25 LC 61 0124S
The House Committee on Higher Education offers the following substitute to HB 172:
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 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 Code 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 the form of the practice of15
H. B. 172 (SUB)
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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 state 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 rendered 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 services 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 agreement with the board in36
practicing his or her profession in such board approved location, the applicant shall37
receive a loan purchase at a rate equivalent to $20,000.00 $22,500.00 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
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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 four 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 the Attorney52
General, and each contract shall be signed by the chairperson of 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 (SUB)
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