§1615. Continuing education allowances

(a) Discretionary authority; scope of activities

In order to encourage physicians, dentists, nurses, and other health professionals to join or continue in the Service and to provide their services in the rural and remote areas where a significant portion of the Indian people resides, the Secretary, acting through the Service, may provide allowances to health professionals employed in the Service to enable them for a period of time each year prescribed by regulation of the Secretary to take leave of their duty stations for professional consultation and refresher training courses.

(b) Limitation

Of amounts appropriated under the authority of this subchapter for each fiscal year to be used to carry out this section, not more than $1,000,000 may be used to establish postdoctoral training programs for health professionals.

( Pub. L. 94–437, title I, §106, Sept. 30, 1976, 90 Stat. 1404 ; Pub. L. 100–713, title I, §105, Nov. 23, 1988, 102 Stat. 4787 ; Pub. L. 102–573, title I, §§104(a), 115, Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4533 , 4543.)

Amendments

1992-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 102–573, §104(a), inserted "nurses," after "physicians, dentists,".

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 102–573, §115, amended subsec. (b) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (b) read as follows: "There are authorized to be appropriated for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this section-

"(1) $500,000 for fiscal year 1989,

"(2) $526,300 for fiscal year 1990,

"(3) $553,800 for fiscal year 1991, and

"(4) $582,500 for fiscal year 1992."

1988-Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 100–713 amended subsec. (b) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (b) read as follows: "There are authorized to be appropriated for the purpose of this section: $100,000 for fiscal year 1978, $200,000 for fiscal year 1979, and $250,000 for fiscal year 1980. For fiscal years 1981, 1982, 1983, and 1984 there are authorized to be appropriated for the purpose of this section such sums as may be specifically authorized by an Act enacted after this chapter."