§ 76-4,112 — Veterinary training program for rural Kansas; administration of program; establishment of advisory committee; program agreements; requirements for loans; postponement of obligations; satisfaction of obligations; annual report to legislature

(a) (1) There is hereby established the veterinary training program for rural Kansas at the college of veterinary medicine at Kansas state university. The program shall be developed and implemented in order to provide encouragement, opportunities and incentives for persons pursuing a veterinary medicine degree program at Kansas state university to locate their veterinary practice in rural Kansas communities and receive specialized training targeted to meet the needs of livestock producers and rural Kansas communities.
(2) The program shall be administered by the college of veterinary medicine at Kansas state university in consultation with the advisory committee established in paragraph (3).
(3) (A) There is hereby established an advisory committee that will serve over the program to help select students, determine the needs of the program and provide input to the college.
(B) The advisory committee shall consist of:
(i) Two representatives from the Kansas veterinary medical association, including a member of the association's executive committee, and one member who has received a scholarship under the program;
(ii) the animal health commissioner;
(iii) two members appointed by the Kansas department of agriculture; and
(iv) two representatives from the college.
(b) Subject to the provisions of appropriation acts, in accordance with the provisions of this section, the college may enter into program agreements with veterinary students who have met the requirements of this section. Preference shall be given to those students who are Kansas residents and who agree to serve in a county as described in subsection (d)(3) that has been determined to be an underserved area for the practice of veterinary medicine as determined by the college.
(c) Subject to the provisions of appropriation acts, each student entering into a program agreement under this section shall receive a loan in an amount not to exceed $25,000 per year for not more than four years for tuition, books, supplies and other school expenses, and travel and training expenses incurred by the student in pursuing a veterinary medicine degree. Upon satisfaction of all commitments under the provisions of the agreement and of this section, the loans provided pursuant to this section shall be deemed satisfied and forgiven.
(d) Each program agreement shall require that the person receiving the loan:
(1) Complete the veterinary medicine degree program at the college;
(2) complete:
(A) All required advanced training in public health, livestock biosecurity, foreign animal disease diagnosis, regulatory veterinary medicine and zoonotic disease; and
(B) an externship and mentoring requirement with a licensed and accredited veterinarian in rural Kansas as required by the college;
(3) engage in the full-time practice of veterinary medicine:
(A) In any county in Kansas that has a population not exceeding 40,000 or a registered veterinary premises under a licensed veterinarian if food animal patients make up at least 50% of such veterinarian's practice at the time the person entered into the program agreement; and
(B) for a period of at least 12 continuous months for each separate year a student receives a loan under the program, unless such obligation is otherwise satisfied as provided in this section;
(4) commence such full-time practice of veterinary medicine within 90 days after completion of such person's degree program, or if such person enters a post-degree training program such as a graduate school or internship or residency program, within 90 days after completion of such post-degree training program; and
(5) upon failure to satisfy the obligation to engage in the full-time practice of veterinary medicine in accordance with the provisions of this section, repay to the college, within 90 days of such failure, the amount equal to the amount loaned to such person less a prorated amount based on any such periods of practice of veterinary medicine meeting the requirements of this section, plus interest at the prime rate of interest plus 2% from the date such loan accrued. Such interest shall be compounded annually.
(e) If a person is engaging in the full-time practice of veterinary medicine pursuant to a program agreement in a county that no longer meets the population requirement after the date that such program agreement was entered into by the college and such person, such program agreement shall continue in full force and effect subject to the other requirements of this section.
(f) An obligation to engage in the practice of veterinary medicine in accordance with the provisions of this section shall be postponed during:
(1) Any period of temporary medical disability during which the person obligated is unable to practice veterinary medicine due to such disability; and
(2) any other period of postponement agreed to or determined in accordance with criteria agreed to in the practice agreement.
(g) An obligation to engage in the practice of veterinary medicine in accordance with the provisions of the agreement and this section shall be satisfied:
(1) If the obligation to engage in the practice of veterinary medicine in accordance with the agreement has been completed;
(2) if, because of permanent disability, the person obligated is unable to practice veterinary medicine; or
(3) the person obligated dies.
(h) The college may adopt additional provisions, requirements or conditions to participate in this program as are practicable and appropriate to accomplish the provisions of the program or may be required for the implementation or administration of the program, and, in any case, as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this section or the provisions of appropriation acts.
(i) As used in this section:
(1) "Animal" means the same as defined in K.S.A. 47-816, and amendments thereto;
(2) "advisory committee" means the committee established in subsection (a)(3);
(3) "college" means the college of veterinary medicine at Kansas state university;
(4) "food animal" means any animal that:
(A) Is raised for the production of an edible product intended for consumption by humans;
(B) is itself intended for consumption by humans; or
(C) provides a fiber product for human use;
(5) "program" means the veterinary training program for rural Kansas established pursuant to this section; and
(6) "program agreement" means an agreement to meet all the obligations provided in this section by a person who is a veterinary student at the college and that provides benefits to such person as provided in this section.
(j) The dean of the college shall annually submit a report to the senate committee on agriculture and natural resources and the house committee on agriculture, or any successor committee. Such annual report shall include details on the veterinary training program for rural Kansas, the veterinary diagnostic laboratory, the national bio and agro defense facility and other programs of the college.

Legislative History

L. 2006, ch. 175, § 1; L. 2015, ch. 61, § 8; L. 2022, ch. 39, § 1; July 1.