MS HB1518

Appropriates $922,150.00 from the State General Fund and $19,756,477.00 from special funds to the Department of Marine Resources for fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017 - June 30, 2018), with $3,050,000.00 derived from state excise taxes on gasoline, oil, and petroleum products.

Authorizes 104 permanent full-time positions, 78 time-limited full-time positions, and 1 part-time position; provides Marine Conservation Officers and Supervisors with uniform allowances not exceeding $600.00 annually.

Appropriates $18,000,000.00 from the Tidelands Fund for public access and management projects across Harrison, Jackson, and Hancock counties, including $4,722,360.00 for public access projects and bond repayment of $1,100,000.00.

Requires political subdivisions receiving tidelands funds to comply with state law and submit detailed expenditure reports to the Department of Marine Resources every six months; specifies that multiphased, multiyear, and high-dollar projects will be considered lower priority.

Establishes personnel action constraints requiring the State Personnel Board to ensure Fiscal Year 2019 personal services costs do not exceed Fiscal Year 2018 levels unless new programs or positions are added by the Legislature; contains multiple provisions prohibiting use of funds for certain utilities and employee housing allowances.