MS HB1501

Appropriates $16,825,829.00 from the State General Fund and $9,904,792.00 from special funds to the State Forestry Commission for fiscal year 2012 (July 1, 2011 - June 30, 2012).

Authorizes 460 permanent full-time positions, 2 permanent part-time positions, 11 time-limited full-time positions, and allows up to 100 additional part-time positions for wildfire suppression during extreme fire conditions.

Establishes three revolving funds: Forest Improvement Fund ($250,000), Volunteer Fire Department Equipment Conversion Fund (capped at $50,000), and Camden State Forest Revolving Fund for forest management activities.

Authorizes the Mississippi Institute for Forest Inventory to accept and expend up to $1,000,000 from any source and escalate one full-time position.

Transfers $200,000 to the Department of Agriculture and Commerce for the Beaver Control or Eradication Program and establishes performance targets for forest protection and management activities.