Existing law requires the three Commissioners from the Nevada Office of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education to choose applicants who apply for a program administered by the Nevada Office which provides financial support to assist the applicants in attending colleges and universities located within the states and territories that are signatories to the Western Regional Education Compact. (NRS 397.020, 397.060) Existing law further requires a participant who receives a stipend from such a program to complete a practice obligation in a health professional shortage area or an area with a medically underserved population in this State. (NRS 397.0645) Section 1 of this bill provides that this requirement does not apply to a participant who receives a stipend to participate in a program to earn a degree of doctor of veterinary medicine. Section 2 of this bill makes an appropriation from the State General Fund to the Interim Finance Committee for allocation to the Nevada Office to enter into a contract with Utah State University for a program to provide stipends for the out-of-state tuition of 70 residents of Nevada to earn a degree of doctor of veterinary medicine from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Utah State University. Section 3 of this bill makes an appropriation from the State General Fund to the Interim Finance Committee for allocation to the Nevada Office for the salary, benefits and operating costs of a Program Officer I position to assist the Nevada Office in carrying out the program to provide stipends.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 397.0645
Reprint 1: 397.0645
As Enrolled: 397.0645
BDR: 397.0645