MS HB1646

Appropriates $1,321,735.00 from the State General Fund to the Mississippi Arts Commission for fiscal year 2017 (July 1, 2016 - June 30, 2017).

Appropriates $1,606,524.00 from special funds and donations to the Mississippi Arts Commission for the same fiscal period.

Authorizes 11 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 ($178,000), and miscellaneous grants and programs ($272,000).

Establishes the Arts Commission Challenge Initiative Fund to hold designated Challenge Program dollars with no year-end lapse, allowing grants to arts organizations on the condition that grantees provide matching funds of at least 2 times the grant amount.