Title 37 — Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed ServicesRelease 119-73
§302e Special pay: nurse anesthetists
Title 37 › Chapter CHAPTER 5— - SPECIAL AND INCENTIVE PAYS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - EXISTING SPECIAL PAY, INCENTIVE PAY, AND BONUS AUTHORITIES › § 302e
Summary
Allows certain nurse anesthetists who sign a written agreement between November 29, 1989, and December 31, 2018, to stay on active duty for one year or more to get up to $50,000 in incentive pay for any 12-month period, if the Secretary in charge accepts the agreement. Eligible people are Army or Navy Nurse Corps officers, Air Force nurses, or nurses in the Public Health Service who are certified registered nurse anesthetists and are on active duty for at least one year. The Secretary sets the exact pay amount and will consider how long the person agrees to serve. The Secretary of Defense can allow the same pay for other nursing specialties that a military department calls critical and that need training beyond a bachelor’s degree. Pay is given once a year at the start of the 12-month period. If the agreement is ended or the officer does not finish the agreed service, the officer must repay money under the rules in section 303a(e).
Full Legal Text
Title 37, §302e
Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed Services — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)(1)An officer described in subsection (b)(1) who, during the period beginning on November 29, 1989, and ending on December 31, 2018, executes a written agreement to remain on active duty for a period of one year or more may, upon the acceptance of the agreement by the Secretary concerned, be paid incentive special pay in an amount not to exceed $50,000 for any 12-month period.
(2)The Secretary concerned shall determine the amount of incentive special pay to be paid to an officer under paragraph (1). In determining that amount, the Secretary concerned shall consider the period of obligated service provided for in the agreement under that paragraph.
(b)(1)An officer referred to in subsection (a) is an officer of a uniformed service who—
(A)is an officer of the Nurse Corps of the Army or Navy, an officer of the Air Force designated as a nurse, or an officer designated as a nurse in the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service;
(B)is a qualified certified registered nurse anesthetist; and
(C)is on active duty under a call or order to active duty for a period of not less than one year.
(2)The Secretary of Defense may extend the special pay authorized under subsection (a) to officers of the armed forces who serve in a nursing specialty (other than as nurse anesthetists) that—
(A)is designated by the Secretary of the military department concerned as critical to meet requirements (whether such specialty is designated as critical to meet wartime or peacetime requirements); and
(B)requires postbaccalaureate education and training.
(c)Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, with respect to the Army, Navy, and Air Force, and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, with respect to the Public Health Service, the Secretary concerned may terminate an agreement entered into under subsection (a). Upon termination of an agreement, the entitlement of the officer to special pay under this section and the agreed upon commitment to active duty of the officer shall end. If such entitlement is terminated, the officer concerned shall be subject to the repayment provisions of section 303a(e) of this title.
(d)Special pay payable to an officer under subsection (a) shall be paid annually at the beginning of the 12-month period for which the officer is to receive that payment.
(e)An officer who does not complete the period of active duty specified in the agreement entered into under subsection (a) shall be subject to the repayment provisions of section 303a(e) of this title.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2017—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 115–91 substituted “
December 31, 2018” for “
December 31, 2017”. 2016—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 114–328 substituted “
December 31, 2017” for “
December 31, 2016”. 2015—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 114–92 substituted “
December 31, 2016” for “
December 31, 2015”. 2014—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 113–291 substituted “
December 31, 2015” for “
December 31, 2014”. 2013—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 113–66 substituted “
December 31, 2014” for “
December 31, 2013”. Pub. L. 112–239 substituted “
December 31, 2013” for “
December 31, 2012”. 2011—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 112–81 substituted “
December 31, 2012” for “
December 31, 2011”. Pub. L. 111–383 substituted “
December 31, 2011” for “
December 31, 2010”. 2009—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 111–84 substituted “
December 31, 2010” for “
December 31, 2009”. 2008—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 110–417 substituted “
December 31, 2009” for “
December 31, 2008”. Pub. L. 110–181 substituted “
December 31, 2008” for “
December 31, 2007”. 2006—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 109–364 substituted “
December 31, 2007” for “
December 31, 2006”. Pub. L. 109–163, § 622(d), substituted “
December 31, 2006” for “
December 31, 2005”. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 109–163, § 687(b)(8)(A), substituted “If such entitlement is terminated, the officer concerned shall be subject to the repayment provisions of section 303a(e) of this title.” for “The officer may be required to refund that part of the special pay corresponding to the unserved period of active duty.” Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 109–163, § 687(b)(8)(B), amended heading and text of subsec. (e) generally, substituting provisions referring to repayment provisions of section 303a(e) for specific provisions relating to refunds required when officer fails to complete total period of active duty. 2004—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 108–375 substituted “
December 31, 2005” for “
December 31, 2004”. 2003—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 108–136 substituted “
December 31, 2004” for “
December 31, 2003”. 2002—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 107–314, § 615(f), substituted “$50,000” for “$15,000”. Pub. L. 107–314, § 612(d), substituted “
December 31, 2003” for “
December 31, 2002”. 2001—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 107–107 substituted “
December 31, 2002” for “
December 31, 2001”. 2000—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 106–398, § 1 [[div. A], title VI, § 622(c)], substituted “
December 31, 2001” for “
December 31, 2000”. Subsec. (b)(2)(A). Pub. L. 106–398, § 1 [[div. A], title VI, § 626(b)(1)], substituted “the Secretary of the military department concerned” for “the Secretary”. 1999—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 106–65 substituted “
December 31, 2000” for “
December 31, 1999”. 1998—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 105–261 substituted “
December 31, 1999” for “
September 30, 1999”. 1997—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 105–85 substituted “
September 30, 1999” for “
September 30, 1998”. 1996—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 104–201 substituted “
September 30, 1998” for “
September 30, 1997”. Pub. L. 104–106 substituted “
September 30, 1997” for “
September 30, 1996”. 1994—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 103–337 substituted “
September 30, 1996” for “
September 30, 1995” and “$15,000” for “$6,000”. 1993—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 103–160 substituted “
September 30, 1995” for “
September 30, 1993”. 1992—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 102–484 substituted “
September 30, 1993” for “
September 30, 1992”. 1991—Pub. L. 102–25, § 702(a)(2)(B), amended section catchline generally. Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 102–25, § 702(b)(1), (c), struck out “of this section” after “subsection (a)”. 1990—Pub. L. 101–510, § 618(c)(1), directed that section catchline be amended to read “§ 302c. Special pay: psychologists and nonphysician health care providers”. Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 101–510, § 1484(d)(3)(A), substituted “
November 29, 1989,” for “the date of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991”. Pub. L. 101–510, § 614(b), substituted “subsection (b)(1)” for “subsection (b)”. Pub. L. 101–510, § 613(b), substituted “
September 30, 1992,” for “
September 30, 1991,”. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 101–510, § 614(a), designated existing provisions as par. (1), redesignated former pars. (1) to (3) as subpars. (A) to (C), respectively, and added par. (2). Subsec. (e)(3). Pub. L. 101–510, § 1484(d)(3)(B), substituted “
November 29, 1989” for “the date of the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2008 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 110–181 effective as of Dec. 31, 2007, and subject to various special provisions, see section 610 of Pub. L. 110–181, set out as a Correction of Lapsed Authorities for Payment of Bonuses, Special Pays, and Similar Benefits for Members of the Uniformed Services note under section 2130a of Title 10, Armed Forces.
Savings Provision
For
Savings Provision
relating to payment or repayment of any bonus, incentive pay, special pay, or similar pay obligated to be paid before Apr. 1, 2006, under a provision of this section amended by section 687(b) of Pub. L. 109–163, see section 687(f) of Pub. L. 109–163, set out as a note under section 510 of Title 10, Armed Forces. Application of IncreaseIn case of amendment by section 615 of Pub. L. 107–314 to increase maximum amount of special pay or bonus that may be paid during any 12-month period, the amended limitation is applicable to 12-month periods beginning after Sept. 30, 2002, see section 615(i) of Pub. L. 107–314, set out as a note under section 301d of this title. Coverage of Period of Lapsed AuthorityFor provisions relating to coverage of period of lapsed authority from Oct. 1, 1993, to Nov. 30, 1993, for payment of special pay authorized under this section, see section 611(d) of Pub. L. 103–160, set out as a note under section 2130a of Title 10, Armed Forces. For provisions relating to coverage of period of lapsed authority from Oct. 1, 1992, to Oct. 23, 1992, for payment of bonuses or other special pay under this section, see section 612(j)(2) of Pub. L. 102–484, set out as a note under section 301b of this title. Implementation of Subsection (b)(2)Pub. L. 101–510, div. A, title VI, § 614(c), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1578, provided that the Secretary of Defense could not implement subsec. (b)(2) of this section, unless the Secretary submitted to the Committees on Armed Services of the Senate and House of Representatives a report justifying the need of the departments for the authority provided in such subsection and describing the manner in which that authority would be implemented, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 106–398, § 1 [[div. A], title VI, § 626(b)(2)], Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1654, 1654A–153.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
37 U.S.C. § 302e
Title 37 — Pay and Allowances of the Uniformed Services
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73