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.