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Minutes for HB2552 - Committee on Agriculture
Short Title
Relating to the number of first-year veterinary students that may enter into program agreements with Kansas state university.
Minutes Content for Mon, Feb 12, 2018
Chair Hoffman opened the hearing on HB2552 at 3:34pm.
Kyle Hamilton, Assistant Revisor, Office of The Revisor of Statutes, provided an overview of HB2552 and the statutes that it affects. (Attachment 1) There is a Fiscal Note for HB2552.
PROPONENT
Susan Metzger, Deputy Secretary, Kansas Department of Agriculture, appeared before the Committee in support of HB2552. (Attachment 2) This bill is an important step in solving the shortage of large and mixed animal veterinarians practicing in rural areas. HB2552 provides the opportunity to recruit future veterinaries to work in the rural areas, while assisting the vet students pay the high cost of obtaining an advanced degree. Developing tomorrow's workforce of veterinarian is critical to the continued success and growth of our food animal industries. Ms Metzger answered questions from the Committee.
Tucker A. Stewart, Associate Counsel, Kansas Livestock Association, appeared before the Committee in support of HB2552. (Attachment 3) We encourage support of any reasonable effort that encourages large animal veterinarians to practice in rural Kansas. While Kansas is commonly known as the "Wheat State", beef production is the largest segment of agriculture in the state. We believe that it is appropriate to expand this program and allow Kansas State University Veterinary College to offer this opportunity to more students in the future. Mr Stewart stood for questions from the Committee.
Dr Travis Gratton stood in for Megan Kilgore, Kansas Veterinary Medical Association, (who was ill) before the Committee in support of HB2552. (Attachment 4) He read her testimony verbatim. Dr Gratton stood for questions from the Committee.
John Donley, Kansas Farm Bureau, submitted written testimony in support of HB2552. (Attachment 5)
Chase Reed, Manhattan KS, submitted written testimony in support of HB2552. (Attachment 6)
There were no opponents/neutrals of HB2552.
The hearing on HB2552 was closed at 4:18pm.
