CLARIFICATION REGARDING SERVICE IN SCHOOLS AND OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED SETTINGS.

SEC. 7072. CLARIFICATION REGARDING SERVICE IN SCHOOLS AND OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED SETTINGS. Subpart III of part D of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 254l et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: “SEC. 338N. [42 U.S.C. 254v] CLARIFICATION REGARDING SERVICE IN SCHOOLS AND OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED SETTINGS “(a) Schools and Community-based Settings.—An entity to which a participant in the Scholarship Program or the Loan Repayment Program (referred to in this section as a ‘participant’) is assigned under section 333 may direct such participant to provide service as a behavioral or mental health professional at a school or other community-based setting located in a health professional shortage area. “(b) Obligated Service.— “(1) In general.—Any service described in subsection (a) that a participant provides may count towards such participant’s completion of any obligated service requirements under the Scholarship Program or the Loan Repayment Program, subject to any limitation imposed under paragraph (2). “(2) Limitation.—The Secretary may impose a limitation on the number of hours of service described in subsection (a) that a participant may credit towards completing obligated service requirements, provided that the limitation allows a member to credit service described in subsection (a) for not less than 50 percent of the total hours required to complete such obligated service requirements. “(c) Rule of Construction.—The authorization under subsection (a) shall be notwithstanding any other provision of this subpart or subpart II.” .