113 STAT. 822 PUBLIC LAW 106-65—OCT. 5, 1999 (d) REIMBURSEMENT UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. —(1) If a participant in the Troops-to-Teachers Program fails to obtain teacher certification or hcensure or employment as an elementary or secondary school teacher or vocational or technical teacher as required by the agreement under section 1704(e) or voluntarily leaves, or is terminated for cause, from the employment during the four years of required service in violation of the agreement, the participant shall be required to reimburse the administering Secretary for any stipend paid to the participant under subsection (a) in an amount that bears the same ratio to the amount of the stipend as the unserved portion of required service bears to the four years of required service. (2) If a participant in the Troops-to-Teachers Program who is paid a bonus under subsection (b) fails to obtain emplo3ment for which the bonus was paid as required by the agreement under section 1704(e), or voluntarily leaves or is terminated for cause from the employment during the four years of required service in violation of the agreement, the participant shall be required to reimburse the administering Secretary for any bonus paid to the participant under that subsection in an amount that bears the same ratio to the amount of the bonus as the unserved portion of required service bears to the four years of required service. (3) The obligation to reimburse the administering Secretary under this subsection is, for all purposes, a debt owing the United States. A discharge in bankruptcy under title 11, United States Code, shall not release a participant from the obligation to reimburse the administering Secretary. (4) Any amount owed by a participant under this subsection shall bear interest at the rate equal to the highest rate being paid by the United States on the day on which the reimbursement is determined to be due for securities having maturities of ninety days or less and shall accrue from the day on which the participant is first notified of the amount due. (e) EXCEPTIONS TO REIMBURSEMENT REQUIREMENT. — ^A participant in the Troops-to-Teachers Program shall be excused from reimbursement under subsection (d) if the participant becomes permanently totally disabled as established by sworn affidavit of a qualified physician. The administering Secretary may also waive reimbursement in cases of extreme hardship to the participant, as determined by the administering Secretary. (f) RELATIONSHIP TO EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE UNDER MONT- GOMERY GI BILL. —The receipt by a participant in the Troopsto-Teachers Program of any assistance under the program shall not reduce or otherwise affect the entitlement of the participant to any benefits under chapter 30 of title 38, United States Code, or chapter 1606 of title 10, United States Code. 20 USC 9306. SEC. 1706. PARTICIPATION BY STATES. (a) DISCHARGE OF STATE ACTIVITIES THROUGH CONSORTIA OF STATES. —The administering Secretary may permit States participating in the Troops-to-Teachers Program to carry out activities authorized for such States under the program through one or more consortia of such States. (b) ASSISTANCE TO STATES.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the administering Secretary may make grants to States participating in the Troops-to-Teachers Program, or to consortia of such States, in order to permit such States or consortia of States to operate
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