SB10 Summary: Department of Higher Education Appropriation FY 2018-2019

• Establishes maximum of 45 regular employees and authorizes up to 15 temporary/part-time "Extra Help" positions for the Department of Higher Education general operations with total appropriation of $3,817,049 for FY 2018-2019.

• Appropriates $65,050,000 for student assistance grants and scholarships including Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarships ($25,000,000), Arkansas Governor's Scholar program ($15,200,000), and Higher Education Opportunities Grants ($6,000,000).

• Appropriates $6,567,770 for health education grants and loans in dentistry, optometry, veterinary medicine, chiropractic, and podiatry fields to support Arkansas citizens attending out-of-state institutions.

• Appropriates $54,512,702 for Outcome-Centered Funding Awards to universities ($40,320,284) and colleges ($14,192,418) and $8,000,000 for Workforce Initiative Act of 2015 expenses.

• Restricts publicly supported higher education institutions from using appropriated funds to promote enrollment in Arkansas Health Insurance Marketplace or Arkansas Works Program, with limited exceptions for direct communications and educational materials.