An act REGARDING HIGHER EDUCATION, the official text

Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.

1 State of Arkansas          As Engrossed: H3/10/25
2 95th General Assembly
                                   A Bill

3 Regular Session, 2025                                           HOUSE BILL 1601

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5 By: Representatives L. Johnson, McGruder

6 By: Senator J. Dotson

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8                            For An Act To Be Entitled

9   AN ACT REGARDING HIGHER EDUCATION; TO REQUIRE STATE-

10  SUPPORTED INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION TO PROVIDE

11  CAREER COUNSELING AND OTHER RESOURCES TO CERTAIN

12  STUDENTS; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

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15                                          Subtitle

16                       TO REQUIRE STATE-SUPPORTED INSTITUTIONS

17                       OF HIGHER EDUCATION TO PROVIDE CAREER

18                       COUNSELING AND OTHER RESOURCES TO

19                       CERTAIN STUDENTS.

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21 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:

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23  SECTION 1. Arkansas Code Title 6, Chapter 60, Subchapter 1, is amended

24 to add an additional section to read as follows:

25  6-60-123. Requirement for career counseling and other career-related

26 resources -- Definition.

27  (a) As used in this section, "career-related resources" includes

28 without limitation information about:

29  (1) Available career and technical training; and

30  (2) Trade industries that provide employment opportunities.

31  (b) The Division of Higher Education shall maintain an accessible

32 location on its website with a link for career counseling and other career-

33 related resources that are available to students and provided by state-

34 supported institutions of higher education.

35  (c) A state-supported institution of higher education shall:

36  (1) Maintain on its website a link to the division's career

    *CRH143*                                                      03-10-2025 11:41:25 CRH143
    As Engrossed: H3/10/25                                   HB1601

1 counseling and other career-related resources available to students; and

2   (2) Take appropriate steps to inform students of career

3 counseling and other career-related resources, including without limitation

4 how to access the information at the state-supported institution of higher

5 education and from the division.

6   (d) The career counseling and other career-related services offered by

7 a state-supported institution of higher education shall remain available to a

8 student who has not yet graduated for up to six (6) months after the student

9 is no longer enrolled at the state-supported institution of higher education,

10 upon request.

11  (e) This section does not apply to a concurrently enrolled student or

12 a student who has enrolled at a subsequent institution of higher education.

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14                                  /s/L. Johnson

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