referred to in that section who has the same number of years of creditable service as the commissioned officer.”. (b) Effective Date.—The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect on October 1, 1999, and shall apply with respect to months beginning on and after that date.