§ 17-29-604 - Application -- Certification -- Priorities.

17-29-604. Application -- Certification -- Priorities.

(a) Any resident of the State of Arkansas desiring to obtain an assistance grant under the provisions of this subchapter may make application to the Department of Health containing such information as the department shall deem necessary to determine the eligibility of the applicant to participate in the program.

(b) In order to qualify for an assistance grant, the applicant shall have served a one-year apprenticeship in the State of Arkansas under the supervision of an Arkansas-licensed funeral director and licensed embalmer prior to enrollment in an accredited college of funeral service education.

(c) If the applicant is found to be a bona fide resident of Arkansas and has served the apprenticeship, the department shall certify the student as qualified to participate under the program established in this subchapter to the extent that funds are available.

(d) The names of all qualified applicants shall be kept on a register in the order in which their application was received by the board of trustees. Applicants who have been accepted for admission by accredited colleges of funeral service education outside the state shall be given priority in receiving benefits under the provisions of this subchapter, to the extent that funds are available therefor, in the order in which the applications appear on the register maintained by the department.