Chapter 39

39.385(4)(a)2. 2. The board may grant financial assistance under the grant program to no more than 12 physicians and no more than 12 psychiatrists in a fiscal year. If more than 12 physicians or more than 12 psychiatrists apply for participation in the grant program in a fiscal year, the board shall consider the order in which those applications are received and the health professional shortage area score, as determined by the health resources and services administration of the federal department of health and human services, of the underserved area in which the applicant is practicing primary care medicine or psychiatry in selecting participants in the grant program.

39.385(4)(a)3. 3. An individual physician or psychiatrist may receive financial assistance under the grant program in no more than 3 fiscal years.

39.385(4)(b) (b) A physician or psychiatrist may apply for participation in the grant program by submitting an application to the board in a form prescribed by the board. A physician or psychiatrist may submit that application while the physician or psychiatrist is participating in a graduate medical education training program described in sub. (3) (b). The application shall include such information as the board may require to establish that the physician or psychiatrist meets the eligibility requirements specified in sub. (3) for participation in the grant program and any other information the board may require by rule promulgated under sub. (5).

39.385(4)(c) (c) After each year in which a physician or psychiatrist who has been accepted for participation in the grant program practices primary care medicine or psychiatry in an underserved area in this state, the physician or psychiatrist may submit to the board a claim for financial assistance. The claim shall include the signature of the physician or psychiatrist and of a representative of the practice in which the physician or psychiatrist is employed or otherwise affiliated certifying that during the period for which financial assistance is claimed the physician or psychiatrist practiced primary care medicine or psychiatry in an underserved area in this state and such other information as the board may require by rule promulgated under sub. (5) to verify the physician’s or psychiatrist’s eligibility for financial assistance.

39.385(4)(d) (d) If the board determines that a physician or psychiatrist who submits a claim for financial assistance under par. (c) is eligible to receive that assistance, the board shall provide that assistance, subject to the amounts available in the appropriation account under s. 20.235 (1) (fp).

39.385(5) (5) Rules. The board shall promulgate rules to implement and administer this section. Those rules shall include rules specifying the information a physician or psychiatrist must include in an application for participation in the grant program under sub. (4) (b) and in a claim for financial assistance under sub. (4) (c).

39.385 History History: 2013 a. 128; 2017 a. 59.

39.389 39.389 Veterinary loan repayment grant program.

39.389(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

39.389(1)(a) (a) “Eligible applicant” means an individual to whom, at the time of application for the grant program, any of the following applies:

39.389(1)(a)1. 1. The individual is enrolled in an accredited school of veterinary medicine and has completed sufficient credits in a program leading to the degree of doctor of veterinary medicine to be in the final year of the program.

39.389(1)(a)2. 2. The individual was awarded the degree of doctor of veterinary medicine from an accredited school of veterinary medicine within the immediately preceding 7-year period.

39.389(1)(b) (b) “Farm animal” means any warm-blooded animal normally raised on farms in the United States and used or intended for use as food or fiber.

39.389(1)(c) (c) “Grant program” means the veterinary loan repayment grant program under this section.

39.389(1)(d) (d) “Rural county” has the meaning given in s. 39.399 (1g) (a).

39.389(1)(e) (e) “Veterinarian” has the meaning given in s. 89.02 (7).

39.389(2) (2) Establishment of program. There is established, to be administered by the board, a veterinary loan repayment grant program to provide financial assistance to veterinarians employed in rural counties in repaying educational loan obligations incurred to become qualified to practice veterinary medicine in this state.

39.389(3) (3) Grant awards.

39.389(3)(a) (a) Subject to pars. (b) and (c) and sub. (4), the board may award grants under this section to eligible applicants if all of the following apply at the time the grant is awarded:

39.389(3)(a)1. 1. The eligible applicant has an outstanding balance of at least $25,000 in educational debt incurred in connection with pursuing or obtaining the degree of doctor of veterinary medicine.

39.389(3)(a)2. 2. The eligible applicant has secured or committed to secure full-time employment as a veterinarian for at least one year in a rural county.

39.389(3)(b) (b) Subject to sub. (4), the total amount of a grant awarded under this section may not exceed the lesser of the following:

39.389(3)(b)1. 1. The total outstanding balance of the educational debt that the eligible applicant incurred in connection with pursuing or obtaining the degree of doctor of veterinary medicine.

39.389(3)(b)2. 2. For each year that the eligible applicant has secured or committed to secure full-time employment as a veterinarian in a rural county, $25,000, but not exceeding a total grant award of $100,000.

39.389(3)(c) (c) Grants awarded under this section may be used only to repay educational debt incurred in connection with pursuing or obtaining the degree of doctor of veterinary medicine.

39.389(4) (4) Grant payments. The board shall pay grant awards annually until the total amount of the grant awarded under sub. (3) (b) has been paid, with no annual payment exceeding $25,000. The board may not make an annual payment of a grant award unless the eligible applicant has satisfied all of the following requirements:

39.389(4)(a) (a) The eligible applicant completed the year of full-time employment as a veterinarian in a rural county.

39.389(4)(b) (b) During the year described in par. (a), the eligible applicant provided at least 50 percent of his or her employed veterinary care to farm animals.

39.389 History History: 2025 a. 177.

39.39 39.39 Nursing student stipend loans.

39.39(1) (1) 

39.39(1)(a) (a) There is established, to be administered by the board, a stipend loan program for resident students, including registered nurses, who are:

39.39(1)(a)1. 1. Enrolled in the 2nd year in a program leading to an associate degree in nursing in a technical college.

39.39(1)(a)2. 2. Enrolled as juniors in a program leading to a bachelor’s degree in nursing in this state.

39.39(1)(a)3. 3. Enrolled as 3rd year students in a program leading to a diploma in nursing in this state.

39.39(1)(a)4. 4. Enrolled as seniors in a program leading to a bachelor’s degree in nursing in this state.

39.39(1)(a)5. 5. Enrolled in a program leading to a master’s degree in nursing in this state and who intend to teach nursing at an institution of higher education located in this state.

39.39(2) (2) The board shall:

39.39(2)(a) (a) Make stipend loans from the appropriations under s. 20.235 (1) (cg) and (gg).

39.39(2)(b) (b) Promulgate rules to administer this section, including rules establishing loan amounts and the criteria and procedures for loan forgiveness and for selecting loan recipients. Loan recipients shall be selected on the basis of financial need, as determined by the board, using the need analysis methodology used under s. 39.435.

39.39(3) (3) Beginning in the 1991-92 fiscal year, $15,000 annually shall be awarded under sub. (1) (a) 5. for stipend loans.

39.39(4) (4) The board may not make any original stipend loans under this section.

39.39 History History: 1987 a. 399; 1989 a. 56; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 399; 1995 a. 27; 1997 a. 27; 2023 a. 80.

39.39 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. HEA 8, Wis. adm. code.

39.393 39.393 Nursing student loan program.

39.393(1) (1) The board shall establish a loan program to defray the cost of tuition, fees, and expenses for persons enrolled in any of the following:

39.393(1)(a) (a) A program in this state that confers an associate degree in nursing.

39.393(1)(b) (b) A program in this state that confers a bachelor’s degree in nursing.

39.393(1)(c) (c) A program in this state that confers a 2nd degree that will make the person eligible for licensure under s. 441.06 or 441.10.

39.393(1)(d) (d) A program in this state that confers a diploma in nursing.

39.393(1)(e) (e) A program in this state that confers a master’s degree in nursing.

39.393(1)(f) (f) A program in this state that confers a doctoral degree in nursing.

39.393(2) (2) Beginning in the 2002-03 fiscal year, the board shall make loans under this section from the appropriation under s. 20.235 (1) (cm). The maximum amount of loan for a person during any fiscal year is $3,000. The maximum that a person may receive under this section is $15,000. The board shall ensure that the terms of the loan do not require a loan recipient to repay the loan while the recipient is enrolled in a program under sub. (1).

39.393(3) (3) After the recipient of a loan under sub. (1) has completed the program described in sub. (1), the board shall forgive 25 percent of the loan’s principal and interest after the first full year and 25 percent of the loan’s principal and interest after the 2nd full year that the recipient has been employed full time in this state as a nurse or nurse educator. The board may forgive loans on a prorated basis for persons who are employed less than full time.

39.393(4) (4) The board shall promulgate rules to implement and administer this section.

39.393 History History: 2001 a. 16; 2005 a. 368; 2013 a. 114.

39.395 39.395 Nurse educators.

39.395(1) (1) In this section, “institution of higher education” means an institution or college campus within the University of Wisconsin System, a technical college within the technical college system, or a private, nonprofit institution of higher education located in this state.

39.395(2) (2) Subject to sub. (3), the board shall establish a program that provides all of the following:

39.395(2)(a) (a) Fellowships for students who enroll in doctor of nursing practice, doctor of philosophy in nursing, or master of science in nursing degree programs in an institution of higher education.

39.395(2)(b) (b) Postdoctoral fellowships to recruit faculty for nursing programs in an institution of higher education.

39.395(2)(c) (c) Educational loan repayment assistance to recruit and retain faculty for nursing programs in an institution of higher education.

39.395(3) (3) The program established under sub. (2) shall require individuals who receive fellowships under sub. (2) (a) or (b) or assistance under sub. (2) (c) to make a commitment to teach for at least 3 consecutive years in a nursing program at an institution of higher education.

39.395(4) (4) Costs associated with the program established under sub. (2) shall be funded from the appropriation under s. 20.235 (1) (co).

39.395 History History: 2021 a. 58.

39.397 39.397 School leadership loan program.

39.397(1) (1) The board shall establish a loan program for students selected by the board in a competitive application process who meet all of the following requirements:

39.397(1)(a) (a) Are enrolled in a school leadership program at an institution of the University of Wisconsin System that permits students to earn degrees in less time than a traditional school leadership program and that includes a required mentorship or apprenticeship component.

39.397(1)(b) (b) Are nominated by a superintendent of a school district.

39.397(2) (2) 

39.397(2)(a) (a) Loans under sub. (1) shall be made from the appropriation under s. 20.235 (1) (cu). Except as provided in par. (b), loans under sub. (1) shall be repaid at an annual interest rate of 5 percent.

39.397(2)(b) (b) The board shall forgive 25 percent of the loan and 25 percent of the interest on the loan for each school year the recipient satisfies all of the following:

39.397(2)(b)1. 1. The recipient is employed in a school leadership position in an elementary or secondary school in this state.

39.397(2)(b)2. 2. The recipient receives a rating of proficient or distinguished on the educator effectiveness system or the equivalent in a school that does not use the educator effectiveness system.

39.397(3) (3) The board shall deposit in the general fund as general purpose revenue-earned all repayments of loans made under sub. (1) and the interest on the loans.

39.397 History History: 2017 a. 59.

39.398 39.398 Teachers and orientation and mobility instructors of visually impaired pupils loan program.

39.398(1) (1) 

39.398(1)(a) (a) The board shall establish a loan program to defray the cost of tuition, fees and expenses for residents of this state enrolled in a program that prepares persons to be licensed as teachers of visually impaired pupils or as orientation and mobility instructors, as defined by the board by rule, at an accredited institution of higher education in this state or in a physically adjacent state, as defined in s. 175.46 (1) (d). To the extent possible, the board shall give preference, to persons who are likely to return to this state to work with visually impaired persons.

39.398(1)(b) (b) The board shall make loans under this section from the appropriation under s. 20.235 (1) (cx). The maximum amount of a loan for a person during any fiscal year is $10,000. The maximum amount that a person may receive under this section is $40,000. The terms of the loan shall provide that a loan recipient is not required to repay the loan while the loan recipient is enrolled in the preparatory program described in par. (a).

39.398(2) (2) 

39.398(2)(a) (a) After the recipient of a loan under sub. (1) has completed the preparatory program described in sub. (1), the board shall forgive 25 percent of the loan’s principal and interest for the first fiscal year, 25 percent of the loan’s principal and interest for the 2nd fiscal year and 50 percent of the loan’s principal and interest for the 3rd fiscal year that the recipient is licensed and employed full-time in this state as a teacher of visually impaired pupils or as an orientation and mobility instructor by a school district, the Wisconsin Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired or a cooperative educational service agency. The board may forgive loans on a prorated basis for persons employed less than full-time.

39.398(2)(b) (b) The board shall promulgate rules to administer this section.

39.398 History History: 1999 a. 144.

39.398 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. HEA 14, Wis. adm. code.

39.399 39.399 Teacher loan program.

39.399(1g) (1g) In this section:

39.399(1g)(a) (a) “Rural county” means a county that satisfies all of the following:

39.399(1g)(a)1. 1. The county does not include any urbanized area.