ACCESSION AND RETENTION BONUSES FOR THE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF OFFICERS IN CERTAIN HEALTH PROFESSIONS.

SEC. 620. ACCESSION AND RETENTION BONUSES FOR THE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION OF OFFICERS IN CERTAIN HEALTH PROFESSIONS.(a) Targeted Bonus Authority to Increase Direct Accessions.—(1) Designation of critically short wartime health specialties.—For purposes of section 335 of title 37, United States Code, as added by section 661 of the National Defense 122 STAT. 4490 Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (Public Law 110–181; 122 Stat. 169), the following health professions are designated as a critically short wartime specialty under subsection (a)(2) of such section:(A) Psychologists who have been awarded a diploma as a Diplomate in Psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology and are fully licensed and such other mental health practitioners as the Secretary concerned determines to be necessary.(B) Registered nurses.(2) Special agreement authority.—Under the authority provided by this section, the Secretary concerned may enter into an agreement under subsection (f) of section 335 of title 37, United States Code, to pay a health professions bonus under such section to a person who accepts a commission or appointment as an officer and whose health profession specialty is specified in paragraph (1) of this subsection.(3) Secretary concerned defined.—In this subsection, the term “Secretary concerned” has the meaning given that term in section 101(5) of title 37, United States Code.(4) Effective period.—The designations made by this subsection and the authority to enter into an agreement under paragraph (2) of this subsection expire on September 30, 2010.(b) Accession and Retention Bonuses for Psychologists.—(1) In general.—Chapter 5 of title 37, United States Code, is amended by inserting after section 302c the following new section:“§ 302c-1. Special pay: accession and retention bonuses for psychologists“(a) Accession Bonus.—“(1) Accession bonus authorized.—A person described in paragraph (2) who executes a written agreement described in subsection (d) to accept a commission as an officer of the armed forces and remain on active duty for a period of not less than four consecutive years may, upon acceptance of the agreement by the Secretary concerned, be paid an accession bonus in an amount, subject to subsection (c)(1), determined by the Secretary concerned.“(2) Eligible persons.—A person described in paragraph (1) is any person who—“(A) is a graduate of an accredited school of psychology; and“(B) holds a valid State license to practice as a doctoral level psychologist.“(3) Limitation on eligibility.—A person may not be paid a bonus under this subsection if—“(A) 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 psychology; or“(B) the Secretary concerned determines that the person is not qualified to become and remain certified as a psychologist.“(b) Multiyear Retention Bonus.—“(1) Retention bonus authorized.—An officer described in paragraph (2) who executes a written agreement described 122 STAT. 4491 in subsection (d) to remain on active duty for up to four years after completion of any other active-duty service commitment may, upon acceptance of the agreement by the Secretary concerned, be paid a retention bonus as provided in this section.“(2) Eligible officers.—An officer described in paragraph (1) is an officer of the armed forces who—“(A) is a psychologist of the armed forces;“(B) is in a pay grade below pay grade O–7;“(C) has at least eight years of creditable service (computed as described in section 302b(f) of this title) or has completed any active-duty service commitment incurred for psychology education and training;“(D) has completed initial residency training (or will complete such training before September 30 of the fiscal year in which the officer enters into the agreement under this subsection); and“(E) holds a valid State license to practice as a doctoral level psychologist.“(c) Maximum Amount of Bonus.—“(1) Accession bonus.—The amount of an accession bonus under subsection (a) may not exceed $400,000.“(2) Retention bonus.—The amount of a retention bonus under subsection (b) may not exceed $25,000 for each year of the agreement of the officer concerned.“(d) Agreement.—The agreement referred to in subsections (a) and (b) shall provide that, consistent with the needs of the armed force concerned, the person or officer executing the agreement will be assigned to duty, for the period of obligated service covered by the agreement, as an officer of such armed force as a psychologist.“(e) Repayment.—“(1) Accession bonus.—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 psychologist, 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.“(2) Retention bonus.—An officer who does not complete the period of active duty specified in the agreement entered into under subsection (b) shall be subject to the repayment provisions of section 303a(e) of this title.“(f) Termination of Authority.—No agreement under subsection (a) or (b) may be entered into after December 31, 2009.” .(2) Clerical amendment.—The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 5 of such title is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 302c the following new item: “302c–1. Special pay: accession and retention bonuses for psychologists.”.