Subdivision 1. Definitions. (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the meanings given.
(b) "Veterinarian" means an individual who has been awarded a doctor of veterinary medicine degree from the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota.
(c) "Designated rural area" means an area in Minnesota outside the counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington, excluding the cities of Duluth, Mankato, Moorhead, Rochester, and St. Cloud.
(d) "Emergency circumstances" means those conditions that make it impossible for the participant to fulfill the service commitment, including death, total and permanent disability, or temporary disability lasting more than two years.
(e) "Qualified educational loan" means a government, commercial, or foundation loan for actual costs paid for tuition, reasonable education expenses, and reasonable living expenses related to the education of a veterinarian.
Subd. 2. Establishment; administration. (a) The commissioner shall establish and administer a loan forgiveness program for large animal veterinarians who:
(1) agree to practice in designated rural areas that are considered underserved; and
(2) work full time in a practice that is at least 50 percent involved with the care of food animals.
(b) A large animal veterinarian loan forgiveness program account is established in the special revenue fund. Money in the account is appropriated to the commissioner to establish and administer the program under this section. Appropriations to the commissioner for the program are for transfer to the account. Appropriations from the account do not cancel and are available until expended.
Subd. 3. Eligibility. (a) To be eligible to participate in the loan forgiveness program, an individual must:
(1) be a veterinarian who has been awarded a veterinary medicine degree within three years of submitting an application under this section, or be enrolled in the veterinarian degree program and making satisfactory progress in the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota; and
(2) submit an application to the commissioner in the form and manner prescribed by the commissioner.
(b) An applicant selected to participate must sign a contract agreeing to complete a five-year service obligation to practice as required under subdivision 2, paragraph (a).
Subd. 4. Loan forgiveness. (a) The commissioner may select eligible applicants each year for participation in the loan forgiveness program, within the limits of available funding. Applicants are responsible for securing their own qualified educational loans.
(b) The commissioner must select participants based on their suitability for practice serving the designated rural area, as indicated by experience or training. The commissioner must give preference to applicants closest to completing their training.
(c) The commissioner must make annual disbursements directly to the participant of $15,000 or the balance of the participant's qualifying educational loans, whichever is less, for each year that a participant meets the service obligation required under subdivision 3, paragraph (b), up to a maximum of five years.
(d) Before receiving loan repayment disbursements and as requested, the participant must complete and return to the commissioner a confirmation of practice form provided by the commissioner verifying that the participant is practicing as required under subdivision 2, paragraph (a). The participant must provide the commissioner with verification that the full amount of loan repayment disbursement received by the participant has been applied toward the designated loans. After each disbursement, verification must be received by the commissioner and approved before the next loan repayment disbursement is made.
(e) Participants who move their practice remain eligible for loan repayment as long as they practice as required under subdivision 2, paragraph (a).
Subd. 5. Penalty for nonfulfillment. If a participant does not fulfill the required minimum commitment of service required under subdivision 3, paragraph (b), the commissioner must collect from the participant the total amount paid to the participant under the loan forgiveness program plus interest at a rate established according to section 270C.40. The commissioner must deposit the money collected in the state general fund. The commissioner must allow waivers of all or part of the money owed the commissioner as a result of a nonfulfillment penalty if emergency circumstances prevented fulfillment of the service obligation.
Subd. 6. Rules. The commissioner may adopt rules to implement this section.
2009 c 95 art 2 s 23; 2013 c 99 art 2 s 29; 2014 c 149 s 29-32; 2017 c 89 art 3 s 3; 2018 c 207 s 3; 2020 c 109 art 1 s 13
Structure Minnesota Statutes
Chapters 135A - 137 — Postsecondary Education
Chapter 136A — Higher Education
Section 136A.002 — Definitions.
Section 136A.01 — Office Of Higher Education.
Section 136A.03 — Executive Officers; Employees.
Section 136A.031 — Student Advisory Council.
Section 136A.0411 — Collecting Fees.
Section 136A.0412 — Acceptance Of Private Funds; Appropriation.
Section 136A.05 — Cooperation Of Institutions Of Higher Education.
Section 136A.051 — Student Records And Data.
Section 136A.055 — Developmental Education Reporting.
Section 136A.057 — Student Transfer Reporting.
Section 136A.06 — Federal Funds.
Section 136A.091 — Summer Academic Enrichment Program.
Section 136A.095 — Grants-in-aid; Purpose.
Section 136A.096 — Financial Aid Goals.
Section 136A.101 — Definitions.
Section 136A.103 — Institution Eligibility Requirements.
Section 136A.1201 — Minnesota Promise.
Section 136A.121 — State Grant Program.
Section 136A.1215 — Grants For Students With Intellectual And Developmental Disabilities.
Section 136A.123 — Mn Reconnect Program.
Section 136A.1241 — Fostering Independence Higher Education Grants.
Section 136A.125 — Child Care Grants.
Section 136A.126 — Indian Scholarships.
Section 136A.1274 — Underrepresented Student Teacher Grants.
Section 136A.1275 — Student Teacher Grants In Shortage Areas.
Section 136A.1276 — Alternative Teacher Preparation Grant Program.
Section 136A.131 — Accounting And Records.
Section 136A.1311 — Cash Flow.
Section 136A.1312 — Financial Aid Administrator, Professional Judgment.
Section 136A.1313 — Financial Aid Audits.
Section 136A.15 — Definitions.
Section 136A.155 — Additional Institution Eligibility Requirements.
Section 136A.16 — Powers And Duties Of Office.
Section 136A.162 — Classification Of Data.
Section 136A.1701 — Supplemental And Additional Loans.
Section 136A.1702 — Legislative Oversight.
Section 136A.1704 — Student Loan Refinancing.
Section 136A.171 — Revenue Bonds; Issuance; Proceeds.
Section 136A.172 — Negotiable Notes; Issuance; Conditions.
Section 136A.173 — Negotiability; Bond Anticipation Notes; Payment; Conditions.
Section 136A.174 — Security For Bonds.
Section 136A.175 — Refunding Revenue Bonds; Proceeds; Investments.
Section 136A.176 — Bonds Not State Obligations.
Section 136A.177 — Rights Of Bondholders.
Section 136A.178 — Legal Investments; Authorized Securities.
Section 136A.1785 — Loan Capital Fund.
Section 136A.1787 — Self Loan Revenue Bonds Annual Certificate Of Need.
Section 136A.1788 — Student Loan Debt Counseling.
Section 136A.1789 — Aviation Degree Loan Forgiveness Program.
Section 136A.1791 — Teacher Shortage Loan Repayment Program.
Section 136A.1792 — Promotion Of Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Programs.
Section 136A.1793 — Promotion Of Teacher Loan Forgiveness Programs.
Section 136A.1794 — Agricultural Education Loan Forgiveness Program.
Section 136A.1795 — Large Animal Veterinarian Loan Forgiveness Program.
Section 136A.1796 — Tribal College Supplemental Grant Assistance.
Section 136A.18 — Legislative Finding, Declaration, And Directive.
Section 136A.23 — Trustees Of Incorporated Colleges May Prescribe Course Of Study; Annual Report.
Section 136A.231 — Education; Postsecondary Students; Work-study Programs.
Section 136A.232 — Administration; Agreements With Educational Facilities.
Section 136A.233 — Work-study Grants.
Section 136A.246 — Dual Training Competency Grants.
Section 136A.26 — Memberships; Officers; Compensation; Removal.
Section 136A.28 — Definitions.
Section 136A.29 — Powers; Duties.
Section 136A.30 — Source Of Payment Of Expenses.
Section 136A.31 — Notes Of The Authority.
Section 136A.32 — Bonds Of The Authority.
Section 136A.33 — Trust Agreement.
Section 136A.34 — Revenue Refunding Bonds.
Section 136A.35 — Bonds Are Not State Obligation.
Section 136A.37 — Remedies Of Bondholders And Trustees.
Section 136A.38 — Bonds Eligible For Investment.
Section 136A.39 — Exemption From Taxes And Other Restrictions.
Section 136A.40 — Administration.
Section 136A.41 — Conflict Of Interest.
Section 136A.42 — Annual Report.
Section 136A.62 — Definitions.
Section 136A.63 — Registration.
Section 136A.64 — Information Required For Registration.
Section 136A.645 — School Closure.
Section 136A.646 — Additional Security.
Section 136A.65 — Approval Of Degrees And Name.
Section 136A.653 — Exemptions.
Section 136A.657 — Exemption; Religious Schools.
Section 136A.658 — Exemption; State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement Schools.
Section 136A.66 — List Of Registered Institutions.
Section 136A.67 — Registration Representations.
Section 136A.672 — Student Complaints.
Section 136A.675 — Risk Analysis.
Section 136A.685 — Private Institutions; Adjudication Of Fraud Or Misrepresentation.
Section 136A.821 — Definitions.
Section 136A.8225 — School Closure.
Section 136A.823 — License Renewal.
Section 136A.825 — Permits For Solicitors.
Section 136A.826 — Information To Students.
Section 136A.828 — Prohibitions.
Section 136A.829 — Revocation Of License Or Permit.
Section 136A.8295 — Student Complaints.
Section 136A.831 — Injunction.
Section 136A.833 — Exemptions.
Section 136A.834 — Exemption; Religious Schools.
Section 136A.861 — Intervention For College Attendance Program Grants.
Section 136A.87 — Planning Information For Postsecondary Education.
Section 136A.901 — Spinal Cord Injury And Traumatic Brain Injury Research Grant Program.
Section 136A.902 — Spinal Cord And Traumatic Brain Injury Advisory Council.