House Bill 1542 Summary

• Appropriates $19,453,087 from the State General Fund and $13,210,701 from special funds to the State Forestry Commission for fiscal year 2016 (July 1, 2015 - June 30, 2016).

• Authorizes 450 permanent full-time positions, 2 permanent part-time positions, and 7 time-limited full-time positions for the commission.

• Creates three revolving funds: Forest Improvement Revolving Fund ($250,000), Volunteer Fire Department Equipment Conversion Revolving Fund (up to $50,000), and Camden State Forest Revolving Fund for ongoing forest management activities.

• Allocates $350,000 for the Mississippi Institute of Forest Inventory and directs $200,000 to the Department of Agriculture and Commerce for the Beaver Control or Eradication Program.

• Establishes performance targets for fiscal year 2016 including 1,562 forest fires, 20,950 total acres burned, assistance to 9,752 private landowners, and re-inventory of 20% of state forest land regions.