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Senate Engrossed
Arizona veterinary loan assistance program |
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State of Arizona Senate Fifty-fifth Legislature Second Regular Session 2022
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SENATE BILL 1271 |
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An Act
amending title 3, chapter 1, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 3-109.03; appropriating monies; relating to veterinarians.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 3, chapter 1, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 3-109.03, to read:
3-109.03. Arizona veterinary loan assistance program; fund; advisory committee; annual report; rules; definitions
A. The Arizona veterinary loan assistance program is established within the department.
B. The Arizona veterinary loan assistance fund is established consisting of legislative appropriations. The department shall administer the fund. Monies in the fund are continuously appropriated and are exempt from the provisions of section 35-190 relating to lapsing of appropriations. The department shall use monies in the fund for the purposes prescribed in this section and may retain up to three percent of the monies deposited in the fund for costs associated with administering the program.
C. A person who obtains a doctor of veterinary medicine degree from a veterinary college after January 1, 2023 and who signs an agreement pursuant to subsection D of this section may apply to the department to participate in the program.
D. To participate in the program, the department shall require an applicant to sign an agreement to both:
1. Remain and work as a full-time veterinarian in this state for the following four years.
2. Work in one of the following practice areas for at least two of the four years:
(a) Agricultural practice in an area designated by the United States department of agriculture as having a shortage.
(b) A nonprofit, county or municipal shelter.
E. At the conclusion of the four-year commitment described in subsection D of this section, the department shall determine whether the veterinarian satisfied the terms of the agreement described in subsection D of this section. If the department determines that the veterinarian satisfied the terms of the agreement described in subsection D of this section, the department shall distribute to the veterinarian from the Arizona veterinary loan assistance fund an amount that is equal to the amount of the veterinarian's outstanding veterinary college educational loan balance or $100,000, whichever is less. The department shall distribute monies from the fund subject to the availability of monies and legislative appropriation and on a first-come, first-served basis. For the purposes of this subsection, "educational loan balance" means the balance of the principal, interest and related expenses of the educational loan.
F. The Arizona veterinary loan assistance program advisory committee is established consisting of the following members who are appointed by the director:
1. A representative from the veterinary college of a private postsecondary institution in this state.
2. A representative from the University of Arizona COLLEGE of veterinary medicine.
3. A rural agricultural veterinarian.
4. A shelter veterinarian.
5. A veterinarian in private practice.
G. The Arizona veterinary loan assistance program advisory committee shall meet at the call of the director and shall advise the department on the ADMINISTRATION of the program.
H. On or before October 1 of each year, the department shall compile a report that details how the Arizona veterinary loan assistance fund monies are being spent and shall submit this report to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives. The department shall submit a copy of this report to the secretary of state.
I. The department may adopt rules for the purposes of carrying out this section.
J. For the purposes of this section:
1. "Veterinarian" has the same meaning prescribed in section 32-2201.
2. "Veterinary college" has the same meaning prescribed in section 32-2201.
Sec. 2. Appropriation; Arizona veterinary loan assistance fund
The sum of $5,000,000 is appropriated from the state general fund in fiscal year 2022-2023 to the Arizona veterinary loan assistance fund established by section 3-109.03, Arizona Revised Statutes, as added by this act.