MS SB3165

Appropriates $5,968,097.00 from the State General Fund and $6,879,017.00 from special funds to the State Department of Audit for fiscal year 2011 (July 1, 2010 - June 30, 2011), totaling $12,847,114.00.

Authorizes 162 permanent full-time positions, 13 permanent part-time positions, 14 time-limited full-time positions, and establishes salary/fringe benefits cap of $9,953,181.00.

Designates $115,000.00 and 10 positions for a paid internship program for accounting students pursuing bachelor's or master's degrees, and $30,000.00 for CPA review course fees for State Auditor employees.

Authorizes the State Department of Audit to escalate up to 5 positions and expend up to $500,000.00 from special sources for auditing emergency Hurricane Katrina-related HUD grants.

Requires the agency to compile and publicly release cellular phone usage records for all assigned wireless devices, maintain accounting records matching fiscal year 2010 format, and imposes restrictions on hiring former state retirees as contractors exceeding $20,000 annually without prior board approval.