89R9264 AND-F     By: Tepper H.B. No. 2992       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the name and function of the rural veterinarian   incentive program.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  The heading to Subchapter G, Chapter 56,   Education Code, is amended to read as follows:   SUBCHAPTER G. RURAL AND SHELTER VETERINARIAN INCENTIVE PROGRAM          SECTION 2.  Section 56.101, Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 56.101.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:                (1)  "Account" means the rural and shelter veterinarian   incentive program account.                (2)  "College" means a college of veterinary medicine   located in this state and accredited by the American Veterinary   Medical Association Council on Education.                (3)  "Committee" means the rural and shelter   veterinarian incentive program committee.                (4)  "Eligible participant" means a person eligible to   participate in the program under Section 56.104.                (5)  "General academic teaching institution" has the   meaning assigned by Section 61.003.                (6)  "High-quality, high-volume spay and neuter   clinic" means an animal shelter or a veterinary clinic that:                      (A)  spays or neuters, on average, at least 40   dogs per business day; and                      (B)  charges a below-market fee for a spay or   neuter procedure.                (7)  "Program" means the rural and shelter veterinarian   incentive program established by this subchapter.                (8) [(7)]  "Rural county" means a county in this state   with a population of less than 150,000.                (9)  "Shelter medicine" includes all areas of   veterinary practice relevant to the care and management of stray,   homeless, abandoned, or unwanted animals.                (10) [(8)]  "University system" has the meaning   assigned by Section 61.003.          SECTION 3.  The heading to Section 56.103, Education Code,   is amended to read as follows:          Sec. 56.103.  RURAL AND SHELTER VETERINARIAN INCENTIVE   PROGRAM COMMITTEE; RULES.          SECTION 4.  Section 56.103, Education Code, is amended by   amending Subsections (a) and (d) and adding Subsection (f) to read   as follows:          (a)  The rural and shelter veterinarian incentive program   committee consists of:                (1)  the executive director of the Texas Animal Health   Commission, or the executive director's designee;                (2)  the executive director of the State Board of   Veterinary Medical Examiners, or the executive director's   designee;                (3)  the dean of each accredited college of veterinary   medicine located in this state, or the dean's designee;                (4)  a veterinarian with a mixed animal practice,   representing each university system located in Texas with an   accredited college of veterinary medicine, appointed by the board   of regents of each university system;                (5)  a veterinarian with a large animal practice,   representing each university system located in Texas with an   accredited college of veterinary medicine, appointed by the board   of regents of each university system; [and]                (6)  a practitioner of veterinary medicine who serves   as a commissioner of the Texas Animal Health Commission, appointed   by the chair of the Texas Animal Health Commission; and                (7)  two shelter medicine practitioners who are   associated with an animal shelter, appointed by the president of   the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners.          (d)  The committee shall adopt rules:                (1)  establishing criteria to determine whether a   person is an eligible participant as the committee considers   reasonable, including the person's:                      (A)  background and interest in rural practice or   shelter medicine; and                      (B)  financial need;                (2)  providing for requesting the distribution of money   from the account for the program;                (3)  establishing the criteria necessary [for a   community or political subdivision in a rural county] to qualify as   a student sponsor under Section 56.105;                (4)  governing agreements of financial support between   a [rural] sponsor and an eligible student; and                (5)  establishing other procedures necessary to   administer the program.          (f)  In adopting rules under this section, the committee:                (1)  is not required to disburse money under the   program evenly among all eligible participants; and                (2)  shall ensure that financial assistance provided   under the program provides the maximum benefit to communities by   filling areas of need in large-animal, mixed-animal, or shelter   medicine practice.          SECTION 5.  The heading to Section 56.105, Education Code,   is amended to read as follows:          Sec. 56.105.  [RURAL] SPONSORS; AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE   FINANCIAL SUPPORT.          SECTION 6.  Sections 56.105(a) and (b), Education Code, are   amended to read as follows:          (a)  A community or political subdivision located in a rural   county or any community or political subdivision within which a   high-quality, high-volume spay and neuter clinic is located that   qualifies under the rules of the committee may become a sponsor of   an eligible participant and may provide financial support to the   eligible participant under the program.          (b)  To participate as a sponsor in the program, the   community or political subdivision must enter into an agreement   with the eligible participant to provide financial support to the   eligible participant in an amount not less than the tuition and fees   required for a full academic year for a student enrolled in a   college in exchange for the eligible participant's agreement to   practice veterinary medicine:                (1)  in a rural county, anywhere in the sponsoring   community or political subdivision; or                 (2)  in a high-quality, high-volume spay and neuter   clinic located in the sponsoring community or political   subdivision.          SECTION 7.  The heading to Section 56.106, Education Code,   is amended to read as follows:          Sec. 56.106.  FINANCIAL SUPPORT; COMMITMENT TO PRACTICE IN   RURAL COUNTY OR HIGH-QUALITY, HIGH-VOLUME SPAY AND NEUTER CLINIC.          SECTION 8.  Section 56.106(a), Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (a)  To participate in the program, an eligible participant   must enter into an agreement with the Texas Higher Education   Coordinating Board that:                (1)  requires the participant to practice veterinary   medicine in a rural county or in a high-quality, high-volume spay   and neuter clinic for one calendar year for each academic year for   which the participant receives financial support under the program;                (2)  specifies the conditions the participant must   satisfy to receive financial support under the program;                (3)  provides that any financial support the   participant receives under the program constitutes a loan until the   participant satisfies the conditions of the agreement; and                (4)  requires the participant to sign a promissory note   acknowledging the conditional nature of the financial support   received under the program and promising to repay the amount of the   financial support, any applicable interest, and reasonable   collection costs if the participant does not satisfy the conditions   of the agreement.          SECTION 9.  The heading to Section 61.9965, Education Code,   is amended to read as follows:          Sec. 61.9965.  RURAL AND SHELTER VETERINARIAN INCENTIVE   PROGRAM ACCOUNT.          SECTION 10.  Sections 61.9965(a) and (b), Education Code,   are amended to read as follows:          (a)  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall   administer the rural and shelter veterinarian incentive program   account in accordance with Subchapter G, Chapter 56, to provide   assistance in the repayment of student loans for eligible   veterinarians who apply and qualify for the assistance under the   rules of the Texas Animal Health Commission rural and shelter   veterinarian incentive program committee.          (b)  The rural and shelter veterinarian incentive program   account is an account in the general revenue fund.  The account is   composed of:                (1)  gifts, grants, in-kind contributions, or real or   personal property contributed to the account from any individual,   group, association, or corporation or the United States, subject to   limitations or conditions set by law, for the purposes of this   subchapter;                (2)  earnings on the principal of the account; and                (3)  other amounts deposited to the credit of the   account, including:                      (A)  money deposited from a community or political   subdivision that qualifies under the rules authorized by Section   56.105 to become a sponsor of an eligible participant under the   program; and                      (B)  legislative appropriations deposited to the   account.          SECTION 11.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.