(110 ILCS 995/25)

Sec. 25. Program agreement.

(a) Prior to receiving a loan under the Program, each loan recipient must sign an agreement pledging that he or she shall:

(1) complete the veterinary medicine degree program at the College;

(2) complete all advanced training in public health, livestock biosecurity, foreign animal disease diagnosis, regulatory veterinary medicine and zoonotic disease and complete an externship and mentorship with a licensed, accredited veterinarian in Illinois who practices in one of the areas of veterinary service need identified in this Act and as required by the University;

(3) engage in the full-time practice of veterinary medicine in any of the identified areas of veterinary service need identified in this Act;

(4) practice full-time for a period of at least 12 continuous months for each separate year that he or she received a loan under the Program, unless such obligation is otherwise satisfied as provided in this Act; and

(5) commence the full-time practice required under this Section within 180 days after completion of his or her degree program or, if he or she enters a post-degree training program such as a graduate school or internship or residency program, within 90 days after completion of that post-degree training program.

(b) The fulfillment of obligations set forth in the program agreement may be postponed under any of the following circumstances:

(1) Any period of temporary medical disability during which the loan recipient is unable to practice veterinary medicine due to such disability.

(2) Any period of time in which the loan recipient is engaged in mandatory military service as part of the U.S. Armed Forces.

(3) Any other period of postponement agreed to or determined in accordance with criteria agreed to in the program agreement.

(c) The obligations of a program agreement shall be discharged prematurely upon the death of the loan recipient or in the event that the loan recipient is unable to practice veterinary medicine due to permanent disability.

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