Arkansas § 6-81-1106 - Student loan repayment — Definitions.

§ 6-81-1106. Student loan repayment — Definitions.

As used in this section: “Food animal” means bovine, porcine, ovine, camelid, cervid, poultry, and any other species determined by the State Veterinarian; “Food supply veterinary medicine” means all aspects of veterinary medicine's involvement in food supply systems, from traditional agricultural production to consumption; and “Practice of food supply veterinary medicine” means a corporate or private veterinary practice with a minimum of thirty percent (30%) of the practice devoted to food animal medicine or mixed animal medicine located in rural areas. The Division of Higher Education shall repay federal student loans yearly for a maximum of five (5) consecutive years if the recipient: Practices food supply veterinary medicine in Arkansas within ninety (90) days after completion of: The professional degree program for which the loan was made; An internship program; or The professional degree program for which the loan was made and an internship program; and Maintains the practice of food supply veterinary medicine in Arkansas for a minimum of one (1) year for each year of loan repayment up to five (5) years with all five (5) years consecutive. A recipient who fails to satisfy the obligation to engage in the practice of food supply veterinary medicine for one (1) year in a five-consecutive-year period shall not receive the loan repayment amount. The obligation to engage in the practice of food supply veterinary medicine for a five-consecutive-year period shall be postponed during any: Period of temporary medical disability if the recipient is unable to practice veterinary medicine; Period of military service under § 6-61-112; or Other period of postponement agreed to by the division. The division shall adopt rules to administer this section.