HB 693 -- Large Animal Veterinary Student Loan Assistance

Sponsor:  Quinn (7)

This bill 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
and will provide up to six loans yearly to veterinary students
attending the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of
Missouri-Columbia.  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 Large Animal
Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program and the Large Animal
Veterinary Student Loan Program.  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.  The maximum
amount of outstanding loans that can be issued by the department
cannot exceed $480,000 excluding loans that have been forgiven,
deferred, or are being repaid.

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