This bill amends the Tobacco Settlement Proceeds Act to establish a grant program for school-based health centers, specifically targeting minority-majority school districts. The Arkansas Minority Health Commission is directed to administer this program, which will receive an annual allocation of $500,000 from the Targeted State Needs Program Account. The bill outlines that the distribution of funds will align with existing programs that support school-based health centers, ensuring that the rules governing this new grant program are similar to those of the Arkansas School-Based Health Center Grant Program.

Additionally, the bill defines "minority-majority school district" as a district where members of a racial or ethnic minority constitute the majority of the population. The Arkansas Minority Health Commission is tasked with establishing rules for the grant program and must file these rules with the Secretary of State by January 1, 2026, or as soon as practicable after receiving necessary approvals. This legislative effort aims to enhance health services in schools serving predominantly minority populations, thereby addressing health disparities in these communities.

Statutes affected:
HB 1402: 19-12-110(c), 19-12-114