HB 1298-FN – AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

06Feb2008… 0251h

18Mar2008… 0837h

2008 SESSION

08-2355

04/03

HOUSE BILL 1298-FN

AN ACT making changes to the veterinary/medical/optometric education program.

SPONSORS: Rep. Ryan, Merr 2; Rep. Webb, Merr 2

COMMITTEE: Education

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill adds dental education programs to the existing veterinary/medical/optometric education program. The bill also provides that no contract shall take effect and no funds hall be expended on qualified New Hampshire residents receiving dental education prior to July 1, 2009.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

06Feb2008… 0251h

18Mar2008… 0837h

08-2355

04/03

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eight

AN ACT making changes to the veterinary/medical/optometric education program.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Veterinary/Medical/Optometric Education Program; Title Amended. Amend the chapter heading of RSA 200-J to read as follows:

CHAPTER 200-J

VETERINARY/MEDICAL/DENTAL/OPTOMETRIC EDUCATION PROGRAM

2 Veterinary/Medical/Optometric Education Program. Amend RSA 200-J:1-2 to read as follows:

200-J:1 Purpose. It is the intent of the general court to assure, to the greatest extent possible, the admission of qualified New Hampshire residents to educational institutions providing programs of instruction leading to the acquisition of doctoral degrees in allopathic medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, and optometry. All funds received pursuant to this chapter shall be nonlapsing and continually appropriated to the postsecondary education commission for the purposes of this program.

200-J:2 Agreements Authorized.

I. The governor is authorized to enter into an agreement on behalf of the state with the board of trustees of any veterinary medical school accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association, or its successor organization, for the purpose of providing veterinary medical education to qualified New Hampshire residents.

II. The governor is authorized to enter into an agreement on behalf of the state with Dartmouth medical school and other medical schools for the purpose of providing allopathic and osteopathic medical education to qualified New Hampshire residents.

III. The governor is authorized to enter into an agreement on behalf of the state with the New England college of optometry for the purpose of providing optometric education to qualified New Hampshire residents.

III-a. The governor is authorized to enter into an agreement on behalf of the state with the board of trustees of any dental school accredited by the American Dental Association, or its successor organization, for the purpose of providing dental education to qualified New Hampshire residents.

IV. The contracts provided for in paragraphs I, II, [and], III, and III-a of this section shall provide for the enrollment of not more than 5 students each for veterinary, dental, and optometric school for each class year, and not more than 20 students for medical school for each class year. An appropriate sum shall be paid yearly for each student so enrolled. The actual amount paid per student shall be subject to the amount appropriated each biennium for this purpose by the general court and the specific contract negotiated with each institution by the postsecondary education commission.

V. There shall be included in each contract with a medical, veterinary, dental, or optometric school a provision stating that the capitation payment to be made by New Hampshire for a slot in the school shall not increase for the student filling that slot; that the amount paid for a slot filled by a particular student shall remain the same as long as that particular student shall remain the student filling that slot.

VI. A total of not more than 5 students for each class year may be enrolled in all schools which contract to provide veterinary medical education.

VII. A total of not more than 20 students for each class year may be enrolled in all schools which contract to provide allopathic and osteopathic medical education.

VIII. A total of not more than 5 students for each class year may be enrolled in all schools which contract to provide optometric education.

VIII-a. A total of not more than 5 students for each class year may be enrolled in all schools which contract to provide dental education.

IX. Upon application by each student seeking admission to veterinary, medical, dental, or optometry school under this plan, the postsecondary education commission shall certify to the school applied to whether such student is a resident of New Hampshire in accordance with the definition of “resident” established by the board of trustees of the university of New Hampshire and the guidelines established by such trustees to determine if a student is a resident; provided, however, that an applicant shall be eligible for such assistance only if he or she has been domiciled in this state for at least 12 months prior to submitting an application for assistance. The postsecondary education commission shall promulgate such rules and regulations as are reasonable and necessary to make certain that the benefits of this chapter are afforded only to bona fide residents.

X. Any applicant who is aggrieved by a final determination of the postsecondary education commission which denies his or her application may appeal to the superior court of Merrimack county pursuant to RSA [187:29, III] 187-A:16, XIX.

XI. In this chapter, “New Hampshire resident” shall include any student who graduated from a New Hampshire high school in the past 6 years.

3 Veterinary/Medical/Optometric Education Program; Repayment Required. Amend RSA 200-J:3, IV to read as follows:

IV. Any student who shall successfully complete his or her program of education and graduate shall be forgiven any repayment due under a note signed in accordance with the provisions of this section.

4 Veterinary/Medical/Optometric Education Program; State Obligation. Amend RSA 200-J:4 to read as follows:

200-J:4 State Obligation. Any note signed by a student prior to his or her entry [upon] into a program leading to a medical, veterinary, dental, or optometry degree shall include a section obligating the state to continue paying the capitation fee for that student as long as [he] the student shall be making normal progress toward graduation or until [he] the student shall have graduated.

5 Applicability. No agreement to provide dental education to qualified New Hampshire residents pursuant to this act shall take effect prior to July 1, 2009. The state shall expend no funds for qualified New Hampshire residents receiving dental education pursuant to this act prior to July 1, 2009.

6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.

LBAO

08-2355

Amended 02/25/08

HB 1298 FISCAL NOTE

AN ACT making changes to the veterinary/medical/optometric education program.

FISCAL IMPACT:

METHODOLOGY: