NY A07945

Creates the Veterinarians Across Rural New York State Student Loan Repayment Fund to provide student loan assistance to veterinarians who commit to practicing for two years in areas defined as "rural" by the Health Resources and Services Administration

General rural veterinarians receive 50% of qualifying debt annually up to $10,000; veterinarians with practices at least 50% focused on equine, beef cattle, dairy animals, or swine receive up to $14,000 annually

Veterinarians with specialized training in areas such as surgery, emergency care, oncology, ophthalmology, or theriogenology receive an additional $2,000 increase to their annual payment cap

Participants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, hold required New York licenses, have no outstanding federal or state service obligations, and become New York residents within 90 days of starting employment

Default on program requirements triggers repayment of either $31,000 or seven months of loan payments (whichever is greater) within one year, with interest accruing afterward and potential referral to the Attorney General for collection