MS HB1597

Appropriates $1,211,976.00 from the State General Fund to the Mississippi Arts Commission for fiscal year July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2013.

Appropriates $1,330,600.00 from special source funds and donations to the Mississippi Arts Commission for the same fiscal period.

Authorizes 12 permanent full-time positions and 2 time-limited full-time positions for the commission.

Designates $450,000.00 from the Education Enhancement Fund for training educators, promoting arts programs in public schools ($100,000.00), and miscellaneous grants and programs ($350,000.00).

Establishes the Arts Commission Challenge Initiative Fund to receive Challenge Program dollars, with unexpended amounts authorized to carry over to subsequent fiscal years and grantees required to provide matching funds of at least two times the grant amount.