CHAPTER 33
CHIROPRACTIC LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM
283—33.1(261) Chiropractic loan forgiveness program.
	33.1(1) The chiropractic loan forgiveness program is a state-supported and state-administered loan forgiveness program for Iowans who are chiropractors practicing in Iowa.
	33.1(2) Definition. As used in this chapter, “chiropractic practice” means working as a licensed chiropractor in the state of Iowa as certified by the state board of chiropractic under Iowa Code chapter 151.
283—33.2(261) Eligibility.
	33.2(1) Applicants must be:
	a. 	Residents of the state of Iowa; and
	b. 	Employed in chiropractic practice in Iowa.
	33.2(2) Applicants must complete and file annual applications for the chiropractic loan forgiveness program by the deadline established by the commission. If funds remain available after the application deadline, the commission will continue to accept applications.
	33.2(3) Applicants must annually complete and return to the commission affidavits of practice verifying that they are employed as licensed chiropractors in Iowa.
	33.2(4) Applicants must begin their first licensed chiropractic positions in Iowa on or after July 1, 2008.
283—33.3(261) Awarding of funds.
	33.3(1) Selection criteria. All applications received on or before the published deadline will be considered for funding. In the event that all applications for the program cannot be funded with the available appropriations, criteria for selection of recipients will be prioritized as follows.
	a. 	Applicant renewal status:
	(1)	Date of application;
	(2)	Applicant debt level;
	b. 	Full-time employment status:
	(1)	Date of application;
	(2)	Applicant debt level;
	c. 	Part-time employment status:
	(1)	Date of application;
	(2)	Applicant debt level.
	33.3(2) Annual award. The maximum annual award to an eligible chiropractor shall be the lesser of:
	a. 	The average resident tuition rate established for students attending universities governed by the Iowa board of regents for the first year following the chiropractor’s graduation from a college of chiropractic approved by the board of chiropractic in accordance with Iowa Code section 151.4; or
	b. 	Twenty percent of the chiropractor’s total federally guaranteed Stafford loan balance, including principal and interest, under the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) or the Federal Direct Loan Program (FDLP). Eligible loans include subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loans and consolidated loans. Only the outstanding portion of a Federal Consolidation Loan that was used to repay an eligible subsidized or unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan, an eligible Direct Subsidized Loan, or an eligible Direct Unsubsidized Loan qualifies for loan forgiveness.
	33.3(3) Extent of forgiveness. Recipients may receive loan forgiveness for no more than five consecutive years. Recipients who fail to complete five consecutive years as chiropractors in Iowa will not be considered for subsequent years of forgiveness.
	33.3(4)  Disbursement of loan forgiveness funds.
	a. 	Loan payments will be disbursed upon completion of the year for which forgiveness was approved and upon certification from the employer or by submission of an affidavit of practice that the chiropractor was employed during the entire year and completed the year in good standing.
	b. 	Loan proceeds will be distributed to the recipient’s student loan holder and applied directly to eligible loans. Unless otherwise instructed by the recipient, the holder will be instructed to apply the proceeds of the loan forgiveness program first to any outstanding unsubsidized Stafford loan balances, next to any outstanding subsidized Stafford loan balances, then to any eligible outstanding consolidation loan balances.
283—33.4(261) Loan forgiveness cancellation.
	33.4(1) Within 30 days following termination of employment as a chiropractor in Iowa, the recipient shall notify the commission of the nature of the chiropractor’s employment status.
	33.4(2) The chiropractor is responsible for notifying the commission immediately of a change in name, place of employment, home address, or lender.
283—33.5(261) Restrictions. A chiropractor who is in default on a Federal Stafford Loan, SLS Loan, Perkins/National Direct/National Defense Student Loan, Health Professions Student Loan (HPSL), or Health Education Assistance Loan (HEAL) or who owes a repayment on any Title IV grant assistance or state award shall be ineligible for loan forgiveness benefits. Eligibility for state aid may be reinstated upon payment in full of the delinquent obligation or by commission ruling on the basis of adequate extenuating evidence presented in appeal under the procedures set forth in 283—Chapters 4 and 5.
These rules are intended to implement 2008 Iowa Acts, House File 2679, section 34.
[Filed emergency 8/1/08—published 8/27/08, effective 8/1/08]