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GA SB20

GA SB20
Veterinarians; student loan repayment; who practice shelter medicine and in nonprofit pet sterilization clinics; provide; create the State Veterinary Education Board for Shelter Medicine and Pet Sterilization

summary

Introduced
01/16/2025
In Committee
03/20/2025
Crossed Over
03/03/2025
Passed
04/10/2025
Dead
Signed/Enacted/Adopted
05/14/2025

Introduced Session

2025-2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

AN ACT To amend Article 7 of Chapter 3 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to scholarships, loans, and grants, so as to provide for tuition grants to children and spouses of certain public employees killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty; to provide for charitable contributions to the Georgia Student Finance Authority for such grants; to expand eligibility for the Public Safety Memorial Grant to provide for tuition grants to children and spouses of emergency medical technicians, firefighters, highway emergency response operators, law enforcement officers, and prison guards who are killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty; to provide for tuition grants to children and spouses of public school employees and public school teachers who are killed or permanently disabled by an act of violence in the line of duty; to provide definitions; to provide for maximum grant amounts; to provide for eligibility; to provide for an application process; to provide for grant renewals; to provide for the purchase of loans made to students for educational purposes for veterinarians who practice shelter medicine and veterinarians who practice in nonprofit pet sterilization clinics; to provide for the appointment of additional members to the State Veterinary Education Board; to authorize the State Veterinary Education Board to establish committees; to provide for definitions; to require the State Veterinary Education Board to establish and maintain separate programs for loan purchases made under this part and loan purchases made under Part 6B of this article and account separately for the funding of each program; to provide requirements for participation in the loan repayment program; to provide for maximum total and annual repayment amounts; to provide for terms for repayment agreements; to provide for rules and regulations; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

AI Summary

This bill expands and modifies several existing educational grant and loan programs in Georgia, with a particular focus on supporting children and spouses of public service workers and veterinarians working in specific medical settings. The bill increases the potential educational grant amounts for children and spouses of law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, prison guards, highway emergency response operators, and public school employees killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty, raising the maximum annual grant from $2,000 to $18,000 and the lifetime maximum from $8,000 to $72,000. It also creates a new program specifically for veterinarians who practice shelter medicine or work in nonprofit pet sterilization clinics, allowing them to receive up to $75,000 in loan purchases over a three-year period in exchange for working full-time in qualifying animal care facilities. Additionally, the bill expands the State Veterinary Education Board by adding two new members with expertise in animal shelters and shelter medicine, and requires the board to maintain separate accounting for different loan purchase programs. The bill aims to provide financial support and incentives for individuals in critical public service roles and veterinary professionals serving vulnerable animal populations.

Committee Categories

Education

Sponsors (6)

Last Action

Effective Date 2025-07-01 (on 05/14/2025)

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