MS HB1503

Appropriates $3,981,001.00 from the State General Fund to the Mississippi Authority for Educational Television for fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017 – June 30, 2018).

Appropriates $11,668,748.00 from special funds to the Authority, including $2,118,966.00 from the Education Enhancement Fund.

Authorizes 110 permanent full-time positions and 11 time-limited full-time positions for the Authority.

Establishes performance targets for fiscal year 2018 including 500 locally produced TV programs, 2,080 radio programs, 322,000 weekly website users, and 1,500 children using the Between the Lions literacy initiative.

Requires the Authority to maintain broadcast schedules for educational and instructional programming as the primary use of funds and prohibits using appropriated funds for public relations activities of other state agencies.