HB 17-1282

HB 17-1282 is a Colorado bill that establishes a program to help veterinarians who are willing to work in rural areas of the state where there's a shortage of veterinary services. The program offers loan repayment assistance to eligible veterinarians who agree to practice for up to four years in designated underserved regions. To qualify, veterinarians must have graduated from an accredited veterinary school and either currently live in Colorado or previously lived here for at least three years. The bill has been signed into law, meaning the program is now active and can start accepting applications from eligible veterinarians.

Official Summary

The bill creates the state veterinary education loan repayment council (council), which consists of 5 directors appointed by the governor. The council administers the veterinary education loan repayment program (program) by use of funds from the veterinary education loan repayment fund (fund), which program and fund are also created in the bill. Through the program, the council provides veterinary education loan repayments from the fund to eligible veterinarians who: Have graduated from an accredited doctor of veterinary medicine school; Currently live in Colorado or, at some point, have lived in Colorado for at least 3 years; and Agree to practice veterinary medicine for up to 4 years in a rural area of the state that is experiencing a shortage of veterinarians that the council designates for participation in the program. To implement the program, the council enters into a contract with an eligible veterinarian and the rural area of the state in which the veterinarian will practice veterinary medicine. (Note: This summary applies to the reengrossed version of this bill as introduced in the second house.)

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