LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - A legislative panel is recommending cuts in the level of lottery funded-scholarships.

The Legislative Lottery Oversight Committee on Tuesday voted to recommend trimming scholarship awards to $3,300 for university students and $1,650 for community college students.

If approved in the coming session, the new amounts would take hold in the 2013-2014 school year. Presently, lottery scholarship recipients get $4,500 or $2,250.

"That $1,000 dollars can make all the difference. It can make it between having it paid and having to take out a loan. It makes that big difference," said Mills High School senior Cassie Lawhorn.

Legislators say the popularity of the scholarships and reduced revenues make the cuts necessary.

"The amount of money that we have coming in that's available for scholarships is not at a level that can currently support the scholarship amounts that we have in place now," Senator Johnny Key, R - Mountain Home.

The lottery was approved by Arkansas voters in 2008 and sales began in September 2009. Lottery tickets are sold at about 1,900 businesses and are available in all 75 Arkansas counties.

Lottery officials said earlier this month that it's awarded $300 million in scholarship money since its inception.

Max Seigle will have more information on these cuts tonight on THV 11 News at 10.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.