HB88: HB88 State veterinary education; biomedical technicians to be eligible for the state student loan forgiveness program; provide

26 LC 61 0402S The House Committee on Higher Education offers the following substitute to HB 88: A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Cod e of Georgia Annotated,1 relating to scholarships, loans, and grants, so as to provide f or the purchase of loans made2 to students for educational purposes for persons who have completed a program of study in3 the field of veterinary technology or its equivalent and are authorized to practice veterinary4 technology; to provide for definitions; to provide for conditio ns and eligibility; to provide5 for terms of the loan purchase agreement; to provide for cancellation; to provide for related6 matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.7 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:8 SECTION 1.9 Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Geor gia Annotated, relating to10 scholarships, loans, and grants, is amended by adding a new part to read as follows:11 "Part 6C12 20-3-518.12.13 As used in this part, the term:14 H. B. 88 (SUB) - 1 - 26 LC 61 0402S (1) 'Board' means the State Veterinary Education Board created under Code15 Section 20-3-518.2.16 (2) 'Practice veterinary technology' shall have the same meani ng as set forth in Code17 Section 43-50-3.18 (3) 'Veterinary technology' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code19 Section 43-50-3.20 20-3-518.13.21 (a) Beginning January 1, 2027, the board may provide for the purchase of loans made to22 students for educational purposes for persons who have completed a program of study in23 the field of veterinary technology or its equivalent and are authorized to practice veterinary24 technology in this state and are residents of this state, with services in the form of the25 practice of veterinary technology while residing in this state to be rendered as consideration26 for such loan purchases.27 (b) Only persons who have been practicing veterinary technology for ten years or less shall28 be eligible for loan purchases under this part. No person shal l be eligible for a loan29 purchase under this part more than once in his or her lifetime.30 20-3-518.14.31 (a)(1) Subject to appropriations, persons whose applications are approved and enter into32 a loan purchase agreement with the board, as provided by Code S ection 20-3-518.13,33 shall receive a loan purchase in a total amount to be determine d by the board, but not34 exceeding $30,000.00 per person. The loan purchases shall be paid in such manner as the35 board shall determine.36 (2) The loan purchases to be granted to each applicant shall be based upon the condition37 that the consideration for such loan purchases shall be service s to be rendered by the38 applicant after entering into a loan purchase agreement with th e board by practicing39 H. B. 88 (SUB) - 2 - 26 LC 61 0402S veterinary technology full time in any board approved rural cou nty in Georgia with a40 population of 50,000 or less according to the United States decennial census of 2020 or41 any future such census.42 (3) For time served after entering into a loan purchase agreem ent with the board in43 practicing his or her profession full time in such board approved location, the applicant44 shall receive a loan purchase at a rate equivalent to $10,000.00 per 12 months of service;45 provided, however, that the total purchase amount shall not exc eed the maximum46 specified in paragraph (1) of this subsection.47 (b) The board shall not enter into new loan purchase agreement s with more than five48 persons per year pursuant to this part; provided, however, that the total sum of loan49 purchases from state appropriations for which the board contractually obligates itself in any50 fiscal year shall not exceed the amount of funds for such loan purchase agreements51 specified in annual appropriations Acts. Funds in the loan purchase fund account that are52 not expended or contractually obligated by the board for loan purchases during any fiscal53 year shall lapse.54 20-3-518.15.55 (a) Each applicant before being granted a loan purchase shall enter into a contract with a56 term of three consecutive years with the board agreeing to the terms and conditions upon57 which the loan purchase is granted, including such terms and provisions as will carry out58 the full purpose and intent of this part. It shall not be necessary for a contract enrollee to59 reapply after entering into a contract; provided, however, that the board may require the60 contract enrollee to provide an annual certification of continued compliance with this Code61 section. The form of such contract shall be prepared and appro ved by the Attorney62 General, and each contract shall be signed by the chairperson o f the board and by the63 applicant.64 H. B. 88 (SUB) - 3 - 26 LC 61 0402S (b) The board shall have the authority to cancel the loan purchase contract of any applicant65 at any time for any cause deemed sufficient by the board, provided that such authority shall66 not be arbitrarily or unreasonably exercised.67 (c) The board shall adopt such rules and regulations as are re asonable and necessary to68 implement the provisions of this part."69 SECTION 2.70 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.71 H. B. 88 (SUB) - 4 -