§ 11-18-119 — Veterinarian loan repayment program; rulemaking authority

(a) The board is authorized to enter into agreements with
graduate veterinarians who are licensed to practice in the state
of Wyoming, to provide food animal health care in this state.
For purposes of this section, "food animal" means cattle, swine,
sheep or goats. The agreements shall:
(i) Provide for the veterinarian to practice food
animal veterinary medicine in a community of the state from
among a list of communities developed by the board. A
veterinarian shall agree to provide food animal veterinary care
for the period of the contract in underserved areas of the
state;
(ii) Provide that the veterinarian shall be repaid up
to one hundred percent (100%) of the total amount of outstanding
educational loans the veterinarian has acquired as a direct
result of undergraduate or postgraduate educational training
directly related to providing food animal veterinary services,
not to exceed thirty thousand dollars ($30,000.00) per year,
including the matching funds specified in subsection (d) of this
section, in exchange for practicing his profession under the
terms of this section;
(iii) Require the veterinarian to practice food
animal veterinary services for a minimum of three (3) years
under the agreement;
(iv) Contain other provisions the board deems
necessary or appropriate to accomplish the purposes of this
section.
(b) The board, in consultation with the appropriate
licensing board and professional association, shall promulgate
rules and regulations necessary to carry out the purposes of
this section. In carrying out this section the board shall
assess food animal veterinary care needs of the state by
geographic areas and shall prioritize and enter into agreements
under this section accordingly.
(c) The board may vary the terms of each agreement in
accordance with this section based upon the community and the
food animal veterinary needs of the state.
(d) No state money shall be expended for repayment of any
loan under this section unless twenty-five percent (25%) of the
money is matched with other funds in any combination from any
county, city, veterinary clinic, animal care facility, state
agency, university, laboratory or veterinary association.