AR HB2284

Adds definition of "two-year approved institution of higher education" to include technical colleges, community colleges, branch campuses of four-year institutions, and nursing schools under the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship Program.

Changes the effective academic year for the four-year scholarship award amount from 2011-2012 to 2013-2014, establishing the award at $4,500 annually for full-time traditional or nontraditional recipients.

Repeals the provision that set scholarship awards at one-half the four-year institution amount for students at two-year institutions and nursing schools, replacing it with a new tiered distribution schedule based on ACT scores and GPA requirements.

Creates new section 6-85-222 establishing detailed semester-by-semester scholarship distributions ranging from $1,000 to $4,500 annually depending on institution type, student academic qualifications, and year of enrollment.

Declares an emergency effective immediately due to the June 1, 2013 scholarship application deadline, requiring the Department of Higher Education to implement rules before that date.