(1) PURPOSE.—To encourage specialized and qualified veterinary professionals to practice in this state, to retain the employment of such professionals in this state, and to promote the care and treatment of food animals and equine animals, there is established the Florida Food Animal and Equine Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program. The purpose of the program is to authorize the department to make payments that offset loans incurred, for up to three new eligible candidates annually, for studies leading to a veterinary degree with a specialization in food animal or equine veterinary medicine.
(2) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:(a) “Equine” means a species of animal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae, which includes horses and donkeys.
(b) “Food animal” means a species of animal raised for the human food supply. Food animals include cattle, swine, sheep, goat, poultry, aquaculture, and apiary species.
(c) “Food animal and equine animal veterinary medicine” means a veterinary medical practice that encompasses medical care, disease prevention, and consultation on the feeding, housing, and overall flock, herd, or equine health management.
(d) “Food animal or equine veterinarian” means a veterinarian working in food and equine animal veterinary medicine who focuses on the management and health of such animals and who spends a minimum of 20 hours per week on food animal species or equine animal species care and treatment.
(3) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible for the program, a candidate must have graduated from an American Veterinary Medical Association-accredited college of veterinary medicine, have received a Florida veterinary medical license, have obtained a Category II Accreditation from the United States Department of Agriculture, and be a practicing food animal or equine animal veterinarian in this state.
(4) FUNDING.—Subject to legislative appropriation, the department may make loan principal repayments of up to $25,000 per eligible candidate per year. Loan principal repayments may be made on behalf of each eligible candidate each year for up to 5 years. The department may select up to three new eligible candidates each year. All repayments are contingent upon continued proof of employment in this state as a practicing food animal or equine animal veterinarian.
(5) DUPLICATION OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.—An eligible candidate receiving financial assistance from the federal veterinary medicine loan repayment program as established in 7 U.S.C. s. 3151a is ineligible to receive financial assistance from the program under this section.
(6) RULEMAKING.—The department may adopt any rule necessary for the administration of the program.
