An entity to which a participant in the Scholarship Program or the Loan Repayment Program (referred to in this section as a “participant”) is assigned under section 254f of this title may direct such participant to provide service as a behavioral or mental health professional at a school or other community-based setting located in a health professional shortage area.

Any service described in subsection (a) that a participant provides may count towards such participant’s completion of any obligated service requirements under the Scholarship Program or the Loan Repayment Program, subject to any limitation imposed under paragraph (2).

(1) In general Any service described in subsection (a) that a participant provides may count towards such participant’s completion of any obligated service requirements under the Scholarship Program or the Loan Repayment Program, subject to any limitation imposed under paragraph (2).

(2) Limitation The Secretary may impose a limitation on the number of hours of service described in subsection (a) that a participant may credit towards completing obligated service requirements, provided that the limitation allows a member to credit service described in subsection (a) for not less than 50 percent of the total hours required to complete such obligated service requirements.

The authorization under subsection (a) shall be notwithstanding any other provision of this subpart or subpart II.

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, § 338N, as added Pub. L. 115–271, title VII, § 7072, Oct. 24, 2018, 132 Stat. 4030.)