112 STAT. 2056 PUBLIC LAW 105-261—OCT. 17, 1998 Subtitle A—Health Care Services 10 USC 1076a note. Notice. SEC. 701. DEPENDENTS' DENTAL PROGRAM. (a) PREMIUM INCREASE. —Section 1076a(b)(2) of title 10, United States Code, is amended— (A) by inserting "(A)" after "(2)"; and (B) by adding at the end the following: "(B) Effective as of January 1 of each year, the amount of the premium required under subparagraph (A) shall be increased by the percent equal to the lesser of— "(i) the percent by which the rates of basic pay of members of the uniformed services are increased on such date; or "(ii) the sum of one-half percent and the percent computed under section 5303(a) of title 5 for the increase in rates of basic pay for statutory pay systems for pay periods beginning on or after such date.". (2) The amendment made by subparagraph (B) of paragraph (1) shall take effect on January 1, 1999, and shall apply to months after 1998 as if such subparagraph had been in effect since December 31, 1993. (b) LIMITATION ON REDUCTION OF BENEFITS.— Section 1076a is further amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: "(j) LIMITATION ON REDUCTION OF BENEFITS.—The Secretary of Defense may not reduce benefits provided under this section until— "(1) the Secretary provides notice of the Secretary's intent to reduce such benefits to the Committee on National Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; and "(2) 1 year has elapsed following the date of such notice.". SEC. 702. EXPANSION OF DEPENDENT ELIGIBILITY UNDER RETIREE DENTAL PROGRAM. (a) IN GENERAL. —Subsection (b) of section 1076c of title 10, United States Code, is amended— (1) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and (2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following new paragraph: "(4) Eligible dependents of a member described in paragraph (1) or (2) who is not enrolled in the plan and who— "(A) is enrolled under section 1705 of title 38 to receive dental care from the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; "(B) is enrolled in a dental plan that— "(i) is available to the member as a result of employment by the member that is separate from the military service of the member; and "(ii) is not available to dependents of the member as a result of such separate emplo3niient by the member; or "(C) is prevented by a medical or dental condition from being able to obtain benefits under the plan.". (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENT. —Subsection (f)(3) of such section is amended by striking out "(b)(4)" and inserting in lieu thereof "(b)(5)".
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