Georgia CommonsHB 172: Veterinary education; limits on student loan forgiveness program; provide
Enrolled version, the latest LegiScan holds · Last action May 12, 2025 · Passed
The text as LegiScan holds it, read from the PDF the legislature publishes with its margin line numbers, running heads, and page footers removed. Line breaks are joined into paragraphs here; no word is changed.
Underlined words are what the bill adds to current law and struck-through words are what it removes, as the printed bill shows them.
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 Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state veterinary education, so as to provide for limits on the student loan forgiveness program; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION 1.
Part 6A of Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state veterinary education, is amended by revising Code Section 20-3-518.3, relating to purchases of loans made for educational purposes to students who have completed a veterinary medical degree program, as follows:
"20-3-518.3.
(a) The board may provide for the purchase of loans made to students or former students who are residents of Georgia for educational purposes who have completed a program of study in the field of doctor of veterinary medicine or its equivalent and are authorized to practice veterinary medicine in this state, with services in the form of the practice of veterinary medicine while residing in this state to be rendered as consideration for such loan purchases.
(b) Only persons whose veterinary medicine practices in this state include food animal specialties and have been practicing such specialties for ten years or less shall be eligible for loan purchases under this part."
SECTION 2.
Said part is further amended by revising subsection (a) of Code Section 20-3-518.4, relating to loan purchases granted to applicants based upon services rendered and limitations, as follows:
"(a)(1) Persons whose applications are approved and enter into a loan purchase agreement with the board, as provided by Code Section 20-3-518.3, shall receive a loan purchase in a total amount to be determined by the board, but not exceeding $80,000.00 $90,000.00 per person, as provided by Code Section 20-3-518.3. The loan purchases shall be paid in such manner as the board shall determine.
(2) The loan purchases to be granted to each applicant shall be based upon the condition that the consideration for such loan purchases shall be services to be rendered by the applicant after entering into a loan purchase agreement with the board by practicing his or her profession in a board approved rural county in Georgia with a population of 35,000 50,000 or less according to the United States decennial census of 2010 2020 or any future such census.
(3) For time served after entering into a loan purchase agreement with the board in practicing his or her profession in such board approved location, the applicant shall receive a loan purchase at a rate equivalent to $20,000.00 $30,000.00 per 12 months of service; provided, however, that the total purchase amount shall not exceed the maximum specified in paragraph (1) of this subsection."
SECTION 3.
Said part is further amended by revising Code Section 20-3-518.5, relating to contract and cancellation, as follows:
"20-3-518.5.
(a) Each applicant before being granted a loan purchase shall enter into a contract with a term of three consecutive years with the board agreeing to the terms and conditions upon which the loan purchase is granted, including such terms and provisions as will carry out the full purpose and intent of this part. It shall not be necessary for a contract enrollee to reapply after entering into a contract; provided, however, that the board may require the contract enrollee to provide an annual certification of continued compliance with this Code section. No person shall be eligible to receive such award more than once during his or her lifetime. The form of such contract shall be prepared and approved by the Attorney General, and each contract shall be signed by the chairperson of the board and by the applicant.
(b) The board shall have the authority to cancel the loan purchase contract of any applicant at any time for any cause deemed sufficient by the board, provided that such authority shall not be arbitrarily or unreasonably exercised."
SECTION 4.
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.