RESERVE HEALTH PROFESSIONALS STIPEND PROGRAM EXPANSION.

SEC. 539. RESERVE HEALTH PROFESSIONALS STIPEND PROGRAM EXPANSION. (a) Purpose of Program.—Subsection (a) of section 16201 of title 10, United States Code, is amended— (1) by striking “specialties critically needed in wartime”; (2) by striking “training in such specialties” and inserting “training that leads to a degree in medicine or dentistry or training in a health professions specialty that is critically needed in wartime”; and (3) by striking “training in certain health care specialties” and inserting “health care education and training”. (b) Medical and Dental Student Stipend.—Such section is further amended— (1) by redesignating subsections (b), (c), (d), and (e) as subsections (c), (d), (e), and (f), respectively; and (2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following new subsection (b): “(b) Medical and Dental School Students.—(1) Under the stipend program under this chapter, the Secretary of the military department concerned may enter into an agreement with a person who— “(A) is eligible to be appointed as an officer in a reserve component; “(B) is enrolled or has been accepted for enrollment in an institution in a course of study that results in a degree in medicine or dentistry; “(C) signs an agreement that, unless sooner separated, the person will— “(i) complete the educational phase of the program; “(ii) accept a reappointment or redesignation within the person’s reserve component, if tendered, based upon the person’s health profession, following satisfactory completion of the educational and intern programs; and “(iii) participate in a residency program; and “(D) if required by regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, agrees to apply for, if eligible, and accept, if offered, residency training in a health profession skill which has been designated by the Secretary of Defense as a critically needed wartime skill. “(2) Under the agreement— “(A) the Secretary of the military department concerned shall agree to pay the participant a stipend, in the amount determined under subsection (f), for the period or the remainder of the period that the student is satisfactorily progressing toward a degree in medicine or dentistry while enrolled in an accredited medical or dental school; “(B) the participant shall not be eligible to receive such stipend before appointment, designation, or assignment as an officer for service in the Ready Reserve; “(C) the participant shall be subject to such active duty requirements as may be specified in the agreement and to active duty in time of war or national emergency as provided by law for members of the Ready Reserve; and “(D) the participant shall agree to serve in the Selected Reserve, upon successful completion of the program, for the period of service applicable under paragraph (3). 115 STAT. 1109 “(3)(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), the period for which a participant is required to serve in the Selected Reserve under the agreement pursuant to paragraph (2)(D) shall be one year for each period of six months, or part thereof, for which the participant is provided a stipend pursuant to the agreement. “(B) In the case of a participant who enters into a subsequent agreement under subsection (c) and successfully completes residency training in a specialty designated by the Secretary of Defense as a specialty critically needed by the military department in war-time, the requirement to serve in the Selected Reserve may be reduced to one year for each year, or part thereof, for which the stipend was provided while enrolled in medical or dental school.”. (c) Wartime Critical Skills.—Subsection (c) of such section (as redesignated by subsection (b)(1)) is amended— (1) by inserting “Wartime” after “Critical” in the heading; and (2) by inserting “or has been appointed as a medical or dental officer in the Reserve of the armed force concerned” in paragraph (1)(B) before the semicolon at the end. (d) Service Obligation Requirement.—Paragraph (2)(D) of subsection (c) of such section (as redesignated by subsection (b)(1)) and paragraph (2)(D) of subsection (d) of such section (as so redesignated) are amended by striking “two years in the Ready Reserve for each year,” and inserting “one year in the Ready Reserve for each six months,”. (e) Cross-Reference.—Paragraph (2)(A) of subsection (c) of such section (as redesignated by subsection (b)(1)) and paragraph (2)(A) of subsection (d) of such section (as so redesignated) are amended by striking “subsection (e)” and inserting “subsection (f)”.