[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1976 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

112th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1976

   To authorize educational assistance under the Armed Forces Health 
  Professions Scholarship program for pursuit of advanced degrees in 
               physical therapy and occupational therapy.


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                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                            December 8, 2011

Ms. Collins (for herself and Mr. Coons) introduced the following bill; 
  which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To authorize educational assistance under the Armed Forces Health 
  Professions Scholarship program for pursuit of advanced degrees in 
               physical therapy and occupational therapy.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE FOR ADVANCED DEGREES IN PHYSICAL 
              THERAPY AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY UNDER THE ARMED FORCES 
              HEALTH PROFESSIONS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--In accordance with guidance issued by the 
Secretary of Defense for purposes of this section, assistance under the 
Armed Forces Health Professions Scholarship program under subchapter I 
of chapter 105 of title 10, United States Code, shall be available for 
pursuit of a master's degree and a doctoral degree in the disciplines 
as follows:
            (1) Physical therapy.
            (2) Occupational therapy.
    (b) Termination.--The guidance under subsection (a) shall provide 
that the availability of assistance as described in that subsection for 
pursuit of a degree in a discipline covered by that subsection shall 
cease when the Secretary certifies to Congress that there no longer 
exists a current or projected shortfall in qualified personnel in that 
discipline in either of the following:
            (1) The military departments.
            (2) Any major military medical treatment facility 
        specializing in the rehabilitation of wounded members of the 
        Armed Forces.
    (c) Sunset.--
            (1) In general.--The authority to commence the provision of 
        assistance under this section shall expire on the date that is 
        two years after the date of the enactment of this Act, if not 
        terminated earlier in accordance with subsection (b).
            (2) Continuation of ongoing assistance.--Nothing in 
        paragraph (1) shall be construed to terminate the provision of 
        assistance under this section after the date specified in 
        paragraph (1) to persons provided assistance under this section 
        before or as of such date.
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