21-22J-2: Definitions.

As used in the Veterinary Medical Loan Repayment Act:

A. "award" means the loan repayment award granted to a recipient;

B. "committee" means the veterinarian selection committee;

C. "department" means the higher education department;

D. "designated underserved area" means a municipality or county designated by the committee that does not have a sufficient number of food-animal veterinarians for the needs of the veterinary medical service area;

E. "loan" means a grant of money to defray the cost of tuition and fees for a veterinary medical education under a contract between the federal government or a commercial lender and a veterinary medical student requiring repayment of principal and interest;

F. "recipient" means a veterinarian selected to participate in the veterinary medical loan repayment program; and

G. "veterinarian" means a person who graduated from an accredited school of veterinary medicine and is licensed as a veterinarian in New Mexico.