Bill Text: NJ A2151 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes the number of students to be supported under the veterinary medicine education program and a service requirement for students who participate in the program.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-01-27 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Higher Education Committee [A2151 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-A2151-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
217th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2016 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman PATRICK J. DIEGNAN, JR.
District 18 (Middlesex)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywomen Vainieri Huttle, Quijano, Jasey and Assemblyman Caputo
SYNOPSIS
Establishes the number of students to be supported under the veterinary medicine education program and a service requirement for students who participate in the program.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning the veterinary medicine education program and amending N.J.S.18A:71B-47 et seq.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. N.J.S.18A:71B-47 is amended to read as follows:
18A:71B-47. a. The authority is hereby authorized to contract with any and all accredited schools of veterinary medicine in the United States for the acceptance of students who are residents of New Jersey for at least 12 months and desire to study veterinary medicine, and to expend annually within the limits of available appropriations such sums as are necessary to accomplish the intent of this act.
b. For the 2011-2012 academic year the authority shall contract for the acceptance of 30 students, and shall increase the number of contractual agreements for veterinary medical students by an additional 30 students in each of the next three subsequent academic years, until the total number of contractual agreements for veterinary medical students supported under the program equals 120 in the 2014-2015 academic year and in each academic year thereafter.
c. A student attending a school of veterinary medicine in accordance with the provisions of subsection a. of this section, shall be required upon graduation to practice veterinary medicine in New Jersey for a period of 18 months for each year of contract funding provided for that student. The required service shall begin within one year of completion of the student's veterinary medical education, including American Veterinary Medical Association-approved internships or residencies. If after documented efforts to secure a position in veterinary medicine in New Jersey the service requirement is not met in whole or in part, the student shall refund to the authority the portion of the contract funding not redeemed through service in this State.
(cf: N.J.S.18A:71B-47)
2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall first be applicable to the 2011-2012 academic year.
STATEMENT
Under the veterinary medicine
education program, originally established through statute in 1971, the Higher
Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) enters into contractual
agreements
with out-of-state schools of veterinary medicine for the acceptance of New
Jersey residents. These schools receive a capitation subsidy toward the cost
of education in return for reserved spaces for New Jersey students. Between
the FY 2007 and FY 2011 fiscal years, funding for the program was reduced and
then eliminated. This lack of State support has restricted the ability of New Jersey students to study veterinary medicine, which is significant in light of the fact
that such programs are not available within the State.
This bill directs HESAA to contract with out-of-state schools of veterinary medicine for the acceptance of 30 New Jersey students for the 2011-2012 academic year and to increase the number of contractual agreements for an additional 30 students in each of the next three subsequent academic years, until the total number of contractual agreements supports the education of 120 students in the 2014-2015 academic year.
The bill also establishes a service requirement for students whose education is supported through these contractual agreements. Upon completion of a student's veterinary medical education, the student will be required to work in a veterinary medicine position in New Jersey for a period of 18 months for each year of contract funding provided for the student. If this service requirement is not met in whole or in part, then the student is obligated to refund to HESAA the portion of the funding that has not been redeemed through service in the State.
