(WMC-TV) - A proposed bill in Arkansas would require students who do not graduate, to pay back their lottery scholarship money.
The Lottery Scholarship program is a dream come true for thousands of college students.
But, in Arkansas the program lost $42 million dollars in the past two years due to college dropouts.
Arkansas State Representative Kim Hammer filed the payback bill to help the state recoup some money.
"He's trying to get to retention," said Hammer.
There are legal questions that include whether an individual can be asked to repay a scholarship or grant.
The payback bill would cost the state a half million dollars to hire more staff and a collection agency. But, it could improve scholarship retention rates.
With only two years of lottery scholarship data to analyze, the Arkansas Department of Higher Ed is learning along the way.
Last year, more than $65,000 scholarships and grants were awarded to students across the state.
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