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STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2nd Session of the 59th Legislature (2024)
HOUSE BILL 3196 By: Newton
AS INTRODUCED
An Act relating to professions and occupations;
amending 59 O.S. 2021, Section 698.33, which relates
to the Oklahoma Veterinary Practice Act; modifying
veterinary training program for rural Oklahoma;
updating references; and declaring an emergency .
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 59 O.S. 2021, Section 698.33, is
amended to read as fol lows:
Section 698.33 A. There is hereby establis hed the veterinary
training program for rural Oklahoma to be administered by the
Oklahoma State University Center for College of Veterinary Health
Sciences Medicine. The program shall be developed and implemented
in order to provide encouragement, opportunities and incentives for
persons pursuing a veterinary medicine degree at Okla homa State
University to locate their veterinary practice in rural Okl ahoma
communities, and receive s pecialized training targeted to meet the
needs of livestock producers in rural Oklahoma communi ties.
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B. Subject to available funds, each year the Veterin ary Center
College may enter into program agreements with up to three first-
year five veterinary students or currently practicing large animal
veterinarians with qualifying school loans, as determined by the
Veterinary Center. Preference shall be given to those studen ts and
focused on large animal veterinarians veterinary medicine who are
Oklahoma residents and who agree to serve in a community as
described in paragraph 3 of subsection D of this section, which is
determined by the Veterinar y Center College to be an underserved
area for the practice of veter inary medicine.
C. Subject to available funds, ea ch student or large animal
veterinarian entering into a program agreement under this section
shall receive assistance in an amount not to exceed Twenty Thousand
Dollars ($20,000.00) per year for not more th an four (4) years for
tuition, books, supplies and other school expenses, and travel and
training expenses incurred by the student in pursuing a veterinary
medicine degree. Upon satisfaction of all commitments under the
provisions of the agreement and th e provisions of this section, the
financial obligations pursuant to this section shall be deemed
satisfied and forgiven.
D. Each program agreement shall require that the person
receiving the assistance:
1. Complete the veterinary medicine degree program at the
Veterinary Center Oklahoma State University;
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2. Complete all require ments in public health, livestock
biosecurity, foreign ani mal disease diagnosis, regulatory veterinary
medicine and zoonotic disease, and an ex ternship and mentoring
requirement with a licensed, accredited veterinarian in rural
Oklahoma as required by the Veterinary Center College;
3. Engage in the full -time practice of veterinary medicine in
any community in Oklahoma which has a population not exceedi ng
twenty-five thousand (25,000) as determined by the most recen t
Federal Decennial Census at the time the person entered into the
program agreement for a period of at leas t twelve (12) continuous
months for each separate year a student receives assistance under
the program, unless the obligation is otherwise satisfied as
provided in this section. If, after t he date a program agreement
was entered into by the parties, a com munity no longer meets the
maximum population requirements provided in this paragrap h, a person
engaging in the full -time practice of veterinary med icine pursuant
to the program agreement sh all continue to practice in that
designated community; and
4. Commence the full-time practice of veterinary medicine in
that community within ninety (90) days after completion of the
person's degree program, or if the person enters a postdegree
training program, such as a graduate school or internship or
residency program, within ninety (90) days after completion of the
postdegree training program.
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E. Upon the failure of a person to satisfy the obligation to
engage in the full-time practice of veterinary medicine in
accordance with the provisions of this section, that p erson shall
repay to the Veterinary Center College, within ninety (90) days of
the failure, the amount equal to the assistance provided to the
person less a prorated amount based on any peri ods of practice of
veterinary medicine meeting the requirements of this se ction, plus
interest at the prime rate of interest plus two four percent (2%)
(4%) from the date the assistance accrued. The interest shall be
compounded annually.
F. An obligation to engage in the practice of veterin ary
medicine in accordance with the provisions of this section shall be
postponed during:
1. Any period of temporary medical d isability during which the
person obligated is unable to practice v eterinary medicine due to
the disability; and
2. Any other period of postponement agreed to or determined in
accordance with criteria agreed to in the practice agreement.
G. An obligation to engage in the practice of veterinary
medicine in accordance wit h the provisions of the a greement and this
section shall be satisfied:
1. If the obligation to engage in the practice of veterinary
medicine in accordance with the agreement has been co mpleted;
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2. If, because of permanent disability, the person obligated is
unable to practice ve terinary medicine; or
3. The person who is obligated dies.
H. The Veterinary Center College may adopt additional
provisions, requirements or conditions to participa te in this
program as are practicable and appropriate to accompli sh the
provisions of the program or may be required for the im plementation
or administration of the program, and are not inconsistent with the
provisions of this section.
I. The Veterinary Center College shall not enter into any
program agreements pursuan t to the provisions of this section after
July 1, 2025. All agreements entered into prior to such date shall
be valid.
SECTION 2. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is h ereby
declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
be in full force from and after its passage an d approval.
59-2-9145 JL 12/29/23