§ 21-16-202 — When binding; notice of ratification; power of governor to appoint commissioners; powers of commissioners generally; appropriation of monies

(a) The compact shall become operative and binding at the
time provided, and in accordance with article X of the compact.
The governor of Wyoming shall give notice of the approval,
ratification and adoption of the compact by the legislature of
the state of Wyoming, to the governors of each of the states and
territories named in article X of the compact. The governor
shall appoint the commissioners for which provision is made in
the compact and the commissioners shall have the power and
authority specified in the compact, and such other power and
authority as may hereafter be prescribed by law.
(b) In addition to those powers granted to the
commissioners in the compact, the commissioners are directed and
empowered:
(i) To control and authorize the expenditure of any
funds appropriated for carrying out the provisions of the
compact;
(ii) To ratify any contracts entered into by the
western interstate commission for higher education or its
officers which are deemed to be in the best interest of the
state of Wyoming and its qualified students;
(iii) To impose residency requirements on admission
to compact programs. Applicants may appeal any admission
decisions rendered pursuant to this paragraph directly to the
commission; and
(iv) In the interest of recruiting health care
professionals to Wyoming, to impose a repayment program for
participating students in dentistry, medicine, podiatry,
occupational therapy, physical therapy, optometry, physician
assistant programs and osteopathic medicine and obtain an
agreement from each student first admitted as a WICHE program
student to a participating institution of higher education for
the 2013-2014 academic year and thereafter, subject to the
following:
(A) The student agrees to:
(I) Actively engage in full-time
professional practice in Wyoming in the field in which he was
educated for not less than three (3) years as the commission
requires. The taking of a medical residency program in the
state shall be credited toward the practice requirements at the
rate of one-third (1/3) year of full-time practice for each year
of service in a medical residency program in the state; or
(II) Repay all amounts expended by the
state of Wyoming on the student's education through the WICHE
program, together with interest which shall begin accruing after
the student's graduation or residency, whichever is later, but
in no event later than eight (8) years after the student enters
into an agreement, upon terms specified by the commission.
However, interest shall begin to accrue when the student has
withdrawn from the professional school or a residency program as
determined by the commission or is otherwise not making
satisfactory progress toward completion of the degree program as
determined by the commission. Money expended under this
paragraph shall accrue at an annual interest rate equal to that
charged for federal Stafford loans at the time interest begins
to accrue, which rate shall be adjusted annually to equal the
federal Stafford loan rate. In no event shall the interest rate
be greater than eight percent (8%).
(B) Upon application of the student, the
commission may relieve a student of the obligation to repay
amounts expended under subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, in
whole or in part, where repayment would cause undue hardship.
The commission shall annually report the number of students
relieved from repayment under this subparagraph to the joint
labor, health and social services interim committee not later
than October 1;
(C) Any amounts paid by medical, podiatry,
osteopathic, occupational therapy, physical therapy, optometry,
physician assistant or dental students in accordance with the
contractual arrangements authorized under this paragraph shall
be credited to a WICHE program repayment account which shall be
expended upon appropriation by the legislature;
(D) The provisions of this paragraph shall not
apply to the field of veterinary medicine.
(c) All monies appropriated for the purposes of the
compact shall be appropriated to the board of trustees of the
University of Wyoming for administration as directed by the
commissioners.