HB1723
To Amend Initiated Act 1 Of 2000, Also Known As The Tobacco Settlement Proceeds Act; And To Direct The Arkansas Minority Health Commission To Establish And Administer A Grant Program For School-based Health Centers.
Last Action (May 5, 2025): Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment.
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AI-Generated Summary
House Bill 1723 amends the Tobacco Settlement Proceeds Act to create a specific grant program for school-based health centers within the Arkansas Minority Health Commission. The bill mandates that $500,000 of the annual funding currently allocated to the Minority Health Initiative be redirected to this new grant program. These funds are restricted exclusively to school-based health centers located in minority-majority school districts. The Arkansas Minority Health Commission is tasked with administering this program and is required to establish rules that mirror existing standards used by the Arkansas School-Based Health Center Grant Program. The bill further sets a deadline for the adoption of these administrative rules by January 1, 2026.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
The primary beneficiaries are students and families within minority-majority school districts in Arkansas who will gain increased access to healthcare services through newly funded school-based health centers. The Arkansas Minority Health Commission also benefits as it gains the authority and funding to administer this new grant program.
Who Might Suffer?
The primary entity negatively impacted is the existing Minority Health Initiative, which will see a reduction of $500,000 in its annual budget due to the reallocation of funds to the new school-based health grant program. Other school districts that are not classified as minority-majority will not be eligible to apply for this specific source of funding.
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