AR HB1413

Expands three lottery-funded scholarship programs (Arkansas Academic Challenge, Arkansas Workforce Challenge, and Arkansas Concurrent Challenge) to include public and private vocational-technical schools and technical institutes as approved institutions of higher education.

Requires vocational-technical schools and technical institutes to be bonded and insured to participate in the scholarship programs.

Limits scholarship eligibility at vocational-technical schools and technical institutes to students in associate degree or certificate programs in high-demand fields: Industry, Health Care, or Information Technology.

Requires the Division of Higher Education to file annual reports to the Legislative Council by November 1 detailing state-supported financial assistance awarded to students at vocational-technical schools and technical institutes, and recommendations for adding or removing eligible high-demand fields.

Repeals a provision in the Concurrent Challenge Scholarship Program that prohibited students whose vocational center enrollment is reimbursable under another statute from receiving scholarships.