The bill establishes two scholarship programs: the Rural Veterinary Student Scholarship Program and the Agri Scholarship Program, both administered by the Department of Agriculture. The Rural Veterinary Student Scholarship Program aims to encourage individuals pursuing veterinary medicine to practice in rural Arkansas, providing specialized training to meet the needs of livestock producers. The Agri Scholarship Program is designed to support students seeking degrees in agriculture-related fields. The bill also creates the Agri Scholarship Program Fund, which will consist of funds from private or public grants, gifts, and other authorized sources, to support these scholarship initiatives.

Key amendments to existing laws include the reallocation of funds collected under special revenue programs and civil penalties to support the new scholarship programs. Specifically, the bill modifies the distribution of moneys collected through civil penalties to ensure funding for the Agri Scholarship Program and the Rural Veterinary Student Scholarship Program. Additionally, the bill outlines the eligibility requirements for scholarship recipients, including agreements to work in underserved areas of Arkansas after graduation, and establishes the framework for the administration and funding of these scholarship programs.

Statutes affected:
SB 476: 2-16-203(b), 2-16-203(c), 19-6-429, 19-6-301(95), 25-38-212, 17-101-205
Act 706: 2-16-203(b), 2-16-203(c), 19-6-429, 19-6-301(95), 25-38-212, 17-101-205