(a) A soldier or airman of the Arkansas National Guard may attend a state-supported institution of higher education tuition-free if the soldier or airman:
(1) Is an Arkansas resident;
(2) Has completed initial active duty training and, except as provided in subsection (f) of this section, is in good standing as an active soldier or airman of the Arkansas National Guard;
(3) Has been accepted to and is enrolled in a state-supported institution of higher education as a student in good standing;
(4) Completed and submitted to the United States Department of Education a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA);
(5) Submitted applications for:
(A) Federal and state grants and scholarships for which the soldier or airman is eligible; and
(B) Grants and scholarships awarded by the state-supported institution of higher education in which the soldier or airman is enrolled;
(6) Is enrolled in a program of study leading to an undergraduate degree; and
(7) Has not received a bachelor's degree.
(b) The tuition-free benefit under this section shall not apply to:
(1) High school students concurrently enrolled in a state-supported institution of higher education; or
(2) Programs of study in which the courses are taken exclusively online.
(c)
(1) The tuition-free benefit under this section is available for a maximum of one hundred twenty (120) semester credit hours.
(2) Semester credit hours taken in remedial courses shall be included in the maximum number of semester hours under subdivision (c)(1) of this section.
(d) To remain eligible to receive the tuition-free benefit under this section, a soldier or airman:
(1) Shall maintain satisfactory academic progress as determined by the state-supported institution of higher education in which the soldier or airman is enrolled; and
(2) Shall not drop more than six (6) semester credit hours during the period in which the soldier or airman receives the tuition-free benefit under this section unless dropping the courses is necessitated by a:
(A) Mobilization that interrupts the enrollment of the soldier or airman in the state-supported institution of higher education; or
(B) Medical reason approved by the Adjutant General.
(e) The State of Arkansas shall reimburse a state-supported institution of higher education for the remainder of tuition expenses that are not covered by funding sources under subsection (a) of this section for each soldier and airman of the Arkansas National Guard who enrolls in the state-supported institution of higher education under subsection (a) of this section.
(f)
(1) In the event of a nonmedical discharge or a medical discharge that is not caused by an illness or injury related to the performance of duties for the Arkansas National Guard, the soldier or airman is eligible to receive the tuition-free benefit under this section from the date of discharge and for the longer of:
(A) One (1) semester; or
(B) A period of time equal to the length of a mobilization, if any, that interrupted the enrollment of the soldier or airman in a state-supported institution of higher education while receiving the tuition-free benefit under this section.
(2) In the event of medical discharge or medical retirement as a result of illness or injury incurred in the line of duty as the result of a state or federal activation or a terrorist action as determined by the Governor, the soldier or airman is eligible to receive the tuition benefit under this section beginning from the date of discharge or retirement and either until completion of the degree program in which the member of the Arkansas National Guard is enrolled or for five (5) years, whichever occurs first.
(g) Payments for the tuition-free benefit under this section shall be made directly to the state-supported institution of higher education on behalf of and for the benefit of the soldier or airman in a manner established by rule of the Adjutant General.
(h)
(1) The Adjutant General, in coordination with the Division of Higher Education, shall promulgate rules for the implementation of this section, including without limitation rules for the eligibility of soldiers and airmen.
(2) The Department of the Military and the division shall meet regularly to monitor and measure the success of this section, including without limitation to assess graduation rates of the soldiers and airmen under this section.
(i) The cost of a soldier's or airman's mandatory fees charged by an institution of higher education that the soldier or airman is attending may be paid for with available funds allocated by the division for the tuition-free program under this section.