HI SB493

Establishes the Veterinary Workforce Development Special Fund to be administered by the Board of Veterinary Medicine, funded by legislative appropriations, license renewal fees, grants, donations, and interest earnings.

Requires veterinarians to pay a $60 fee upon license renewal beginning July 1, 2025, with fees deposited into the special fund to support veterinarian workforce assessment, planning, recruitment, and retention efforts.

Creates the Veterinary Workforce Development Loan Repayment and Scholarship Program offering loan repayments to veterinarians and scholarships to veterinary students who commit to working full-time in Hawaii's shortage areas for a board-determined minimum period.

Recipients who fail to meet the required service period must repay the full amount of assistance received, unless the board waives repayment for good cause.

Board must adopt rules to implement program eligibility requirements and procedures; appropriates unspecified amounts from general revenues for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027.