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Title II — Wildlife and zoological veterinary medicine educational development

H.R. 2796 · 113th Congress · Jul 23, 2013 · Lineage

II Wildlife and zoological veterinary medicine educational development

Sec. 201 Grants to accredited schools and colleges of veterinary medicine for curricula in wildlife and zoological veterinary medicine

(a)
Establishment— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish a pilot program to award grants to accredited schools and colleges of veterinary medicine to develop or improve new or existing curricula that specialize in wildlife or zoological veterinary medicine, to be available to veterinary students in the final years of a program for which the accredited schools or colleges of veterinary medicine award a doctoral degree in veterinary medicine.
(b)
Eligibility— To be eligible for a grant under this section, an accredited school or college of veterinary medicine shall submit to the Secretary a proposal—
(1)
at such time and in such form and manner as the Secretary may require; and
(2)
containing such information as the Secretary may require, including a description of—
(A)
the proposed curriculum in wildlife or zoological veterinary medicine under subsection (a); and
(B)
how the accredited school or college of veterinary medicine will use funds provided under the grant.
(c)
Award— The Secretary shall establish procedures to ensure that proposals are rigorously reviewed and that grants are competitively awarded.
(d)
Amount— The Secretary shall determine the amount of a grant awarded to an accredited school or college of veterinary medicine under this section, taking into account such factors as the Secretary considers appropriate, including—
(1)
the contents of the proposal submitted by the eligible accredited school or college of veterinary medicine under subsection (b); and
(2)
the number of grants available to all accredited schools or colleges of veterinary medicine.
(e)
Use of grant funds— Amounts received under a grant under this section shall be used to pay expenses related to the curriculum described in subsection (b)(2)(A) that are determined by the Secretary to be appropriate, including the expense of—
(1)
developing the curriculum;
(2)
paying for the costs associated with the development of the curriculum, including faculty salaries and the costs of acquisition of material and equipment; and
(3)
providing the curriculum.
(f)
Reports—
(1)
Grantees— At the end of each calendar year, each school that has received a grant under this section for such year shall submit to the Secretary a report, in such form and manner and containing such information as the Secretary may require, on the effectiveness of the curriculum developed by the school.
(2)
Secretary— Not later than 6 months after completion of the pilot program established under subsection (a), the Secretary shall evaluate the curriculum developed by each school that has received a grant under this section and submit to Congress a report on the pilot program—
(A)
in such form and manner as Congress may require; and
(B)
containing such information as Congress may require, including—
(i)
the names of the accredited schools and colleges of veterinary medicine that received a grant under this section;
(ii)
the number of students enrolled in each curriculum developed with grant funds;
(iii)
a description of each curriculum developed with grant funds;
(iv)
an assessment of the effectiveness of the pilot program; and
(v)
the recommendations of the Secretary regarding the extension or expansion of the pilot program.
(g)
Authorization of appropriations— There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2013 through 2017. Amounts appropriated under this subsection are authorized to remain available until expended.

Sec. 202 Grants to develop training programs in wildlife and zoological veterinary medicine

(a)
In general— The Secretary shall award competitive grants to eligible wildlife or veterinary institutions to establish or expand, for traineeship candidates, training programs that will enhance the ability of a trainee to practice as a wildlife or zoological veterinarian, as determined by the Secretary of the Interior. Such training programs may include externship, internship, fellowship, or residency programs.
(b)
Eligible wildlife or veterinary institution— To be eligible for a grant under this section, a wildlife or veterinary institution shall submit to the Secretary a proposal designed to create or expand one or more training programs for traineeship candidates. The proposal—
(1)
shall be submitted at such time and in such form and manner as the Secretary may require; and
(2)
shall contain such information as the Secretary may require, including a description of—
(A)
each training program to be created or expanded;
(B)
the skills to be imparted by each training program;
(C)
how the wildlife or veterinary institution will use the funds provided under a grant; and
(D)
how each training program will help a trainee advance conservation and management goals for wildlife or zoological animal populations.
(c)
Consideration of proposals—
(1)
Preference— In awarding a grant under this section, the Secretary shall give preference to an eligible wildlife or veterinary institution offering a training program—
(A)
at rotating sites, particularly in the case of a residency program; and
(B)
under which trainees conduct research and teach veterinary students.
(2)
Procedures— The Secretary shall establish procedures to ensure that proposals are rigorously reviewed and that grants are competitively awarded.
(d)
Traineeship candidate— For purposes of this section, an individual shall be treated as a traineeship candidate if the individual—
(1)
is a citizen of the United States, a national, or a lawful permanent resident;
(2)
expresses a profound interest in wildlife or zoological veterinary medicine and a commitment to becoming a wildlife or zoological veterinarian; and
(3)
has submitted to a wildlife or veterinary institution offering a training program under subsection (a) an application for the training program containing such information as may be required by the wildlife or veterinary institution.
(e)
Financial assistance under training program— Under a training program, a trainee shall, for the duration of the training program, be provided with—
(1)
a stipend, in an amount based on criteria to be determined by the wildlife or veterinary institution, including—
(A)
the type and length of the training program;
(B)
the responsibilities assigned to the trainee as part of the training program;
(C)
the academic level or degree held by the trainee; and
(D)
the relevant experience of the trainee; and
(2)
such other financial assistance as the wildlife or veterinary institution determines necessary and is approved by the Secretary.
(f)
Approval of placement under training program—
(1)
In general— No traineeship candidate shall be placed in a training program without the approval of the Secretary.
(2)
Notice— A traineeship candidate shall be informed of placement in a training program upon approval by the Secretary.
(g)
Amount of grant— The Secretary shall determine the amount of a grant awarded under this section for a training program, taking into account such factors as the Secretary considers appropriate, including—
(1)
the type of training that the wildlife or veterinary institution desires to create or expand;
(2)
the contents of the proposal submitted by the wildlife or veterinary institution under subsection (b); and
(3)
the number of grants available to all wildlife or veterinary institutions.
(h)
Use of grant funds— Under this section, amounts received under a grant shall be applied to such costs as the Secretary considers appropriate for the planning, development, and operation of the training program, including the costs associated with—
(1)
the development of the curriculum to be used in the program;
(2)
practicum experiences;
(3)
the acquisition of new equipment; and
(4)
the stipend and other financial assistance provided to the trainee under subsection (e).
(i)
Authorization of appropriations— There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2013 through 2017. Amounts appropriated under this subsection are authorized to remain available until expended.