TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS CHALLENGE PLUS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.
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SB 648 — TO CREATE THE ARKANSAS CHALLENGE PLUS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM.
Last action — Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment.
No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.
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✓Introduced
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2In Committee
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3Passed Senate
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4Passed House
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5To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill died with 2021 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.
Bill Text
- SB 648 Current pdf
AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.
This bill creates the Arkansas Challenge Plus Scholarship Program as a new subchapter within Arkansas law.
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6-85-501
There is created and established the Arkansas Challenge Plus Scholarship Program.
This establishes the Arkansas Challenge Plus Scholarship Program.
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6-85-502
A student is eligible to receive an Arkansas Challenge Plus Scholarship under this subchapter for an academic semester or academic year if the student: (1) Applies for and maintains eligibility for a scholarship under the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship Program, § 6-85-201 et seq.; and (2) Demonstrates financial need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
This sets the eligibility criteria for the Arkansas Challenge Plus Scholarship.
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6-85-503
(a) An Arkansas Challenge Plus Scholarship under this subchapter shall be awarded to eligible applicants: (1) In addition to a scholarship awarded under the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship Program, § 6-85-201 et seq.; (2) Based on the amount of financial need as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); (3) As determined by the Division of Higher Education if sufficient funds are available; and (4)(A) In increments of one thousand dollars ($1,000) per eligible student per academic year, with a maximum of four thousand dollars ($4,000) per eligible student per academic year, as determined by the division.
This specifies how the scholarships will be awarded, including funding amounts and eligibility.
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6-85-503
(B) The sum of an Arkansas Challenge Plus Scholarship under this subchapter and an Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship under § 6-85-201 et seq. shall not exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) total per eligible student per academic year.
This establishes a cap on the total scholarship amount a student can receive.
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6-85-503
(C) Scholarship amounts awarded under this subchapter may vary each year depending on the amount of funding available.
This allows scholarship amounts to fluctuate based on funding.
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6-85-503(b)(1)
Arkansas Challenge Plus Scholarships under this subchapter shall be funded by available net proceeds remaining from the previous academic year after the Office of the Arkansas Lottery: (A) Transfers the funds requested by the division under § 23-115-801(c)(2); and (B) Deposits the amount necessary to maintain the Scholarship Shortfall Reserve Trust Account under § 23-115-802 in an amount equal to twenty million dollars ($20,000,000).
This details how the scholarship program will be funded from lottery proceeds.
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6-85-503(b)(2)
However, an Arkansas Challenge Plus Scholarship under this subchapter shall not be awarded for an academic year if: (A) Less than two hundred fifty thousand dollars ($250,000) is available under subsection (b)(1)(A) of this section; or (B) The division received a loan from the account under § 23-115-802 for the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship Program, § 6-85-201 et seq., for the previous academic year.
This sets conditions under which scholarships cannot be awarded.
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6-85-503(b)(3)
The total amount of scholarships awarded under this subchapter shall not exceed twenty-five million dollars ($25,000,000) for academic year 2021-2022.
This establishes a limit on the total scholarships awarded for the specified academic year.
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6-85-504
(a) The Division of Higher Education shall administer the Arkansas Challenge Plus Scholarship Program under this subchapter. (b) The division may promulgate rules to administer the program under this subchapter.
This assigns the administration of the program to the Division of Higher Education and allows for rule-making.
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SECTION 2
This act is effective on and after July 1, 2022.
This states the effective date of the new law.
Action History
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Died in Senate Committee at Sine Die adjournment.
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Read first time, rules suspended, read second time, referred to EDUCATION COMMITTEE - SENATE
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Filed
Sponsors
- Bragg · Primary
- L. Eads · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →2 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 136 not signed on
Sponsors (2)
- Bragg
- L. Eads
Co-sponsors (0)
None.
Not signed on (136)
136 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 136 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- Who sponsors SB 648?
- SB 648 is sponsored by Bragg and L. Eads.
- What is the current status of SB 648?
- This bill died with 2021 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
- Where can I track SB 648?
- Track SB 648 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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