H. B. 4353
(By Delegates Cann, Williams, Kominar,
Angotti, Stemple, Perdue and Thompson)
[Introduced February 2, 2000; referred to the
Committee on Government Organization then Finance.]
A BILL to amend and reenact section two, article three, chapter
eighteen-c of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine
hundred thirty-one, as amended, relating to state aid for
students of optometry; and eliminating the requirement that
the students practice optometry in this state to avoid
repaying the financial aid.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That section two, article three, chapter eighteen-c of the
code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as
amended, be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
ARTICLE 3. HEALTH PROFESSIONALS STUDENT LOAN PROGRAMS.
ยง18C-3-2. State aid for students of optometry.
The board of trustees is hereby authorized to enter into a
contract with an educational institution or institutions outside
the state that offer training in optometry, by the terms of which
the board of trustees may obligate itself to pay such the institution, within the limits of any appropriation made for the
purpose, a stated amount per year for each West Virginia student
the institution will agree to accept for training in optometry.
The board of trustees shall each year send to any such
institution with which such contract is made a certified list of
all persons applying to the trustees for training in optometry
who are bona fide citizens and residents of this state prior to
the filing of their applications, and who have completed either
within or without the state the course of study required by such
the institution as a prerequisite to the study of optometry.
Any person who receives state aid under this section shall,
upon graduation from an educational institution, for study of
optometry be required to practice optometry for a period of two
years in this state, or in lieu thereof shall, within sixty days
from the date of graduation, reimburse the board of trustees for
any tuition advanced to such person by the trustees.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken
from the present law, and underscoring indicates new language
that would be added.