AZ SB1271

Establishes the Arizona veterinary loan assistance program within the Department of Agriculture to provide loan repayment assistance to veterinarians who obtain a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree after January 1, 2023.

Requires participating veterinarians to commit to working full-time in Arizona for four years, with at least two of those years in agricultural practice in USDA-designated shortage areas or at nonprofit, county, or municipal shelters.

Provides loan repayment assistance of up to $100,000 or the veterinarian's outstanding educational loan balance (whichever is less) upon completion of the four-year commitment.

Establishes a five-member advisory committee including representatives from veterinary colleges, a rural agricultural veterinarian, a shelter veterinarian, and a private practice veterinarian to advise on program administration.

Appropriates $5,000,000 from the state general fund for fiscal year 2022-2023 to the Arizona veterinary loan assistance fund, with the department allowed to retain up to 3 percent for administrative costs.