SB20: SB20 Veterinarians; student loan repayment; who practice shelter medicine and in nonprofit pet sterilization clinics; provide; create the State Veterinary Education Board for Shelter Medicine and Pet Sterilization

25 LC 61 0266S Senate Bill 20 By: Senators Kirkpatrick of the 32nd, Summers of the 13th, Payne of the 54th, Anderson of the 24th and Parent of the 44th AS PASSED 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 for tuition grants to children and2 spouses of certain public employees killed or permanently disab led in the line of duty; to3 provide for charitable contributions to the Georgia Student Finance Authority for such grants;4 to expand eligibility for the Public Safety Memorial Grant to p rovide for tuition grants to5 children and spouses of emergency medical technicians, firefigh ters, highway emergency6 response operators, law enforcement officers, and prison guards who are killed or7 permanently disabled in the line of duty; to provide for tuition grants to children and spouses8 of public school employees and public school teachers who are k illed or permanently9 disabled by an act of violence in the line of duty; to provide definitions; to provide for10 maximum grant amounts; to provide for eligibility; to provide for an application process; to11 provide for grant renewals; to provide for the purchase of loan s made to students for12 educational purposes for veterinarians who practice shelter medicine and veterinarians who13 practice in nonprofit pet sterilization clinics; to provide for the appointment of additional14 members to the State Veterinary Education Board; to authorize t he State Veterinary15 Education Board to establish committees; to provide for definit ions; to require the State16 Veterinary Education Board to establish and maintain separate programs for loan purchases17 made under this part and loan purchases made under Part 6B of t his article and account18 S. B. 20 - 1 - 25 LC 61 0266S separately for the funding of each program; to provide requirements for participation in the19 loan repayment program; to provide for maximum total and annual repayment amounts; to20 provide for terms for repayment agreements; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide21 for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.22 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:23 PART I24 SECTION 1-1.25 Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Geor gia Annotated, relating to26 scholarships, loans, and grants, is amended in Part 3, relating to the Georgia Student Finance27 Authority, by revising Code Section 20-3-316.2, relating to voluntary donations through state28 income tax returns and drivers' license fees benefitting childr en of certain public servants29 seeking postsecondary education, as follows:30 "20-3-316.2.31 (a)(1) Each Georgia income tax return form for taxable years b eginning on or after32 January 1, 2017 2026, shall contain appropriate language, to be determined by the state33 revenue commissioner, offering the taxpayer the opportunity to make a charitable34 contribution to the Georgia Student Finance Authority to provid e financial assistance35 toward the postsecondary educational costs of the children and spouses o f l a w36 enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics, emergency medical technicians, and prison37 guards employed by the state or other public employer, and Highway Emergency38 Response Operators of the Department of Transportation who were permanently disabled39 or killed in the line of duty and the children and spouses of public school employees and40 public school teachers who were killed or permanently disabled by an act of violence in41 the line of duty by either donating all or any part of any tax refund due and authorizing42 S. B. 20 - 2 - 25 LC 61 0266S a reduction in the refund check otherwise payable or contributing any amount over and43 above any amount of tax owed by adding that amount to the taxpa yer's payment. The44 instructions accompanying the income tax return shall include a description of the45 intended use of the moneys received from the contributions. Each taxpayer required to46 file a state income tax return who desires to make a charitable contribution to the Georgia47 Student Finance Authority may designate such contribution as pr ovided on the48 appropriate income tax return form.49 (2) The Department of Revenue shall determine annually the total amount so contributed50 and shall transmit such amount to the Georgia Student Finance Authority.51 (b) Beginning January 1, 2017 2026, the Department of Driver Services shall, through52 appropriate language on its forms for the issuance and renewal of drivers' licenses and53 identification cards, offer individuals the opportunity to make a voluntary charitable54 contribution of $1.00, $5.00, or $10.00 to the Georgia Student Finance Authority to provide55 financial assistance toward the postsecondary educational costs of the children and spouses56 of law enforcement officers, firefighters, paramedics, emergency medical technicians, and57 prison guards employed by the state or other public employer, and Highway Emergency58 Response Operators of the Department of Transportation who were permanently disabled59 or killed in the line of duty and the children and spouses of public school employees and60 public school teachers who were killed or permanently disabled by an act of violence in the61 line of duty. The form shall contain a description of the intended use of moneys received62 from the contributions. Each individual who desires to make a charitable contribution may63 designate such contribution on the appropriate form, and the Department of Driver Services64 shall accept such contribution. The Department of Driver Servi ces shall determine65 annually the total amount so contributed, shall withhold therefrom a reasonable amount for66 administering this voluntary charitable contribution program, and shall transmit the balance67 to the Georgia Student Finance Authority for funding, in whole or in part, the68 postsecondary educational costs of such students. If, in any t ax year, the administrative69 S. B. 20 - 3 - 25 LC 61 0266S costs of the Department of Driver Services for collecting charitable contributions pursuant70 to this subsection exceed the sum of such contributions, the administrative costs which the71 Department of Driver Services is authorized to withhold from such contributions shall not72 exceed the sum of such contributions."73 PART II74 SECTION 2-1.75 Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Geor gia Annotated, relating to76 scholarships, loans, and grants, is amended in Subpart 7 of Par t 3, relating to grants to77 children of law enforcement officers, firefighters, and prison guards, by revising Code78 Section 20-3-450, relating to legislative findings and purpose of subpart, as follows:79 "20-3-450.80 The General Assembly finds that certain citizens are called upo n to enforce the criminal81 laws of this state and to protect persons and properties within t h e s t a t e a n d t h a t t h e y82 provide a valuable and vital public service to the state and to citizens and properties within83 the state at a great personal sacrifice and risk to their own l ives and well-being. The84 purpose of the General Assembly, as provided for in this subpart, is to enable the authority85 to provide educational grant assistance to the children and spouses of such persons who are86 killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty."87 SECTION 2-2.88 Said article is further amended by revising Code Section 20-3-4 51, relating to definitions,89 as follows:90 "20-3-451.91 As used in this subpart, the term:92 S. B. 20 - 4 - 25 LC 61 0266S (1) 'Academic year' means a period of time, typically nine months, in which a full-time93 student is expected to complete the equivalent of at least two semesters' or three quarters'94 academic work nine or more credit hours per term or semester or in which a p art-time95 student is expected to complete the equivalent of eight or fewer credit hours per term or96 semester.97 (2) 'Approved school' means the same schools as enumerated in Code Section 20-3-39198 relative to the state student incentive grant program shall have the same meaning as the99 term 'eligible postsecondary institution' as set forth in Code Section 20-3-519.100 (3) 'Eligible student' means a person who qualifies for an edu cational grant under this101 subpart.102 (4) 'Emergency medical technician' means a person employed by the state or by a county,103 municipality, or other political subdivision of the state who h as been certified as an104 emergency medical technician, cardiac technician, or paramedic pursuant to Chapter 11105 of Title 31.106 (5) 'Firefighter' means a person employed, appointed, or regularly enrolled by the state107 or by any county or municipal fire department whose duties include extinguishing fires108 or investigating cases of suspected arson.109 (6) 'Highway emergency response operator' means an individual employed by the110 Department of Transportation who operates a towing or recovery vehicle or highway111 maintenance vehicle.112 (7) 'In the line of duty' means:113 (A) With respect to an emergency medical technician, when performing services for114 and receiving compensation from the public agency which employs such emergency115 medical technician or when performing emergency medical services;116 (B) With respect to a firefighter, when responding to or returning from a fire or other117 emergency, performing duties during any fire or other emergency, or performing duties118 S. B. 20 - 5 - 25 LC 61 0266S intended to protect life and property, including, without limitation, actual participation119 in a training exercise;120 (C) With respect to a highway emergency response operator, when performing services121 for and receiving compensation from the Department of Transportation;122 (D) With respect to a law enforcement officer, when performing services for the law123 enforcement agency which empl oys such officer, responding to an y situation which124 would save a life or preserve the peace, or preventing or attem pting to prevent the125 commission of a crime; or126 (E) With respect to a prison guard, when performing services f or and receiving127 compensation from the public agency which employs such prison guard.128 (4)(8) 'Law enforcement officer' means a sheriff, deputy sheriff, po lice officer,129 policeman, peace officer, officer or member of the Department of Public Safety, or other130 officer or official who has the power of arrest and who is responsible for enforcing the131 criminal laws of the state or its political subdivisions.132 (5)(9) 'Permanent di sability' or 'permanently disabled' means physic al incapacity to133 perform the duties of a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or prison guard, emergency134 medical technician, or highway emergency response operator as determined by the public135 employer designated in paragraph (3) of Code Section 20-3-453, provided that such136 incapacity is likely to be permanent based upon current medical standards.137 (6)(10) 'Prison guard' means a person employed by the state or by a county, municipality,138 or other political subdivision of the state whose principal duties relate to supervision and139 incarceration of persons accused or convicted of violation of the criminal laws of the state140 or any county, municipality, or other political subdivision thereof."141 SECTION 2-3.142 Said article is further amended by revising Code Section 20-3-4 52, relating to amount of143 grants to each eligible student, as follows:144 S. B. 20 - 6 - 25 LC 61 0266S "20-3-452.145 There is granted to each eligible student attending an approved school the sum of $2,000.00146 no more than $18,000.00 per academic year. No person shall be eligible to receive grant147 assistance provided under this subpart in excess of $8,000.00 $72,000.00. Grant assistance148 to eligible students under this subpart shall be payable during the period of a summer149 school quarter or semester. The payment of grants to eligible students under this subpart150 shall be contingent upon the appropriation of funds by the Gene ral Assembly for the151 purposes of this subpart in annual appropriations Acts of the General Assembly."152 SECTION 2-4.153 Said article is further amended by revising Code Section 20-3-453, relating to eligibility of154 students, as follows:155 "20-3-453.156 No grants shall be payable to any person under this subpart who fails to meet any of the157 following qualifications or restrictions:158 (1) Such person must shall be the child, either natural or adopted, or the spouse of a law159 enforcement officer, firefighter, or prison guard, emergency medical technician, or160 highway emergency response operator who has been permanently disabled or killed in161 the line of duty or while performing the duties to which he or she was assigned in the162 normal course of employment . If such person is the adopted child of any such law163 enforcement officer, firefighter, or prison guard, emergency medical technician, or164 highway emergency response operator, such person must shall have been adopted and165 any final order of adoption issued prior to the date of the acc ident or event causing the166 death or permanent disability of such parent;167 (2) Such person must shall have been a citizen of this state for a period of at least 12168 months immediately prior to the date of registration in an approved school and must shall169 remain a citizen of the this state while receiving funds under this subpart;170 S. B. 20 - 7 - 25 LC 61 0266S (3) The deceased or disabled law enforcement officer, firefighter, or prison guard parent171 or spouse of such person must shall have been an employee, either full-time or part-time,172 or an officer or official, whether elected or appointed, of employed, appointed, or173 regularly enrolled by this state or any county, municipality, department, board, bureau,174 branch, agency, commission, authority, or political subdivision of the state on the date175 of the accident or event from which death or permanent disability resulted; and176 (4) Any person otherwise meeting the conditions of this subpar t shall be eligible to177 receive a grant even though the accident or the event causing t he death or disability of178 such person's parent or spouse occurred prior to July 1, 1980 2025."179 SECTION 2-5.180 Said article is further amended by revising Code Section 20-3-455, relating to administration181 of program and physical examinations, as follows:182 "20-3-455.183 The authority is authorized to prescribe such rules and regulations as may be necessary or184 convenient for administration of this program and to establish procedures for determination185 of eligibility of applicants. The authority is also authorized to establish standards and186 procedures for verifying the death or permanent disability of t he applicant's parent or187 spouse and for such purpose is authorized to require a physical examination and to pay for188 the cost of such examination from funds appropriated for use by the authority for the189 purposes of this subpart."190 S. B. 20 - 8 - 25 LC 61 0266S PART III191 SECTION 3-1.192 Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Geor gia Annotated, relating to193 scholarships, loans, and grants, is amended in Part 3, relating to the Georgia Student Finance194 Authority, by adding a new subpart to read as follows:195 "Subpart 7C196 20-3-466.197 (a) As used in this Code section, the term:198 (1) 'Academic year' means a period of time, typically nine months, in which a full-time199 student is expected to complete the equivalent of at least nine or more credit hours per200 term or semester or in which a part-time student is expected to complete the equivalent201 of eight or fewer credit hours per term or semester.202 (2) 'Act of violence' means a willful act of violence.203 (3) 'Approved school' shall have the same meaning as the term 'eligible postsecondary204 institution' as set forth in Code Section 20-3-519.205 (4) 'Authority' means the Georgia Student Finance Authority.206 (5) 'Eligible student' means a person who qualifies for an edu cational grant under this207 Code section.208 (6) 'In the line of duty' means while on duty and performing services for and receiving209 compensation from the local education agency which employs such public school teacher210 or public school employee.211 (7) 'Local education agency' shall have the same meaning as set forth in subsection (a)212 of Code Section 20-2-167.1.213 (8) 'Permanent disability' means disability due to:214 S. B. 20 - 9 - 25 LC 61 0266S (A) Loss of both eyes or blindness in both eyes with only light perception;215 (B) Loss or loss of use of both hands;216 (C) Loss or loss of use of both legs;217 (D) Loss of a lower extremity or residuals of organic disease or injury which so affect218 the functions of balance or propulsion as to preclude locomotio n without resort to a219 wheelchair; or220 (E) Organic brain damage resulting from direct physical trauma incurred after221 July 1, 2001, which so affects the mental capacity as to preclude the ability to function222 productively in any employment.223 (9) 'Public school employee' shall have the same meaning as se t forth in Code224 Section 20-2-910.225 (10) 'Public school teacher' shall have the same meaning as se t forth in Code226 Section 20-2-880.227 (b) There is granted to each eligible student attending an approved school the sum of no228 more than $18,000.00 per acad emic year. No person shall be eli gible to receive grant229 assistance provided under this Code section in excess of $72,000.00. Grant assistance to230 eligible students under this Code section shall be payable during the period of a summer231 school quarter or semester. The payment of grants to eligible students under this Code232 section shall be contingent upon the appropriation of funds by the General Assembly for233 the purposes of this Code section in annual appropriations Acts of the General Assembly.234 (c) No grants shall be payable to any person under this Code section who fails to meet any235 of the following qualifications or restrictions:236 (1) Such person shall be the child, either natural or adopted, or the spouse of a public237 school teacher or public school employee who has been killed by an act of violence in the238 line of duty or who has a permanent disability due to an act of violence in the line of duty. 239 If such person is the adopted child of any such public school t eacher or public school240 S. B. 20 - 10 - 25 LC 61 0266S employee, such person shall have been adopted and any final ord er of adoption issued241 prior to the act of violence causing the death or permanent disability of such parent;242 (2) Such person shall have been a citizen of this state for a period of at least 12 months243 immediately prior to the date of registration in an approved sc hool and shall remain a244 citizen of this state while receiving funds under this Code section;245 (3) The parent or spouse of such person shall have been a publ ic school employee or246 public school teacher on the date of the act of violence from which death or permanent247 disability resulted; and248 (4) Any person otherwise meeting the conditions of this Code section shall be eligible249 to receive a grant even though the act of violence causing the death or permanent250 disability of such person's parent or spouse occurred prior to July 1, 2025.251 (d) Any person meeting the conditions of this Code section may apply to the authority for252 a grant. Such application shall be submitted in writing on forms prescribed by the authority253 for such purpose. The applicant shall furnish such information as may be required by the254 authority for determination of eligibility for the grant. The authority shall approve grant255 renewals only upon receipt of the recipient's application therefor and upon a finding that256 the recipient has successfully completed the work of the preced ing school period and257 presents evidence that he or she is a student in good standing, that he or she remains a258 citizen of this state, and that he or she remains otherwise qua lified to receive such grant259 under this Code section.260 (e) The authority is authorized to prescribe such rules and regulations as may be necessary261 or convenient for administration of this Code section and to es tablish procedures for262 determination of eligibility of applicants. The authority is a lso authorized to establish263 standards and procedures for verifying the death or permanent disability of the applicant's264 parent or spouse and for such purpose is authorized to require a physical examination and265 to pay for the cost of such examination from funds appropriated for use by the authority for266 the purposes of this Code section."267 S. B. 20 - 11 - 25 LC 61 0266S PART IV268 SECTION 4-1.269 Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Geor gia Annotated, relating to270 scholarships, loans, and grants, is amended by revising Code Section 20-3-518.1, relating to271 definitions relative to state veterinary education, as follows:272 "20-3-518.1.273 As used in this part, the term:274 (1) 'Animal shelter,' 'nonprofit pet sterilization clinic,' 'p et sterilization services,' and275 'shelter medicine' shall have the same meanings as set forth in Code Section 20-3-518.8.276 (2) 'Board' means the State Veterinary Education Board created un der Code277 Section 20-3-518.2.278 (2)(3) 'Commissioner' means the Commissioner of Agriculture.279 (3)(4) 'Department' means the Department of Agriculture."280 SECTION 4-2.281 Said article is further amended by revising Code Section 20-3-5 18.2, relating to State282 Veterinarian Education Board, as follows:283 "20-3-518.2.284 (a) There shall be a State Veterinary Education Board which shall consist of:285 (1) The Commissioner of Agriculture or his or her designee;286 (2) The dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Georgia or his287 or her designee;288 (3) The dean of the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences of the289 University of Georgia or his or her designee;290 (4) A person actively engaged in the production of livestock in this state, to be appointed291 by the Governor, who shall serve for a term of four years and until his or her successor292 S. B. 20 - 12 - 25 LC 61 0266S is qualified and appointed. The term of the initial member app ointed under this293 paragraph shall commence on July 1, 2011; and294 (5) A person actively engaged in the private practice of veterinary medicine in this state,295 whose practice includes but is not necessarily limited to food animals, to be appointed by296 the State Board of Veterinary Medicine, who shall serve for a term of four years and until297 his or her successor is qualified and appointed. The term of the initial member appointed298 under this paragraph shall commence on July 1, 2011.;299 (6) A person employed as an executive director or equivalent of an animal shelter or a300 nonprofit pet sterilization clinic in this state, to be appointed by the Governor, who shall301 serve for a term of four years and until his or her successor i s qualified and appointed.302 The term of the initial member appointed under this paragraph s hall commence on303 January 1, 2026; and304 (7) A veterinarian employed full time in the practice of shelt er medicine or pet305 sterilization services in this state, to be appointed by the Governor, who shall serve for306 a term of four years and until his or her successor is qualified and appointed. The term307 of the initial member appointed under this paragraph shall commence on January 1, 2026.308 (b) Any vacancies on the board shall be filled in the same man ner as the original309 appointment.310 (c)(1) The board shall elect annually a chairperson and a vice chairperson to serve in the311 absence or inability of the chairperson. The board shall meet at least once each year at312 such time and place as may be fixed by the board. Special meetings shall be held upon313 the call of the chairperson. Three A majority of the members of the board shall constitute314 a quorum for the transaction of business. No Except as otherwise provided in this315 subsection, no official action shall be taken by the board except upon the affirmative vote316 of at least three a majority of the members of the board.317 (2)(A) The board shall be authorized to establish a committee, consisting of two or318 more members of the board, which, to the extent provided by the board, shall have and319 S. B. 20 - 13 - 25 LC 61 0266S exercise the authority of the board in regard to the loan purchases provided for in this320 part.321 (B) The board shall be authorized to establish a committee whi ch, to the extent322 provided by the board, shall have and exercise the authority of the board in regard to323 the loan purchases provided for in Part 6B of this article.324 (d) The board shall be attached to the Department of Agricultu re for administrative325 purposes only, pursuant to Code Section 50-4-3.326 (e) The board shall establish and maintain separate programs f or loan purchases made327 under this part and loan purchases made under Part 6B of this a rticle and shall account328 separately for the funding of each program. Any state appropri ation of funds shall329 separately identify the amount of funds appropriated for each program."330 SECTION 4-3.331 Said article is further amended by adding a new part to read as follows:332 "Part 6B333 20-3-518.8.334 As used in this part, the term:335 (1) 'Animal shelter' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code Section 4-11-2.336 (2) 'Board' means the State Veterinary Education Board created under Code337 Section 20-3-518.2.338 (3) 'Nonprofit organization' means an organization which is exempt from taxation under339 the provisions of Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code.340 (4) 'Nonprofit pet sterilization clinic' means a veterinary facility that exclusively offers341 pet sterilization services and which is a nonprofit organization.342 S. B. 20 - 14 - 25 LC 61 0266S (5) 'Pet sterilization services' means procedures that meet or exceed veterinary medical343 standards of care in providing sterilization of dogs, cats, and pet rabbits.344 (6) 'Shelter medicine' means veterinary practices used to mana g e t h e h e a l t h o f345 populations of animals handled by animal shelters.346 (7) 'Veterinary facility' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code347 Section 43-50-3.348 20-3-518.9.349 (a) Beginning January 1, 2026, the board may provide for the purchase of loans made to350 students for educational purposes who have completed a program of study in the field of351 doctor of veterinary medicine or its equivalent and are authori zed to practice veterinary352 medicine in this state and are residents of this state, with services in the form of the practice353 of veterinary medicine while residing in this state to be rendered as consideration for such354 loan purchases.355 (b) Only persons who have been practicing veterinary medicine for ten years or less shall356 be eligible for loan purchases under this part.357 (c) Only persons who practice shelter medicine full time or wh o practice full time at a358 nonprofit pet sterilization clinic shall be eligible for loan purchases under this part.359 (d) For eligible applicants who practice shelter medicine full time, the board shall give360 priority to applicants whose practices include pet sterilization services.361 20-3-518.10.362 (a)(1) Subject to appropriations, persons whose applications are approved and enter into363 a loan purchase agreement with the board, as provided by Code Section 20-3-518.9, shall364 receive a loan purchase in a total amount to be determined by t he board, but not365 exceeding $75,000.00 per person. The loan purchases shall be paid in such manner as the366 board shall determine.367 S. B. 20 - 15 - 25 LC 61 0266S (2) The loan purchases to be granted to each applicant shall be based upon the condition368 that the consideration for such loan purchases shall be service s to be rendered by the369 applicant after entering into a loan purchase agreement with the board by practicing his370 or her profession full time in a board approved animal shelter or nonprofit pet sterilization371 clinic.372 (3) For time served after entering into a loan purchase agreem ent with the board in373 practicing his or her profession full time in an animal shelter or nonprofit pet sterilization374 clinic, the applicant shall receive a loan purchase at a rate equivalent to $25,000.00 per 12375 months of service; provided, however, that the total purchase amount shall not exceed the376 maximum specified in paragraph (1) of this subsection.377 (b) The board shall not enter into new loan purchase agreement s with more than four378 persons per year for shelter medicine or nonprofit pet steriliz ation services; provided,379 however, that the total sum of loan purchases from state appropriations for which the board380 contractually obligates itself in any fiscal year shall not exc eed the amount of funds for381 such loan purchase agreements specified in annual appropriations Acts. Funds in the loan382 purchase fund account that are not expended or contractually ob ligated by the board for383 loan purchases during any fiscal year shall lapse.384 20-3-518.11.385 (a) Before being granted a loan purchase, each applicant shall enter into a contract with386 the board for a term of three consecutive years agreeing to the terms and conditions upon387 which the loan purchase is granted, including such terms and provisions as will carry out388 the full purpose and intent of this part. No person shall be e ligible to receive such loan389 purchase more than once during his or her lifetime. The form o f such contract shall be390 prepared and approved by the Attorney General, and each contract shall be signed by the391 chairperson of the board and by the applicant.392 S. B. 20 - 16 - 25 LC 61 0266S (b) The board shall have the authority to cancel the loan purchase contract of any applicant393 at any time for any cause deemed sufficient by the board, provided that such authority shall394 not be arbitrarily or unreasonably exercised.395 (c) The board shall adopt such rules and regulations as are re asonable and necessary to396 implement the provisions of this part."397 PART V398 SECTION 5-1.399 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.400 S. B. 20 - 17 -