SB323 Summary

• Appropriates $16,000,000 from the General Improvement Fund to the Department of Finance and Administration - Disbursing Officer for work college grants, distributed equally at $2,000,000 each to eight Arkansas Economic Development Districts.

• Eligible uses of funds include personal services, operating expenses, scholarships, research, education and math/science coursework, athletic programs, land and equipment acquisition, and infrastructure improvements including construction, renovation, and site development.

• Work colleges must be defined by U.S.C. Title 42, Section 2756b and be part of the Work Colleges Consortium to receive grants.

• Recipients may supplement state funds with grants, donations, federal funds, and unobligated cash income, but existing maintenance and operations funds cannot be diverted to these purposes.

• Effective July 1, 2015, with emergency clause declared to ensure immediate agency operation.