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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation and administration of the rural |
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veterinarian loan repayment program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 487, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 487.003 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 487.003. REFERENCES. In this chapter and Chapter 487A, |
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a reference to "this chapter" means Chapters 487 and 487A. |
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SECTION 2. Subtitle F, Title 4, Government Code, is amended |
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by adding Chapter 487A to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 487A. ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS ADMINISTERED BY OFFICE OF RURAL |
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COMMUNITY AFFAIRS |
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SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS |
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Sec. 487A.001. DEFINITIONS. The definitions in Chapter 487 |
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apply to this chapter. |
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[Sections 487A.002-487A.050 reserved for expansion] |
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SUBCHAPTER B. RURAL VETERINARIAN LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM |
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Sec. 487A.051. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "designated |
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rural area" means a rural geographic area in this state that the |
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board by rule designates as rural for purposes of the loan repayment |
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program under this subchapter. |
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Sec. 487A.052. LOAN REPAYMENT PROGRAM. (a) In accordance |
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with this subchapter and rules adopted by the board, the office |
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shall establish and administer a program to provide loan repayment |
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assistance to veterinarians who agree to practice veterinary |
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medicine on livestock or deer in a designated rural area. |
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(b) The board may provide repayment assistance to a |
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veterinarian for up to four years. The board shall determine the |
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amount of repayment assistance to provide each year. |
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Sec. 487A.053. ELIGIBILITY. To be eligible to receive loan |
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repayment assistance under this subchapter, a veterinarian must: |
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(1) apply to the office; |
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(2) be licensed to practice veterinary medicine in |
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this state; and |
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(3) enter into an agreement with the office as |
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provided by Section 487A.055. |
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Sec. 487A.054. ELIGIBLE LOANS. (a) The office may provide |
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repayment assistance for the repayment of any education loan |
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received by the veterinarian through any lender for education at |
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any veterinary school that awards a degree that satisfies the |
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veterinary study requirements to obtain a license to practice |
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veterinary medicine in this state. |
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(b) The office may not provide repayment assistance for an |
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education loan that is in default at the time of the veterinarian's |
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application. |
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Sec. 487A.055. AGREEMENT REQUIREMENTS. (a) To qualify for |
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loan repayment assistance under this section, a person must enter |
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into a written agreement with the office as provided by this |
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section. The agreement must: |
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(1) specify the conditions the person must satisfy to |
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receive repayment assistance; |
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(2) require the person to practice veterinary medicine |
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on livestock or deer for one full year in a designated rural area |
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for each year the person receives loan repayment assistance under |
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this subchapter; |
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(3) provide that any repayment assistance the person |
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receives under this subchapter constitutes a loan until the person |
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completes the year of practice and satisfies other applicable |
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conditions of the agreement; and |
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(4) require the person to sign a promissory note |
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acknowledging the conditional nature of the repayment assistance |
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received and promising to repay the amount of that assistance plus |
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applicable interest and reasonable collection costs if the person |
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does not satisfy the applicable conditions. |
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(b) The office shall determine the terms of the promissory |
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note required by Subsection (a)(4). To the extent practicable, the |
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terms must be the same as those applicable to state or federally |
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guaranteed student loans made at the same time. |
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Sec. 487A.056. REPAYMENT. (a) The office shall deliver |
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any repayment assistance made under this subchapter in a lump sum |
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payable to the lender and the veterinarian and in accordance with |
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any applicable federal law. |
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(b) Loan repayment assistance received under this |
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subchapter may be applied to the principal amount of the loan and to |
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interest that accrues. |
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Sec. 487A.057. GRANTS, GIFTS, AND DONATIONS. In addition |
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to funds appropriated by the legislature, the office may solicit |
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and accept grants, gifts, and donations from any public or private |
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source for the purposes of this subchapter. |
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Sec. 487A.058. RULES. (a) The board shall adopt rules |
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necessary to administer this subchapter. |
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(b) The office shall distribute to each veterinary school in |
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this state a copy of the rules adopted under this section. |
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SECTION 3. The board of the Office of Rural Community |
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Affairs shall adopt rules for the rural veterinarian loan repayment |
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program under Subchapter B, Chapter 487A, Government Code, as added |
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by this Act, not later than December 31, 2009. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |