Rep. Norm Thurston — Voting Record

Bill

Number

H.B. 522 (2024GS)

Sponsor

Rep. Albrecht, C.

Final action

Governor Signed 3/12/2024

Outcome

Became law — signed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox

Summary

What it does

• This bill:
• modifies the Veterinarian Education Loan Repayment Program (program) to make annual loan balance payments; and
• expands the program to a veterinarian whose practice includes at least 30% livestock medicine.

Every vote on this bill

Bill text

VETERINARIAN EDUCATION LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM
AMENDMENTS
GENERAL SESSION
STATE OF UTAH
Chief Sponsor: Carl R. Albrecht
Senate Sponsor: 
 Ronald M. Winterton
LONG TITLE
General Description:
This bill makes changes to the Veterinarian Education Loan Repayment Program.
Highlighted Provisions:
This bill:
▸ modifies the Veterinarian Education Loan Repayment Program (program) to make
annual loan balance payments; and
▸ expands the program to a veterinarian whose practice includes at least 30%
livestock medicine.
Money Appropriated in this Bill:
None
Other Special Clauses:
None
Utah Code Sections Affected:
AMENDS:
4-2-901
, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 134
4-2-902
, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2023, Chapter 134
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
Section 1. Section 
4-2-901
 is amended to read:
4-2-901.
Definitions.
As used in this part:
(1) "Animal shelter" means the same as that term is defined in Section 
11-46-102
.
(2) "Education loan" means a loan received for education at a domestic or foreign
institution of higher education, including a school or college of veterinary medicine.
(3) "Education loan balance" includes charges for paying off the balance of the loan.
(4) "Indian country" means the same as that term is defined in 18 U.S.C. Sec. 1151.
(5) "Livestock" means the same as that term is defined in Section 
4-1-109
.
[
(5)
] 
(6)
 "Loan" means a loan that is made directly by, insured by, or guaranteed under
a government program of:
(a) a state;
(b) the United States; or
(c) a foreign government.
[
(6)
] 
(7)
 "Maximum payment value" means the lesser of:
(a) the sum of a qualified veterinarian's education loan balances; or
(b) [
$100,000
] 
$20,000
.
[
(7)
] 
(8)
 "Program" means the Veterinarian Education Loan Repayment Program
created in Section 
4-2-902
.
[
(8)
] 
(9)
 "Qualified veterinarian" means a veterinarian who has practiced as a
veterinarian [
for five or more consecutive years beginning on or after May 3, 2023
]:
(a) in an area of the state[
:
] 
that is Indian country;
[
(i) designated by the United States Department of Agriculture as a veterinary shortage
situation during at least one of the five years; or
]
[
(ii) that is Indian country;
]
(b) in an animal shelter within the state operated by:
(i) a county;
(ii) a municipality; or
(iii) an organization that is exempt from federal income taxation under Section
501(c)(3), Internal Revenue Code;
(c) in any area of the state as an employee of the department; [
or
]
(d) in any combination of the places described in Subsections [
(8)(a)
] 
(9)(a)
 through
(c)[
.
]
; or
(e) with a practice that includes at least 30% livestock medicine.
[
(9)
] 
(10)
 "Veterinarian" means an individual licensed under Title 58, Chapter 28,
Veterinary Practice Act.
Section 2. Section 
4-2-902
 is amended to read:
4-2-902.
Veterinarian Education Loan Repayment Program.
(1) There is created within the department the Veterinarian Education Loan Repayment
Program.
(2) (a) Beginning July 1, [
] 
, the program shall on a first-come, first-served
basis make payments toward a qualified veterinarian's education loan balances.
(b) A veterinarian is eligible for payments under Subsection (2)(a) if the veterinarian:
(i) applies as a qualified veterinarian for payment from the program; and
(ii) registers with the program at least [
five years
] 
one year
 before the day the
veterinarian applies under Subsection (2)(b)(i) for payment.
(c) Payments made under Subsection (2)(a) shall:
(i) be made directly to one or more of the qualified veterinarian's lenders; [
and
]
(ii) as funding for the program permits, [
in total
] 
each year
 equal the maximum
payment value[
.
]
; and
(iii) extend for a period no longer than five years for the qualified veterinarian.
(3) The department may use 2% or less of the amount appropriated for the program to
pay for actual costs of administering the program.
(4) On or before October 1 each year, the department shall submit a report of the
program's revenues, expenditures, and outcomes to the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and
Environment Interim Committee and the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environmental
Quality Appropriations Subcommittee.
(5) The department may make rules in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
Administrative Rulemaking Act, to administer the program, including rules specifying how a
veterinarian may register intent to apply for payment from the program.
Section 3. 
Effective date.
This bill takes effect on May 1, 2024.