Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 115 Part 2.djvu/155

 PUBLIC LAW 107-107—DEC. 28, 2001 115 STAT. 1139 (3) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following new paragraphs: "(2) A member electing to receive the bonus under this section shall elect one of the following payment options: "(A) A single lump sum of $30,000. "(B) Two installments of $15,000 each. "(C) Three installments of $ 10,000 each. "(D) Four installments of $7,500 each. "(E) Five installments of $6,000 each. "(3) If a member elects installment payments under paragraph (2), the second installment (and subsequent installments, as applicable) shall be paid on the earlier of the following dates: "(A) The annual anniversary date of the payment of the first installment. "(B) January 15 of each succeeding calendar year.". (b) APPLICATION TO EXISTING AGREEMENTS. — The Secretary con- 37 USC 322 note. cerned (as defined in section 101(5) of title 37, United States Code) shall extend to each member of the uniformed services who has executed the written agreement required by subsection (a)(2) of section 322 of such title before the date of the enactment of this Act, but who has not received the lump sum payment by that date, an opportunity to make the election authorized by subsection (d) of such section, as amended by this section. SEC. 621. ACCESSION BONUS FOR NEW OFFICERS IN CRITICAL SKILLS. (a) BONUS AUTHORIZED. —Chapter 5 of title 37, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new section: "§ 324. Special pay: accession bonus for new officers in critical skills "(a) ACCESSION BONUS AUTHORIZED. — Under regulations pre- Regulations, scribed by the Secretary concerned, a person who executes a written agreement to accept a commission as an officer of the armed forces and serve on active duty in a designated critical officer skill for the period specified in the agreement may, upon acceptance of the agreement by the Secretary concerned, be paid an accession bonus in an amount determined by the Secretary concerned. "(b) DESIGNATION OF CRITICAL OFFICER SKILLS.— (1) The Secretary concerned shall designate the critical officer skills for the purposes of this section. A skill may be designated as a critical officer skill for an armed force under this subsection if— "(1) in order to meet requirements of the armed force, it is critical for the armed force to have a sufficient number of officers who are qualified in that skill; and "(2) in order to mitigate a current or projected significant shortage of personnel in the armed force who are qualified in that skill, it is critical to access into that armed force in sufficient numbers persons who are qualified in that skill or are to be trained in that skill. "(c) LIMITATION ON AMOUNT OF BONUS. — The amount of an accession bonus under subsection (a) may not exceed $60,000. "(d) PAYMENT METHOD. — Upon acceptance of a written agreement under subsection (a) by the Secretary concerned, the total amount of the accession bonus payable under the agreement becomes fixed. The agreement shall specify whether the accession bonus will be paid by the Secretary in a lump sum or installments.

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