The proposed resolution seeks to amend the Arkansas Constitution to allow lottery proceeds to be utilized for funding scholarships and grants specifically for Arkansas citizens enrolled in vocational-technical schools and technical institutes. The amendment modifies Article 19, Section 14(b) of the Constitution, stipulating that lottery funds can be allocated not only for operating expenses and prizes but also for educational support at certified institutions, which include public and private nonprofit two-year and four-year colleges, vocational-technical schools, and technical institutes. The General Assembly will establish eligibility criteria for recipients of these scholarships and grants.
If approved by a majority of voters in the next general election, the amendment will take effect on January 1, 2025. The resolution includes a ballot title and popular name for the amendment, which emphasizes its purpose of providing financial assistance to students pursuing vocational and technical education in Arkansas.