h_agr_2017a_2017-04-10t13:34:29z1 Hearing Summary

Date: 04/10/2017

Location: HCR 0107

01:59 PM -- HB 17-1282



Representative Ginal, sponsor, presented House Bill 17-1282, concerning the creation of a veterinary education loan repayment program to assist veterinarians with education loan repayments in exchange for providing veterinary services in rural areas of the state in need of veterinary services. Representative Ginal distributed a handout (Attachment A) and Amendment L.001 (Attachment B). The introduced version of the bill creates the veterinary education loan repayment program in the Department of Agriculture (CDA) as a Type 2 transfer. The program provides financial incentives trough education loan repayment to licensed veterinarians to practice in areas with a shortage of veterinarians. The bill also creates the Veterinary Education Loan Repayment Council to administer the loan repayment program and sets the membership and appointment procedures for the council. Up to four applicants may be selected annually to participate in the program. The bill specifies the eligibility criteria and the factors that the council must consider in evaluating applications. The bill also creates the Veterinary Education Loan Repayment Fund and moneys in the fund are continuously appropriated. Amendment L.001 instead creates the program and council within Colorado State University (CSU) College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and requires that a representative of CDA serve on the council. The amendment removes the expenditures required by CDA for the program, and increases the workload of CDA by a minimal amount to have a representative serve on the council. The Amendment would minimally increase workload and costs for CSU if funding is secured for the program.



170410 AttachA.pdf170410 AttachB.pdf



02:13 PM



Representative Ginal responded to questions about the bill as it would be amended by Amendment L.001, the limitation on the number of applicants that can be selected for the program, and how the areas that have veterinary shortages will be determined.



The following persons testified on the bill:



02:17 PM -- Dr. Mark Stetter, Dean, CSU College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, testified in support of the bill and discussed the need for livestock veterinarians in rural areas. Dr. Stetter responded to questions from the committee regarding the limitation on applicants annually and the sources of funding for the program, which can include gifts, grants, and donations.



02:23 PM -- Dr. Ashley Stokes, CSU, testified in support of the bill and discussed access to veterinary care in rural areas and the salaries of veterinarians in rural areas. Dr. Stokes responded to questions from the committee concerning the involvement of CDA in the program.



02:32 PM -- Chad Jones, Financial Advisor to students, CSU, testified in support of the bill and discussed loan repayment for veterinarian students and career opportunities for recent graduates. Mr. Jones responded to questions from the committee regarding the number of graduates from the school and the approximate number of students that may be interested in applying to the program. Mr. Jones explained that most students who focus on large animal practice choose to work in rural areas.



02:42 PM



Dr. Stokes clarified for the committee that there are currently 70 students who are choosing to focus on livestock practice and would like to work in rural areas. Dr. Stokes explained that the trends that the admission office is seeing reflect an increased interest in focusing their practices on livestock and living in rural areas.



02:48 PM -- Keith Roehr, Colorado Department of Agriculture, testified in support of the bill and discussed the department's collaboration with CSU. Dr. Roehr explained why allowing up to four applicants is necessary. Dr. Roehr responded to questions from the committee regarding the level of involvement by CDA in administering the program and why it is necessary for CSU to take over the administration from the department.



02:56 PM -- Danny Williams, Colorado Cattleman's Association, testified in support of the bill and discussed the importance of having the membership of the council set in statute.



02:59 PM -- Dr. Sam Romano, Colorado Veterinary Medical Association, testified in support of the bill.



03:01 PM -- Emily Ibach, Colorado Farm Bureau, testified in support of the bill.



03:02 PM -- Dr. Lora Bledsoe, CVMA, testified in support of the bill and discussed her experience with loan repayment. Dr. Bledsoe responded to questions from the committee regarding the percentage of her practice that is focused on large animals and livestock.



03:08 PM



Representative Ginal discussed Amendment L.001.





03:11 PM



Jennifer Berman, Office of Legislative Legal Services, responded to questions from the committee regarding the definition of "rural" in the bill and the creation of the Veterinary Education Loan Repayment Fund.

03:15 PM



Representative Ginal made closing comments on the bill.

03:17 PM



The committee recessed.