CT HB05418

The University of Connecticut president shall establish the Kirklyn M. Kerr program to support up to five Connecticut resident veterinary students per cohort with four-year grants covering the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition at accredited veterinary graduate schools.

Grants are issued as forgivable student loans, with loan forgiveness at 20% per year for recipients who practice as licensed veterinarians in Connecticut for at least five years after graduation.

Creates a separate, nonlapsing "Kirklyn M. Kerr account" administered by the Office of Higher Education to fund the program grants.

Appropriates $750,000 from the General Fund to the Office of Higher Education for deposit in the Kirklyn M. Kerr account for fiscal year ending June 30, 2027.

Requires memoranda of understanding between UConn and both the Office of Higher Education and the Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority to administer the forgivable loan program; effective dates are July 1, 2026 for funding provisions and July 1, 2027 for program structure.