Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 117.djvu/2077

 117 STAT. 2058

PUBLIC LAW 108–170—DEC. 6, 2003

(2) in paragraph (1), by inserting ‘‘chiropractors,’’ after ‘‘podiatrists,’’. (b) QUALIFICATIONS OF APPOINTEES.—Section 7402(b) is amended— (1) by redesignating paragraph (10) as paragraph (11); and (2) by inserting after paragraph (9) the following new paragraph (10): ‘‘(10) CHIROPRACTOR.—To be eligible to be appointed to a chiropractor position, a person must— ‘‘(A) hold the degree of doctor of chiropractic, or its equivalent, from a college of chiropractic approved by the Secretary; and ‘‘(B) be licensed to practice chiropractic in a State.’’. (c) PERIOD OF APPOINTMENTS AND PROMOTIONS.—Section 7403(a)(2) is amended by adding at the end the following new subparagraph: ‘‘(H) Chiropractors.’’. (d) GRADES AND PAY SCALES.—Section 7404(b)(1) is amended by striking the third center heading in the table and inserting the following: ‘‘CLINICAL PODIATRIST, CHIROPRACTOR, AND OPTOMETRIST SCHEDULE’’.

38 USC 7316 note.

(e) MALPRACTICE AND NEGLIGENCE PROTECTION.—Section 7316(a) is amended— (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘medical’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘health’’; and (2) in paragraph (2)— (A) by striking ‘‘medical’’ the first place it appears and inserting ‘‘health’’; and (B) by inserting ‘‘chiropractor,’’ after ‘‘podiatrist,’’. (f) TREATMENT AS SCARCE MEDICAL SPECIALISTS FOR CONTRACTING PURPOSES.—Section 7409(a) is amended by inserting ‘‘chiropractors,’’ in the second sentence after ‘‘optometrists,’’. (g) COLLECTIVE BARGAINING EXEMPTION.—Section 7421(b) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ‘‘(8) Chiropractors.’’. (h) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments made by this section shall take effect at the end of the 180–day period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act. SEC. 303. ADDITIONAL PAY FOR SATURDAY TOURS OF DUTY FOR ADDITIONAL HEALTH CARE WORKERS IN THE VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION.

Effective date. 38 USC 7454 note.

(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 7454(b) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: ‘‘(3) Employees appointed under section 7408 of this title shall be entitled to additional pay on the same basis as provided for nurses in section 7453(c) of this title.’’. (b) APPLICABILITY.—The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect with respect to the first pay period beginning on or after January 1, 2004. SEC. 304. COVERAGE OF EMPLOYEES OF VETERANS’ CANTEEN SERVICE UNDER ADDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT LAWS.

(a) COVERAGE.—Paragraph (5) of section 7802 is amended by inserting before the semicolon a period and the following: ‘‘An employee appointed under this section may be considered for

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