283—27.2(256) Awarding of funds.

1. 27.2(1)  Selection criteria. All eligible applicants will be considered for an award.
2. 27.2(2)  Extent of award and maximum award. Eligible applicants may receive up to $60,000 upon completion of the obligation. The loan repayment award will not exceed the outstanding balance of the eligible applicant’s eligible loans.

3. 27.2(3)  Priority for awards. New awards will be made in the order of the following priority categories if funding is insufficient to award all eligible applicants. An eligible applicant selected for an award under a priority category will continue to meet the provisions of that category to maintain eligibility.

   1. a. Eligible applicants who will be employed in a private practice providing food supply veterinary medicine in a veterinary shortage area and have graduated from an Iowa high school or completed private instruction under Iowa Code chapter 299A, by date of application, followed by eligible applicants who will be employed in a private practice providing food supply veterinary medicine in a veterinary shortage area and have not graduated from an Iowa high school or completed private instruction under Iowa Code chapter 299A, by date of application.
   2. b. Eligible applicants who will be employed in a private practice providing food supply veterinary medicine in a service commitment area and have graduated from an Iowa high school or completed private instruction under Iowa Code chapter 299A, by date of application, followed by eligible applicants who will be employed in a private practice providing food supply veterinary medicine in a service commitment area and have not graduated from an Iowa high school or completed private instruction under Iowa Code chapter 299A, by date of application.
   3. c. Eligible applicants who will practice as a veterinarian in a service commitment area and have graduated from an Iowa high school or completed private instruction under Iowa Code chapter 299A, by date of application, followed by eligible applicants who will practice as veterinarians in a service commitment area and have not graduated from an Iowa high school or completed private instruction under Iowa Code chapter 299A, by date of application.

4. 27.2(4)  Awarding process. The commission will:

   1. a. Provide notice of the eligibility criteria and the application process annually.
   2. b. Designate eligible applicants for awards and notify all applicants of their eligibility.
   3. c. Track eligible applicants selected to receive awards through completion of their obligation. Completion of the obligation will be verified by the eligible applicant’s employer. An obligation is satisfied pursuant to Iowa Code section 256.226(9).
   4. d. Pay the loan repayment award directly to the holder of the eligible applicant’s eligible loan.

[ARC 8869C, IAB 2/19/25, effective 3/26/25]