HCS HB 693 -- LARGE ANIMAL VETERINARY STUDENT LOAN ASSISTANCE

SPONSOR:  Quinn (7)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on
Agriculture Policy by a vote of 9 to 0.

This substitute transfers the administration of the Large Animal
Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program from the Missouri
Veterinary Medical Board to the Department of Agriculture.  The
maximum number of veterinarians to whom loan repayments can be
granted each year is increased from five to six, the required
number of years of service in an area of defined need to satisfy
the loan repayment requirement is reduced from five to four, and
the maximum service loan repayment amount per year is increased
from $10,000 to $20,000.

The Large Animal Veterinary Student Loan Program is established
to provide up to six loans yearly to veterinary students
attending the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of
Missouri-Columbia.  No student can receive more than $80,000 in
loans.  Veterinary students agreeing to locate their practice in
department-identified, under-served areas of the state will have
certain amounts of their loan principal and interest forgiven.

The department director will appoint an advisory panel to make
recommendations regarding the administration of the programs.
The panel will consist of three licensed veterinarians, the Dean
of the College of Veterinary Medicine, and a public member
representing agricultural interests.

The Large Animal Veterinary Student Loan Payment Fund is created
consisting of appropriations from general revenue and donations.
Moneys in the fund will be used for student loans and
administrative expenses incurred by the department.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2008, FY 2009, and
FY 2010.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that Missouri is losing large animal
veterinarians to retirement while lucrative small animal
practice, industry quality control and research positions, and
government food inspection are drawing new veterinarians away
from rural large animal practices.  Veterinarians are responsible
for the detection and containment of disease in Missouri's
livestock industry which is vital in the protection of the health
of Missouri's people and its economy.  The loan repayment program
benefits all Missourians by providing an incentive for new
veterinarians to specialize in large animal practice in
under-served rural areas of the state.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Quinn (7); Missouri
Cattlemen's Association; Missouri Veterinary Medical Association;
Department of Agriculture; Greater Kansas City Chamber of
Commerce; Robert Hertzog, DVM; Missouri Farm Bureau; University
of Missouri-Columbia College of Veterinary Medicine; and Missouri
Agriculture Industries Council.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated July 25, 2007 at 11:20 am