Enrolled Bill Summary

            Senate Bill 1183 amends the Education Code to establish a rural veterinarian incentive program at The Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and a program-related fund in the state treasury outside the general revenue fund. The program provides incentives for veterinary school students and recent graduates to practice in rural counties by providing financial support through the rural veterinarian incentive fund. Financial aid may be used only to retire student loan debt or to pay tuition and fees, and participants must agree to practice in a rural county for one calendar year for each academic year for which they receive financial support. The act also allows qualifying rural communities and political subdivisions to sponsor eligible participants who agree to practice veterinary medicine in the sponsoring community or subdivision.