25 LC 61 0189S
The House Committee on Higher Education offers the following substitute to HB 88:
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,1
relating to scholarships, loans, and grants, so as to provide for the purchase of loans made2
to students for educational purposes for veterinary technicians; to provide for definitions;3
to provide for conditions and eligibility; to provide for terms of the loan purchase agreement;4
to provide for cancellation; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for5
other purposes.6
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:7
SECTION 1.8
Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to9
scholarships, loans, and grants, is amended by adding a new part to read as follows:10
"Part 6B11
20-3-518.8.12
As used in this part, the term:13
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(1) 'Board' means the State Veterinary Education Board created under Code14
Section 20-3-518.2.15
(2) 'Veterinary technician' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code16
Section 43-50-3.17
20-3-518.9.18
(a) Beginning January 1, 2026, the board may provide for the purchase of loans made to19
students for educational purposes who have completed a program of study in the field of20
veterinary technology or its equivalent and are authorized to practice veterinary technology21
in this state and are residents of this state, with services in the form of the practice of22
veterinary technology while residing in this state to be rendered as consideration for such23
loan purchases.24
(b) Only persons who have been practicing veterinary technology for ten years or less shall25
be eligible for loan purchases under this part. No person shall be eligible for a loan26
purchase under this part more than once in his or her lifetime.27
20-3-518.10.28
(a)(1) Subject to appropriations, persons whose applications are approved and enter into29
a loan purchase agreement with the board, as provided by Code Section 20-3-518.9, shall30
receive a loan purchase in a total amount to be determined by the board, but not31
exceeding $30,000.00 per person. The loan purchases shall be paid in such manner as the32
board shall determine.33
(2) The loan purchases to be granted to each applicant shall be based upon the condition34
that the consideration for such loan purchases shall be services to be rendered by the35
applicant after entering into a loan purchase agreement with the board by practicing36
veterinary technology full time in any board approved rural county in Georgia with a37
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population of 50,000 or less according to the United States decennial census of 2020 or38
any future such census.39
(3) For time served after entering into a loan purchase agreement with the board in40
practicing his or her profession full time in such board approved location, the applicant41
shall receive a loan purchase at a rate equivalent to $10,000.00 per 12 months of service;42
provided, however, that the total purchase amount shall not exceed the maximum43
specified in paragraph (1) of this subsection.44
(b) The board shall not enter into new loan purchase agreements with more than five45
persons per year pursuant to this part; provided, however, that the total sum of loan46
purchases from state appropriations for which the board contractually obligates itself in any47
fiscal year shall not exceed the amount of funds for such loan purchase agreements48
specified in annual appropriations Acts. Funds in the loan purchase fund account that are49
not expended or contractually obligated by the board for loan purchases during any fiscal50
year shall lapse.51
20-3-518.11.52
(a) Each applicant before being granted a loan purchase shall enter into a contract with a53
term of three consecutive years with the board agreeing to the terms and conditions upon54
which the loan purchase is granted, including such terms and provisions as will carry out55
the full purpose and intent of this part. It shall not be necessary for a contract enrollee to56
reapply after entering into a contract; provided, however, that the board may require the57
contract enrollee to provide an annual certification of continued compliance with this Code58
section. The form of such contract shall be prepared and approved by the Attorney59
General, and each contract shall be signed by the chairperson of the board and by the60
applicant.61
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(b) The board shall have the authority to cancel the loan purchase contract of any applicant62
at any time for any cause deemed sufficient by the board, provided that such authority shall63
not be arbitrarily or unreasonably exercised.64
(c) The board shall adopt such rules and regulations as are reasonable and necessary to65
implement the provisions of this part."66
SECTION 2.67
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.68
H. B. 88 (SUB)
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