A plan to spend $1.1 million from a state reserve fund to pay for scholarships in health fields has won the approval of a legislative panel.
A subcommittee of the Legislative Council endorsed a proposal by Gov. Mike Beebe to use the money to pay tuition for 47 students seeking health-related degrees that aren't offered in Arkansas.
The fields include dentistry, optometry and veterinary medicine.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports the grants were cut due to a lack of funding.
Legislators said they want to develop a long-term funding plan during the 2014 fiscal legislative session.
Dwindling reserves for the state's scholarship programs have led to a reduction of 4,800 scholarship spots for new Arkansas students.
The health scholarship plan still needs approval from the full Legislative Council.