(110 ILCS 995/20)

Sec. 20. Veterinary Student Loan Repayment Program.

(a) There is hereby created a veterinary training program for large animal and public health veterinary medicine, which shall be known as the Veterinary Student Loan Repayment Program and administered through the University of Illinois.

(b) The purpose of the Program is to provide encouragement, opportunities, and incentives for persons pursuing a veterinary medicine degree program at the University of Illinois to engage, upon completion of such education program, in (i) veterinary practice that is at least 51% devoted to large animal medicine that enhances agricultural animal health and productivity or (ii) regulatory veterinary medicine that supports public health and safety, livestock biosecurity, or food animal disease diagnosis.

(c) Subject to appropriation and upon recommendation of the College, the University may enter into a program agreement with up to 4 veterinary students during the first year of operation of the Program; up to 8 veterinary students during the second year of operation of the Program; up to 12 veterinary students during the third year of operation of the Program; and up to 16 veterinary students during the fourth year of operation of the Program and every year thereafter until the expiration of the Program, as set forth in Section 40 of this Act. Preference must be given to those students who are Illinois residents. Each student entering into a program agreement shall receive a loan in the amount of $20,000 per year to cover tuition, books, supplies and other school expenses and travel and training expenses incurred by the student in pursuing a veterinary medicine degree. A student may be the recipient of a loan under the Program for no more than 4 years.

(d) Upon the satisfaction of all commitments made under the Program and all provisions of the program agreement, all loans disbursed to a student under the Program shall be deemed satisfied and forgiven.

(Source: P.A. 96-142, eff. 8-7-09.)