Okla. Stat. tit. 59, § 59-698.33

training program for rural Oklahoma.

A. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Dr. Lee

Denney Act of 2024".

B. There is hereby established the veterinary training program

for rural Oklahoma to be administered by the Oklahoma State

University Center for Veterinary Medicine Authority. The program

shall be developed and implemented in order to provide

encouragement, opportunities and incentives for persons pursuing a

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veterinary medicine degree at Oklahoma State University to locate

their veterinary practice in rural Oklahoma communities, and receive

specialized training targeted to meet the needs of livestock

producers in rural Oklahoma communities.

C. Each year the Authority may enter into program agreements

with veterinary students or currently practicing large animal

veterinarians with qualifying school loans, as determined by the

Authority. Preference shall be given to those students and

veterinarians who are focused on large animal veterinary medicine,

who are Oklahoma residents and who agree to serve in a community as

described in paragraph 3 of subsection E of this section, which is

determined by the Authority to be an underserved area for the

practice of veterinary medicine. Allocation shall be prioritized to

eligible students currently enrolled at the Oklahoma State

University College of Veterinary Medicine.

D. Each student or large animal veterinarian entering into a

program agreement under this section shall receive assistance in an

amount not to exceed Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) per

year for not more than four (4) years for tuition, books, supplies

and other school expenses, and travel and training expenses incurred

by the student in pursuing a veterinary medicine degree. Upon

satisfaction of all commitments under the provisions of the

agreement and the provisions of this section, the financial

obligations pursuant to this section shall be deemed satisfied and

forgiven.

E. Each program agreement shall require that the person

receiving the assistance:

1. Complete the veterinary medicine degree program at the

Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine;

2. Complete all requirements in public health, livestock

biosecurity, foreign animal disease diagnosis, regulatory veterinary

medicine and zoonotic disease, and an externship and mentoring

requirement with a licensed, accredited veterinarian in rural

Oklahoma as required by the Veterinary College;

3. Engage in a full-time practice focused on large animal

medicine in any community in Oklahoma which has a population not

exceeding twenty-five thousand (25,000) as determined by the most

recent Federal Decennial Census at the time the person entered into

the program agreement for a period of at least twelve (12)

continuous months for each separate year a student receives

assistance under the program, unless the obligation is otherwise

satisfied as provided in this section. If, after the date a program

agreement was entered into by the parties, a community no longer

meets the maximum population requirements provided in this

paragraph, a person engaging in the full-time practice of veterinary

medicine pursuant to the program agreement shall continue to

practice in that designated community; and

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4. Commence a full-time practice focused on large animal

medicine in that community within ninety (90) days after completion

of the person's degree program, or if the person enters a postdegree

training program, such as a graduate school or internship or

residency program, within ninety (90) days after completion of the

postdegree training program.

F. Upon the failure of a person to satisfy the obligation to

engage in the full-time practice of veterinary medicine in

accordance with the provisions of this section, that person shall
egree program, or if the person enters a postdegree

training program, such as a graduate school or internship or

residency program, within ninety (90) days after completion of the

postdegree training program.

F. Upon the failure of a person to satisfy the obligation to

engage in the full-time practice of veterinary medicine in

accordance with the provisions of this section, that person shall

repay to the Authority, within ninety (90) days of the failure, the

amount equal to the assistance provided to the person less a

prorated amount based on any periods of practice of veterinary

medicine meeting the requirements of this section, plus interest at

the prime rate of interest plus two percent (2%) from the date the

assistance accrued. The interest shall be compounded annually.

G. An obligation to engage in the practice of veterinary

medicine in accordance with the provisions of this section shall be

postponed during:

1. Any period of temporary medical disability during which the

person obligated is unable to practice veterinary medicine due to

the disability; and

2. Any other period of postponement agreed to or determined in

accordance with criteria agreed to in the practice agreement.

H. An obligation to engage in the practice of veterinary

medicine in accordance with the provisions of the agreement and this

section shall be satisfied:

1. If the obligation to engage in the practice of veterinary

medicine in accordance with the agreement has been completed;

2. If, because of permanent disability, the person obligated is

unable to practice veterinary medicine; or

3. The person who is obligated dies.

I. The Authority may adopt additional provisions, requirements

or conditions to participate in this program as are practicable and

appropriate to accomplish the provisions of the program or may be

required for the implementation or administration of the program,

and are not inconsistent with the provisions of this section.