Wisconsin § 39.389 - Veterinary loan repayment grant program.

§ 39.389. Veterinary loan repayment grant program.

39.389(1) (1) Definitions. In this section: 39.389(1)(a) (a) “Eligible applicant” means an individual to whom, at the time of application for the grant program, any of the following applies: 39.389(1)(a)1. 1. The individual is enrolled in an accredited school of veterinary medicine and has completed sufficient credits in a program leading to the degree of doctor of veterinary medicine to be in the final year of the program. 39.389(1)(a)2. 2. The individual was awarded the degree of doctor of veterinary medicine from an accredited school of veterinary medicine within the immediately preceding 7-year period. 39.389(1)(b) (b) “Farm animal” means any warm-blooded animal normally raised on farms in the United States and used or intended for use as food or fiber. 39.389(1)(c) (c) “Grant program” means the veterinary loan repayment grant program under this section. 39.389(1)(d) (d) “Rural county” has the meaning given in s. 39.399 (1g) (a) . 39.389(1)(e) (e) “Veterinarian” has the meaning given in s. 89.02 (7) . 39.389(2) (2) Establishment of program. There is established, to be administered by the board, a veterinary loan repayment grant program to provide financial assistance to veterinarians employed in rural counties in repaying educational loan obligations incurred to become qualified to practice veterinary medicine in this state. 39.389(3) (3) Grant awards. 39.389(3)(a) (a) Subject to pars. (b) and (c) and sub. (4) , the board may award grants under this section to eligible applicants if all of the following apply at the time the grant is awarded: 39.389(3)(a)1. 1. The eligible applicant has an outstanding balance of at least $25,000 in educational debt incurred in connection with pursuing or obtaining the degree of doctor of veterinary medicine. 39.389(3)(a)2. 2. The eligible applicant has secured or committed to secure full-time employment as a veterinarian for at least one year in a rural county. 39.389(3)(b) (b) Subject to sub. (4) , the total amount of a grant awarded under this section may not exceed the lesser of the following: 39.389(3)(b)1. 1. The total outstanding balance of the educational debt that the eligible applicant incurred in connection with pursuing or obtaining the degree of doctor of veterinary medicine. 39.389(3)(b)2. 2. For each year that the eligible applicant has secured or committed to secure full-time employment as a veterinarian in a rural county, $25,000, but not exceeding a total grant award of $100,000. 39.389(3)(c) (c) Grants awarded under this section may be used only to repay educational debt incurred in connection with pursuing or obtaining the degree of doctor of veterinary medicine. 39.389(4) (4) Grant payments. The board shall pay grant awards annually until the total amount of the grant awarded under sub. (3) (b) has been paid, with no annual payment exceeding $25,000. The board may not make an annual payment of a grant award unless the eligible applicant has satisfied all of the following requirements: 39.389(4)(a) (a) The eligible applicant completed the year of full-time employment as a veterinarian in a rural county. 39.389(4)(b) (b) During the year described in par. (a) , the eligible applicant provided at least 50 percent of his or her employed veterinary care to farm animals. 39.389 History History: 2025 a. 177 .