(a) As used in this section:
(1) “Food animal” means bovine, porcine, ovine, camelid, cervid, poultry, and any other species determined by the State Veterinarian;
(2) “Food supply veterinary medicine” means all aspects of veterinary medicine's involvement in food supply systems, from traditional agricultural production to consumption; and
(3) “Practice of food supply veterinary medicine” means a corporate or private veterinary practice with a minimum of thirty percent (30%) of the practice devoted to food animal medicine or mixed animal medicine located in rural areas.
(b) The Division of Higher Education shall repay federal student loans yearly for a maximum of five (5) consecutive years if the recipient:
(1) Practices food supply veterinary medicine in Arkansas within ninety (90) days after completion of:
(A) The professional degree program for which the loan was made;
(B) An internship program; or
(C) The professional degree program for which the loan was made and an internship program; and
(2) Maintains the practice of food supply veterinary medicine in Arkansas for a minimum of one (1) year for each year of loan repayment up to five (5) years with all five (5) years consecutive.
(c) A recipient who fails to satisfy the obligation to engage in the practice of food supply veterinary medicine for one (1) year in a five-consecutive-year period shall not receive the loan repayment amount.
(d) The obligation to engage in the practice of food supply veterinary medicine for a five-consecutive-year period shall be postponed during any:
(1) Period of temporary medical disability if the recipient is unable to practice veterinary medicine;
(2) Period of military service under § 6-61-112; or
(3) Other period of postponement agreed to by the division.
(e) The division shall adopt rules to administer this section.