S.Amdt. 1437

1. Adds TITLE XV--RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION at the end of division A

   Adds a title

   In S. 1042 · Placed on Calendar Senate

   (d) Effect on Authorization Amounts.--A transfer made from one account to another under the authority of this section shall be deemed to increase the amount authorized for the account to which the amount is transferred by an amount equal to the amount transferred.

   Inserted: TITLE XV--RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION

   Inserted: SEC. 1501. SHORT TITLE.

   Inserted: This title may be cited as the "Military Recruiting Initiatives Act of 2005".

   Inserted: SEC. 1502. INCREASE IN MAXIMUM ENLISTMENT BONUS.

   Inserted: (a) Enlistment Bonus for Selected Reserve Members.--Section 308c(b) of title 37, United States Code, is amended by striking "$10,000" and inserting "$20,000".

   Inserted: (b) Enlistment Bonus for Active Members.--Section 309(a) of title 37, United States Code, is amended by striking "$20,000" and inserting "$40,000".

   Inserted: SEC. 1503. TEMPORARY AUTHORITY TO PAY BONUS TO ENCOURAGE MEMBERS OF THE ARMY TO REFER OTHER PERSONS FOR ENLISTMENT IN THE ARMY.

   Inserted: (a) Authority To Pay Bonus.--The Secretary of the Army may pay a bonus under this section to a member of the Army, whether in the regular component of the Army or in the Army National Guard or Army Reserve, who refers to an Army recruiter a person who has not previously served in an Armed Force and who, after such referral, enlists in the regular component of the Army or in the Army National Guard or Army Reserve.

   Inserted: (b) Referral.--For purposes of this section, a referral for which a bonus may be paid under subsection (a) occurs--

   Inserted: (1) when a member of the Army contacts an Army recruiter on behalf of a person interested in enlisting in the Army; or

   Inserted: (2) when a person interested in enlisting in the Army contacts the Army recruiter and informs the recruiter of the role of the member in initially recruiting the person.

   Inserted: (c) Certain Referrals Ineligible.--

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   Inserted: (1) Referral of immediate family.--A member of the Army may not be paid a bonus under subsection (a) for the referral of an immediate family member.

   Inserted: (2) Members in recruiting roles.--A member of the Army serving in a recruiting or retention assignment, or assigned to other duties regarding which eligibility for a bonus under subsection (a) could (as determined by the Secretary) be perceived as creating a conflict of interest, may not be paid a bonus under subsection (a).

   Inserted: (d) Amount of Bonus.--The amount of the bonus paid for a referral under subsection (a) may not exceed $1,000. The bonus shall be paid in a lump sum.

   Inserted: (e) Time of Payment.--A bonus may not be paid under subsection (a) with respect to a person who enlists in the Army until the person completes basic training and individual advanced training.

   Inserted: (f) Relation To Prohibition on Bounties.--The referral bonus authorized by this section is not a bounty for purposes of section 514(a) of title 10, United States Code.

   Inserted: (g) Limitation on Initial Use of Authority.--During the first year in which bonuses are offered under this section, the Secretary of the Army may not pay more than 1,000 referral bonuses per component of the Army.

   Inserted: (h) Duration of Authority.--A bonus may not be paid under subsection (a) with respect to any referral that occurs after December 31, 2007.

   Inserted: SEC. 1504. INCREASE IN MAXIMUM AGE FOR ENLISTMENT.

   Inserted: Section 505(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by striking "thirty-five years of age" and inserting "forty-two years of age".

   Inserted: SEC. 1505. REPEAL OF PROHIBITION ON PRIOR SERVICE ENLISTMENT BONUS FOR RECEIPT OF OTHER ENLISTMENT OR REENLISTMENT BONUS FOR SERVICE IN THE SELECTED RESERVE.

   Inserted: Section 308i(a)(2) of title 37, United States Code, is amended by striking subparagraph (D).

   Inserted: SEC. 1506. INCREASE AND ENHANCEMENT OF AFFILIATION BONUS FOR OFFICERS OF THE SELECTED RESERVE.

   Inserted: (a) Repeal of Prohibition on Eligibility for Prior Reserve Service.--Subsection (a)(2) of section 308j of title 37, United States Code, is amended--

   Inserted: (1) in subparagraph (A), by adding "and" at the end;

   Inserted: (2) by striking subparagraph (B); and

   Inserted: (3) by redesignating subparagraph (C) as subparagraph (B).

   Inserted: (b) Increase in Maximum Amount.--Subsection (d) of such section is amended by striking "$6,000" and inserting "$10,000".

   Inserted: SEC. 1507. ENHANCEMENT OF EDUCATIONAL LOAN REPAYMENT AUTHORITIES.

   Inserted: (a) Additional Loans Eligible for Repayment.--Paragraph (1) of section 2171(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended--

   Inserted: (1) in subparagraph (B), by striking "or" at the end;

   Inserted: (2) in subparagraph (C), by striking the period at the end and inserting "; or"; and

   Inserted: (3) by inserting after subparagraph (C) the following new subparagraph:

   Inserted: "(D) any loan incurred for educational purposes made by a lender that is--

   Inserted: "(i) an agency or instrumentality of a State;

   Inserted: "(ii) a financial or credit institution (including an insurance company) that is subject to examination and supervision by an agency of the United States or any State;

   Inserted: "(iii) a pension fund approved by the Secretary for purposes of this section; or

   Inserted: "(iv) a non-profit private entity designated by a State, regulated by such State, and approved by the Secretary for purposes of this section.".

   Inserted: (b) Eligibility of Officers.--Paragraph (2) of such section is amended by striking "an enlisted member in a military specialty" and inserting "a member in an officer program or military specialty".

   Inserted: SEC. 1508. REPORT ON RESERVE DENTAL INSURANCE PROGRAM.

   Inserted: (a) Study.--The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a study of the Reserve Dental Insurance program.

   Inserted: (b) Elements.--The study required by subsection (a) shall--

   Inserted: (1) identify the most effective mechanism or mechanisms for the payment of premiums under the Reserve Dental Insurance program for members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces and their dependents, including by deduction from reserve pay, by direct collection, or by other means (including appropriate mechanisms from other military benefits programs), to ensure uninterrupted availability of premium payments regardless of whether members are performing active duty with pay or inactive-duty training with pay;

   Inserted: (2) include such matters relating to the Reserve Dental Insurance program as the Secretary considers appropriate; and

   Inserted: (3) assess the effectiveness of mechanisms for informing the members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces of the availability of, and benefits under, the Reserve Dental Insurance program.

   Inserted: (c) Report.--Not later than February 1, 2007, the Secretary shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on the study required by subsection (a). The report shall include the findings of the study and such recommendations for legislative or administrative action regarding the Reserve Dental Insurance program as the Secretary considers appropriate in light of the study.

   Inserted: (d) Reserve Dental Insurance Program Defined.--In this section, the term "Reserve Dental Insurance program" includes--

   Inserted: (1) the dental insurance plan required under paragraph (1) of section 1076a(a) of title 10, United States Code; and

   Inserted: (2) any dental insurance plan established under paragraph (2) or (4) of section 1076a(a) of title 10, United States Code.

   Original wording

   At the end of division A, add the following:

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As printed