HB172: HB172 Veterinary education; limits on student loan forgiveness program; provide

25 LC 46 1037/AP House Bill 172 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE) By: Representatives Huddleston of the 72nd, Efstration of the 104th, Dickey of the 134th, Frye of the 122nd, and Ford of the 170th A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Part 6A of Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the O fficial Code of Georgia1 Annotated, relating to state veterinary education, so as to provide for limits on the student2 loan forgiveness program; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for3 other purposes.4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:5 SECTION 1.6 Part 6A of Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official C ode of Georgia Annotated,7 relating to state veterinary education, is amended by revising Code Section 20-3-518.3,8 relating to purchases of loans made for educational purposes to students who have completed9 a veterinary medical degree program, as follows:10 "20-3-518.3.11 (a) The board may provide for the purchase of loans made to students or former students12 who are residents of Georgia for educational purposes who have completed a program of13 study in the field of doctor of veterinary medicine or its equivalent and are authorized to14 practice veterinary medicine in this state, with services in th e form of the practice of15 H. B. 172 - 1 - 25 LC 46 1037/AP veterinary medicine while residing in this state to be rendered as consideration for such16 loan purchases.17 (b) Only persons whose veterinary medicine practices in this s tate include food animal18 specialties and have been practicing such specialties for ten years or less shall be eligible19 for loan purchases under this part."20 SECTION 2.21 Said part is further amended by revising subsection (a) of Code Section 20-3-518.4, relating22 to loan purchases granted to applicants based upon services ren dered and limitations, as23 follows:24 "(a)(1) Persons whose applications are approved and enter into a loan purchase25 agreement with the board, as provided by Code Section 20-3-518.3, shall receive a loan26 purchase in a total amount to be determined by the board, but not exceeding $80,000.0027 $90,000.00 per person, as provided by Code Section 20-3-518.3 . The loan purchases28 shall be paid in such manner as the board shall determine.29 (2) The loan purchases to be granted to each applicant shall be based upon the condition30 that the consideration for such loan purchases shall be service s to be rendered by the31 applicant after entering into a loan purchase agreement with the board by practicing his32 or her profession in a board approved rural county in Georgia with a population of 35,00033 50,000 or less according to the United States decennial census of 2010 2020 or any future34 such census.35 (3) For time served after entering into a loan purchase agreem ent with the board in36 practicing his or her profession in such board approved locatio n, the applicant shall37 receive a loan purchase at a rate equivalent to $20,000.00 $30,000.00 per 12 months of38 service; provided, however, that the total purchase amount shall not exceed the maximum39 specified in paragraph (1) of this subsection."40 H. B. 172 - 2 - 25 LC 46 1037/AP SECTION 3.41 Said part is further amended by revising Code Section 20-3-518.5, relating to contract and42 cancellation, as follows:43 "20-3-518.5.44 (a) Each applicant before being granted a loan purchase shall enter into a contract with a45 term of three consecutive years with the board agreeing to the terms and conditions upon46 which the loan purchase is granted, including such terms and provisions as will carry out47 the full purpose and intent of this part. It shall not be necessary for a contract enrollee to48 reapply after entering into a contract; provided, however, that the board may require the49 contract enrollee to provide an annual certification of continued compliance with this Code50 section. No person shall be eligible to receive such award more than once during his or her51 lifetime. The form of such contract shall be prepared and approved by t he Attorney52 General, and each contract shall be signed by the chairperson o f the board and by the53 applicant. 54 (b) The board shall have the authority to cancel the loan purchase contract of any applicant55 at any time for any cause deemed sufficient by the board, provided that such authority shall56 not be arbitrarily or unreasonably exercised."57 SECTION 4.58 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.59 H. B. 172 - 3 -