Rural Veterinary Education Loan Repayment Program

The bill creates the state veterinary education loan repayment council (council), which consists of 5 directors appointed by the governor. The council administers the veterinary education loan repayment program (program) by use of funds from the veterinary education loan repayment fund (fund), which program and fund are also created in the bill. Through the program, the council provides veterinary education loan repayments from the fund to eligible veterinarians who:

• Have graduated from an accredited doctor of veterinary medicine school;
• Currently live in Colorado or, at some point, have lived in Colorado for at least 3 years; and
• Agree to practice veterinary medicine for up to 4 years in a rural area of the state that is experiencing a shortage of veterinarians that the council designates for participation in the program.

To implement the program, the council enters into a contract with an eligible veterinarian and the rural area of the state in which the veterinarian will practice veterinary medicine.

(Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)