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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES - FLOOR VERSION
STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2nd Session of the 59th Legislature (2024)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
FOR
HOUSE BILL NO. 3196 By: Newton and Archer of the
House
and
Jech of the Senate
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
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 Oklah oma;
updating references; prioritizing students currently
enrolled at the Oklahoma State University College of
Veterinary Medicine; modifying maximum assistance
amount; 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 follows:
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 f or Veterinary Medicine Authority
Health Sciences. The program shall be developed and implemented in
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order to provide encouragement, opportun ities 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 receiv e specialized training targeted to meet the
needs of livestock producers in rur al Oklahoma communities.
B. Subject to available funds, each Each year the Veterinary
Center Authority may enter into program agreements with up to three
first-year veterinary students or currently p racticing large animal
veterinarians with qualifying school l oans, as determined by the
Veterinary Center Authority. Preference shall be given to those
students and large animal veterinarians who are focused on large
animal veterinary medicine, who are Oklahoma residents and who agree
to serve in a community as des cribed in paragraph 3 of subsection D
of this section, which is determined by the Veterinary Center
Authority to be an underserved area for the prac tice of veterinary
medicine. Allocation shall be prioritized to eligible students
currently enrolled at the Oklahoma State University College of
Veterinary Medicine.
C. Subject to available funds, each Each 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) Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars
($25,000.00) per year for not more th an four (4) years fo r tuition,
books, supplies and other school expenses, and travel and training
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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 a nd
forgiven.
D. Each program agreement shall require that the p erson
receiving the assistance:
1. Complete the veterinary medicine degree program at the
Veterinary Center Oklahoma State University Coll ege of Veterinary
Medicine;
2. Complete all requirements 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, focused on large animal
medicine, of veterinary medicine in any community in Oklahoma which
has a population not exceeding twenty-five thousand (25,000) as
determined by the most recent Federal Decennial Census at the time
the person entered into t he program agreement for a period of at
least twelve (12) continuous months for each separate year a student
receives assistance under the program, unless th e obligation is
otherwise satisfied as provided in this section. If, after the date
a program agreement was entered into by the parties, a com munity no
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longer meets the maximum population requirements provided i n this
paragraph, a person engaging in the f ull-time practice of veterinary
medicine pursuant to the program agreement shall continue to
practice in that designated community; and
4. Commence the full-time practice, focused on large animal
medicine, of veterinary medicine in that community within n inety
(90) days after completion of the person 's degree program, or if the
person enters a postdegree train ing program, such as a graduate
school or internship or residency progr am, within ninety (90) days
after completion of the postdegree training progra m.
E. Upon the failure of a person to satisfy the obligation to
engage in the full-time practice of veteri nary medicine in
accordance with the provisions of this section, that p erson shall
repay to the Veterinary Center Authority, within ninety (90) days of
the failure, the amount equal to the assistance provided to the
person less a prorated amount based on a ny periods of practice of
veterinary medicine meeting the requirements of this se ction, plus
interest at the prime rate of interest plus two percent (2%) 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:
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1. Any period of tempora ry medical disability during which the
person obligated is unable to practice ve terinary 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 with the provisions of the agre ement and this
section shall be satisfied:
1. If the obligation to engage in the practice of veterinary
medicine in accordance with the agreement ha s been completed;
2. If, because of permanent disability, the person obligated is
unable to practice veter inary medicine; or
3. The person who is obligated dies.
H. The Veterinary Center Authority may adopt additional
provisions, requirements or conditions to participate in this
program as are practicable and appropriate to accomplish 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 shall not enter into any program
agreements pursuant to the provisi ons of this section after July 1,
2025. All agreements entered into prior to such date shall be
valid.
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SECTION 2. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby
declared to exist, by reas on whereof this act shall take effect and
be in full force from and after its passage an d approval.
COMMITTEE REPORT BY: COMMITTEE ON RURAL DEVELOPMENT, dated
02/15/2024 - DO PASS, As Amended and Coauthored.