Georgia 2025-2026 Regular Session

Georgia House Bill HB172 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1		-	25 LC 46 1037/AP
2		-	House Bill 172 (AS PASSED HOUSE AND SENATE)
3		-	By: Representatives Huddleston of the 72
4		-	nd
5		-	, Efstration of the 104
6		-	th
7		-	, Dickey of the 134
8		-	th
9		-	, Frye
10		-	of the 122
11		-	nd
12		-	, and Ford of the 170
13		-	th
14		-
	1	+	25 LC 61 0124S
	2	+	The House Committee on Higher Education offers the following substitute to HB 172:
15	3		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
16	4		AN ACT
17		-	To amend Part 6A of Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia
18		-	1
	5	+	To amend Part 6A of Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia1
19	6		Annotated, relating to state veterinary education, so as to provide for limits on the student2
20	7		loan forgiveness program; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for3
21	8		other purposes.4
22	9		BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:5
23	10		SECTION 1.6
24	11		Part 6A of Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,7
25	12		relating to state veterinary education, is amended by revising Code Section 20-3-518.3,8
26	13		relating to purchases of loans made for educational purposes to students who have completed9
27	14		a veterinary medical degree program, as follows:10
28	15		"20-3-518.3.11
29		-	(a) The board may provide for the purchase of loans made to students or former students
30		-	12
	16	+	(a) The board may provide for the purchase of loans made to students or former students12
31	17		who are residents of Georgia for educational purposes who have completed a program of13
32	18		study in the field of doctor of veterinary medicine or its equivalent and are authorized to14
33	19		practice veterinary medicine in this state, with services in the form of the practice of15
34		-	H. B. 172
35		-	- 1 - 25 LC 46 1037/AP
36		-	veterinary medicine while residing in this state to be rendered as consideration for such
37		-	16
	20	+	H. B. 172 (SUB)
	21	+	- 1 - 25 LC 61 0124S
	22	+	veterinary medicine while residing in this state to be rendered as consideration for such16
38	23		loan purchases.17
39	24		(b) Only persons whose veterinary medicine practices in this state include food animal18
40		-	specialties and have been practicing such specialties for ten years or less
41		-	shall be eligible19
	25	+	specialties and have been practicing such specialties for ten years or less shall be eligible19
42	26		for loan purchases under this part."20
43	27		SECTION 2.21
44	28		Said part is further amended by revising subsection (a) of Code Section 20-3-518.4, relating22
45	29		to loan purchases granted to applicants based upon services rendered and limitations, as23
46	30		follows:24
47	31		"(a)(1) Persons whose applications are approved and enter into a loan purchase25
48	32		agreement with the board, as provided by Code Section 20-3-518.3, shall receive a loan26
49	33		purchase in a total amount to be determined by the board, but not exceeding $80,000.0027
50	34		$90,000.00 per person, as provided by Code Section 20-3-518.3. The loan purchases28
51	35		shall be paid in such manner as the board shall determine.29
52	36		(2) The loan purchases to be granted to each applicant shall be based upon the condition30
53	37		that the consideration for such loan purchases shall be services to be rendered by the31
54	38		applicant after entering into a loan purchase agreement with the board by practicing his32
55	39		or her profession in a board approved rural county in Georgia with a population of 35,00033
56	40		50,000 or less according to the United States decennial census of 2010 2020 or any future34
57	41		such census.35
58	42		(3) For time served after entering into a loan purchase agreement with the board in36
59	43		practicing his or her profession in such board approved location, the applicant shall37
60		-	receive a loan purchase at a rate equivalent to $20,000.00 $30,~~000~~.00 per 12 months of38
	44	+	receive a loan purchase at a rate equivalent to $20,000.00 $22,500.00 per 12 months of38
61	45		service; provided, however, that the total purchase amount shall not exceed the maximum39
62	46		specified in paragraph (1) of this subsection."40
63		-	H. B. 172
64		-	- 2 - 25 LC 46 1037/AP
65		-	SECTION 3.
66		-	41
	47	+	H. B. 172 (SUB)
	48	+	- 2 - 25 LC 61 0124S
	49	+	SECTION 3.41
67	50		Said part is further amended by revising Code Section 20-3-518.5, relating to contract and42
68	51		cancellation, as follows:43
69	52		"20-3-518.5.44
70		-	(a) Each applicant before being granted a loan purchase shall enter into a contract with a
71		-	45
72		-	term of three consecutive years with the board agreeing to the terms and conditions upon46
	53	+	(a) Each applicant before being granted a loan purchase shall enter into a contract with a45
	54	+	term of four consecutive years with the board agreeing to the terms and conditions upon46
73	55		which the loan purchase is granted, including such terms and provisions as will carry out47
74	56		the full purpose and intent of this part. It shall not be necessary for a contract enrollee to48
75	57		reapply after entering into a contract; provided, however, that the board may require the49
76	58		contract enrollee to provide an annual certification of continued compliance with this Code50
77	59		section. No person shall be eligible to receive such award more than once during his or her51
78	60		lifetime. The form of such contract shall be prepared and approved by the Attorney52
79	61		General, and each contract shall be signed by the chairperson of the board and by the53
80	62		applicant. 54
81	63		(b) The board shall have the authority to cancel the loan purchase contract of any applicant55
82	64		at any time for any cause deemed sufficient by the board, provided that such authority shall56
83	65		not be arbitrarily or unreasonably exercised."57
84	66		SECTION 4.58
85	67		All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.59
86		-	H. B. 172
	68	+	H. B. 172 (SUB)
87	69		- 3 -