AR SB85

Appropriates $4,389,045 from the Department of Higher Education Fund Account for general operations, including $2,306,155 in regular salaries for 54 employees and $295,000 for statewide scholarship promotion.

Appropriates $67,450,000 from the Higher Education Grants Fund Account for student assistance grants and scholarships, including Arkansas Future Grant ($9,000,000), Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarships ($25,000,000), and Governor's Scholar Program ($22,000,000).

Appropriates $7,117,770 for health education grants and loans in fields including dentistry, optometry, veterinary medicine, and podiatry for Arkansas citizens attending out-of-state institutions.

Authorizes 54 full-time regular employees and 15 part-time/temporary "Extra Help" employees for Division of Higher Education general operations; establishes 75 full-time positions and 135 temporary positions for Northwest Technical Institute.

Includes special language provisions for emergency grants, resource reallocation by institutions, financial aid programs, and restrictions on higher education institution use of appropriations for promoting Arkansas Health Insurance Marketplace and Arkansas Works Program enrollment.